title: [Ball variance and fracture of a Smeloff-Cutter prosthesis 24 years after aortic valve replacement].
abstract: This report documents a case of ball variance in a Smeloff-Cutter aortic prosthesis occurring 24 years after implantation. After episodes of embolic complications the patient died in acute shock. The silicone rubber ball showed several alterations including discoloration, grooving, cracking, swelling and subtotal fracture of the poppet. Terminal valvular malfunction was caused by complete thrombosis of the prosthesis. In most patients ball variance occurred during the first years after valve replacement; thus, the observed case is a very rare late complication of a ball-valve prosthesis.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik, Kreiskrankenhaus (Akadem. Lehrkrankenhaus der Universität Tübingen), Reutlingen.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hust
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klinkmüller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keim
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Momper
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nothwang
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000473:pathology; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology