title: Cyclic intermittent aortic regurgitation of a mechanical bileaflet aortic valve prosthesis: diagnosis and clinical implications.
abstract: We describe a rare case of intermittent dysfunction of a bileaflet mechanical aortic valve prosthesis. Subvalvular pannus overgrowth on the inflow aspect of the prosthesis impeded normal closure of one leaflet causing severe aortic regurgitation, which occurred intermittently. The complementary role of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and cine-fluoroscopy in the diagnosis of this case is described.
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Institute of Cardiology University of Milan, Italy. claudia.galli@ccfm.it
authors.forename: Claudia Agnese
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muratori
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montorsi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barili
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Polvani
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pepi
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography