title: An emergency physician's guide to prosthetic heart valves: valve-related complications.
abstract: Serious valve-related complications that occur in patients with prosthetic valves have been discussed. The emergency physician's role primarily is to recognize the high probability that one of these serious complications exists and hospitalize the patient so that rapid definitive diagnoses and therapeutic decisions are not delayed.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center 90033.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Rashtian
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mitani
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Whelan
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Parnassus
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Rahimtoola
mesh_terms: D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D001705:Bioprosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology