title: [Echocardiographic diagnosis of intermittent failure of a mitral valve prosthesis].
abstract: Three cases are reported who had intermittent diastolic jamming of a mitral tilting disc valve. The clinical presentation of this unfrequent but catastrophic early postoperative complication was different in all cases: the first patient presented with heart failure, the third patient had loss of consciousness with enuresis and the second patient was asymptomatic at the time of the diagnosis. Electromechanical dissociation was first suspected by clinical examination in 2 cases but it was confirmed in all 3 cases by 2 dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography did not provide any additional information. Besides opening failure of the valve Doppler echocardiography also demonstrated incomplete or delayed opening in the asymptomatic period. Survival is dependent on correct diagnosis and urgent surgical treatment of this type of prosthetic valve dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Országos Kardiológiai Intézet, Budapest.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lengyel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bányai
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tomcsányi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Szedö
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gyöngy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lipcsey
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bodor
mesh_terms: D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation