Late thrombotic obstruction of an aortic bioprosthetic valve: successful treatment by oral anticoagulation.
Thrombotic obstruction of aortic bioprostheses is rare. Few cases have been reported involving the use of the Carpentier-Edwards (CE) prosthesis, the Hancock bioprosthesis, or the Medtronic Intact porcine valve. Thrombolytic therapy for mechanical valve thrombosis has been used frequently even though it is known to carry a high risk of embolism and recurrence. However, the use of this therapy was reported for the first time only recently, in a case of acute aortic thrombosis which occurred 3 1/2 months after bioprosthesis insertion. We report a case of late progressive thrombotic obstruction of a CE aortic valve 3 years after insertion. The case was successfully treated with coumadin therapy, as confirmed by serial Doppler echocardiographic examinations and a 3-year follow-up.
Juliard
J M
JM
Service de Cardiologie (Pr. Gourgon), Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France.
Paillole
C
C
Dahan
M
M
Steg
P G
PG
Himbert
D
D
Aumont
M C
MC
D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014859:Warfarin