The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 46, 347-348, Copyright © 1988 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Mitral valve dysfunction following papillary muscle cryoablation
W Piccione Jr and MD Goldin
Department of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612-3864.
Cryoablation is recognized as a useful modality for diagnostic mapping, as
well as for permanent obliteration of arrhythmogenic foci. This technique
has been used to eradicate irritable foci at the base of papillary muscles.
We report a case of mitral valve dysfunction requiring valve replacement
following cryoablation of the posterior papillary muscle. Based on this
experience, we caution against extensive cryoablation of papillary muscle
tissue because of the possibility of disrupting mitral valve function.