[Cerebral and myocardial infarcts due to deterioration of cloth-cover of Starr-Edwards mitral valve 16 years after replacement].
A 55 year-old woman whose mitral valve had been replaced 16 years previously with a Starr-Edwards cloth-covered ball valve was admitted to our hospital, complaining of memory disturbance and bilateral pretibial edema. Her CT scan findings showed a low density area in the left anterior and temporal lobes, hippocampus, and insula. A right coronary angiogram demonstrated total obstruction at the midportion. In addition to these cerebral and myocardial infarctions due to cloth-wear of the Starr-Edwards ball valve, her laboratory data indicated intravascular hemolysis. Her malfunctioning Starr-Edwards valve was successfully replaced with a Björk-Shiley valve. An aggressive attitude toward urgent replacement is suggested in cases of suspected cloth-wear.
Akiyama
K
K
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Oyama Municipal Hospital, Tochigi, Japan.
Anzai
N
N
D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology*; D011475:Prosthesis Failure