Fracture embolization of an Edwards-Duromedics valve with asymmetrical closure.
We report a case of sudden leaflet fracture of an Edwards-Duromedics mitral valve 17-years after its implantation. The patient had a history of an asymmetrical motion of the valve, five months earlier. A computed tomography scan showed two fragments that had embolized to the right brachiocephalic artery and left common iliac artery. An emergency mitral replacement surgery was successfully performed. Asymmetrical closure of the valve leaflet may have contributed to valve fracture.
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tenri-yorozu Hospital, Tenri, Japan. yamakazu@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Kazuhiro
K
Yamazaki
Kazunobu
K
Nishimura
Atsushi
A
Iwakura
Kyokun
K
Uehara
Tatsuji
T
Okada
Takaaki
T
Sugita
D004617:Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve; D011475:Prosthesis Failure