Bigeminy and the bifid papillary muscle

Abstract

Various structural anomalies of the left ventricular papillary muscles have been observed in recent years. Many of these have been linked to electrocardiographic aberrations. Recently two reports have appeared where the base of the posterior papillary muscle was identified as the source of frequent premature ventricular complexes. In some of these patients these frequent premature ventricular complexes have led to left ventricular dysfunction. In this report a newly discovered structural variant of the anterior papillary muscle is described--the bifid papillary muscle. Furthermore, it is proposed that this bifid papillary muscle is the source of frequent ventricular premature complexes, presenting as bigeminy in a patient with normal left ventricular function.