title: Ball fracture with the 6120-model Starr-Edwards mitral valve prosthesis occurring late after implantation.
abstract: The Starr-Edwards (S-E) mitral valve, Model 6120, has been widely used in the last three decades. Fatty infiltration and subsequent damage of the silastic ball, a phenomenon termed ball variance, has been described only in the first generation aortic ball-valve prostheses, used until 1965. A case of partial ball fracture in a 6120-Model S-E mitral valve prosthesis, occurring 27 years after implantation and presenting with thromboembolism and progressive valve dysfunction, is described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzucco
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Luciani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pessotto
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piccin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faggian
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chiominto
mesh_terms: D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000601:surgery; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D013499:Surface Properties; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D012826:Silicone Elastomers