Intermittent jamming of a bileaflet mechanical heart valve in the absence of any extrinsic cause of obstruction.
Structural failure of mechanical heart valves is associated with a high mortality, especially when the valve is implanted in the aortic position. We describe a case of early intermittent dysfunction of a bileaflet mechanical heart valve implanted in a 67-year-old female. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography demonstrated intermittent jamming of the leaflets in both the open and closed positions in the absence of any obvious obstruction. The reason for the dysfunction was unclear. This intermittent dysfunction was thought to be a result of dynamic distortion of the pivot guards during the cardiac cycle.
Essex Cardiothoracic Center, Basildon and Thurrock NHS Foundation Trust, Nethermayne, Basildon, Essex SS165NL, UK.
Paul
P
Russhard
Arjuna
A
Weerasinghe
D000368:Aged; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D020878:Device Removal; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome