Occlusion of Medtronic Hall mitral valve prosthesis by ruptured papillary muscle and chordae tendineae.

A 63-year-old woman had an unusual, but lethal complication after mitral valve replacement. Six hours after the operation, the ruptured head of the posterior papillary muscle migrated between the valve ring and disc and caused the disc to be wedged tightly shut. This complication appears to be unique to a tilting disc prosthesis.