title: Evaluating the etiology of mechanical valve obstruction: use of clinical parameters, fluoroscopy, and echocardiography.
abstract: Prosthetic valve obstruction is a life-threatening complication most commonly caused by thrombus, pannus, or both. We report a St. Jude tricuspid valve obstruction, initially treated with thrombolytic therapy, found to be caused by pannus on pathologic examination. Clinical evaluation and diagnostic evaluation with fluoroscopy and echocardiography in distinguishing pannus from thrombus are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. licataa@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Licata
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Matthai
mesh_terms: D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015434:Panniculitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*