Mechanical failure of a mitral valve prosthesis: an unusual case of sudden unexpected death.
Sudden unexpected death caused by the failure of a cardiac valve prosthesis is a rare occurrence. A 45-year-old female suddenly died three years following mitral valve replacement for rheumatic mitral stenosis. At autopsy, death was determined to be due to a metallic fatigue of the mitral valve prosthesis.
D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000473:pathology*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000473:pathology; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology