title: 'Obstruction alternans' of a Sorin tilting disc prosthetic mitral valve: a case of emergency action.
abstract: We present a patient with a history of a Sorin tilting disc prosthetic mitral valve implanted 20 years ago who developed acute dyspnoea. Echocardiogram revealed a unique pattern of 'obstruction alternans' of mitral valve prosthesis due to pannus formation. We emphasize the need for urgent surgical treatment of this potentially fatal complication.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, Attikon Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. rallidis@ath.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: Loukianos S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Rallidis
authors.forename: Costas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kanakakis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paraskevaidis
authors.forename: Dimitrios T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Kremastinos
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*