title: Prosthetic heart valve.
abstract: There are tens of thousands of patients with prosthetic heart valves implanted today, and although complications are infrequent, this may not hold true as patients live longer with prosthetic valves and as more and newer valves are implanted. A familiarity with the management of such patients will aid the emergency physician in the evaluation of this increasing population of patients and will enable the early detection of potentially deadly complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Wellford
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wellford
mesh_terms: D001705:Bioprosthesis; D004630:Emergencies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D011475:Prosthesis Failure