Atypical clinical presentation of bileaflet cardiac prosthetic valve dysfunction. Preliminary report.
Single-leaflet disc immobilisation in 3 patients with St Jude Medical prostheses and 1 patient with a Carbo Medics valve prosthesis resulted in mild mitral regurgitation without acute pulmonary oedema. Three patients presented with slowly worsening pulmonary congestion while 1 patient had neurological symptoms. Clinicians need to be aware of the possibility of single-leaflet failure in a bileaflet cardiac valve prosthesis, because haemodynamic deterioration occurs insidiously in these patients, resulting in atypical symptoms and signs.
Theron
H D
HD
Department of Cardiology, University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein.
Jacobs
J J
JJ
Marx
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology; D012086:Reoperation