title: Mobile strands are frequently attached to the St. Jude Medical mitral valve prosthesis as assessed by two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.
abstract: Two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic findings are reported in 13 patients with structurally and functionally normal St. Jude Medical bileaflet mitral valve prostheses. Multiple mobile linear echogenic densities attached to the pivot of the prosthesis were present in 9 of 13 patients. These densities may represent fibrin strands. These mobile strands alternatively resolve and reform over a period of 5 to 14 months after mitral valve replacement. No adverse clinical events were attributable to these prosthetic mitral valve strands. We conclude that mobile stands are frequently attached to the structurally and functionally normal St. Jude Medical mitral valve prosthesis. The clinical significance of these prosthetic mitral valve strands requires clarification.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Division, University of Louisville, KY 40202.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Stoddard
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Dawkins
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Longaker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D005337:Fibrin