title: Retrograde dislodgement of a Harken mitral valve disc occluder.
abstract: The previous generation of mechanical heart valves was unfortunately prone to disc variance, dislodgement and catastrophic failure. This is illustrated by the recent case of a 59-year-old male who presented with retrograde dislodgement of a Harken mitral valve disc 20 years after implantation. Expediency in diagnosis and implementing surgical therapy are the keys to success in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Federico
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Masters
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Walley
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Keon
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology