title: Fractured occluder disc: a previously unrecognized complication of the Starr-Edwards disc prosthesis.
abstract: Fracture of the occluder disc of a low-profile Starr-Edwards prosthesis is a hitherto unrecognized complication. We describe a patient who presented with right heart failure and severe pulmonary hypertension 27 years after mitral valve replacement with a model 6520 caged-disc prosthesis. At surgery, there was a longitudinal split in the occluder disc, and organized thrombus was lodged between the split segments. This case offers a unique opportunity to study the long-term effects of wear on the polyethylene poppet and Stellite cage.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Malouf
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hannoush
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Odell
mesh_terms: D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012086:Reoperation