title: Thrombolytic therapy for left sided prosthetic heart valve thrombosis.
abstract: In order to clarify the role of thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of left sided prosthetic valve thrombosis, a composite analysis of 158 cases reported in the English literature was undertaken. Complete success of therapy was achieved in 68.4% of patients, and the results were better in patients with aortic compared to mitral valve prostheses (p < 0.01), in those presenting in lower NYHA class (p < 0.01), and with acute rather than chronic symptoms (p < 0.05). A successful outcome was seen more frequently with tilting disc than bileaflet valves (p < 0.001). Overall mortality during therapy was 7%. Cerebral embolic events were observed in 9.5% of patients, and irreversible neurological injury occurred in 4.4%. The rethrombosis rate was 17% and the incidence of late death was 6.3%. Thrombolysis may be a useful therapeutic alternative for left sided prosthetic valve thrombosis in patients with a perceived contraindication to surgery. The risks of systemic clot embolization along with incomplete resolution of valve leaflet motion or rethrombosis limits any recommendation for more widespread use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Bristol Royal Infirmary, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Birdi
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Angelini
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bryan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents