Is it septic or cardiogenic shock? Papillary muscle rupture masquerading as sepsis.

Introduction: Rupture of a papillary muscle is an extremely rare but catastrophic complication of an acute myocardial infarction. Survival is time dependent on the expedition of the patient from the area of presentation to the operating theatre for surgery. Diagnosis in the ED is possible within minutes of presentation if an echo is performed by an emergency physician skilled in echocardiography, as we demonstrate.