title: Successful thrombectomy for thrombosis of aortic composite valve graft in pregnancy.
abstract: Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis in pregnancy is a life-threatening complication whose management remains controversial and particularly difficult because of the additional challenge to save the fetus. Thrombolysis, thrombectomy, or prosthetic replacement are the currently available options. We report the case of a 17-week pregnant patient who was successfully treated by emergency open-heart thrombectomy for thrombosis of an aortic composite valve graft. Pregnancy was carried to term and a healthy baby was vaginally delivered 5 months later.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Policlinico Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University of The Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alessandrini
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lapenna
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nasso
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Bonis
authors.forename: Gian Federico
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Possati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000601:surgery*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D017131:Thrombectomy; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000601:surgery*