Spontaneous native aortic valve thrombosis.
Spontaneous thrombosis of a native aortic valve is an uncommon event that usually follows local trauma, such as cardiac surgery or left heart catheterization, or occurs as a complication of bacterial endocarditis. We report the case of a 65-year-old woman with a history of retinal artery occlusion and severe aortic valve stenosis, in whom transesophageal echocardiography revealed a mobile mass attached to the ventricular surface of the aortic valve. There was no evidence of any hypercoagulable state or infection process. Surgery was performed and a severely stenotic valve resected; a partially organized and firmly adherent free-floating thrombotic mass was observed on the ventricular surface of the aortic valve. Histologic examination demonstrated an organized thrombus. Eleven months after surgery the patient is doing well.
Massetti
M
M
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, Caen, France.
Babatasi
G
G
Saloux
E
E
Bhoyroo
S
S
Grollier
G
G
Khayat
A
A
D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery