[Thrombosis of mechanical tricuspid valve. Thrombolysis should be considered as a first line approach].
This report describes a 60-year old man who three years earlier, due to tricuspid endocarditis, had undergone surgery entailing insuturation of a Carbomedic valve prosthesis. He was admitted via the emergency room with clinical signs of right heart failure, and he reported that he had not heard the valve sound for two to three weeks. Cineradiography revealed a dysfunction of the tricuspid valve prosthesis, with the bileaflet tilting disc closed in the opening position. Thrombolytic therapy was successful. We review the literature on obstructed mechanical prosthetic valves and on the use of thrombolysis.
Holzmann
M
M
Kardiologiska kliniken, Karolinska sjukhuset, Stockholm.
Pehrsson
K
K
D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014261:Tricuspid Valve