Summary
The case of a sudden death from late valve entrapment of a left atrial pressure monitoring line not removed postoperatively is considered from both biomechanical and pathological points of view because of its forensic significance in terms of malpractice liability.
Zusammenfassung
Eine 37 Jahre alte Frau verstarb plötzlich 3 Jahre nach Implantation einer künstlichen Herzklappe in Mitralposition; todesursächlich ware eine Blockade der Kippscheibe der Björk-Shiley-Klappe durch einen nach der Herzoperation im linken Vorhof belassenen Druckmeß-Katheter. Dargestellt werden die morphologischen Befunde und die Biomechanik der akuten Klappendysfunktion. Unter dem Aspekt der ärztlichen Fahrlässigkeit werden die medizinischen Begründungen für den Verzicht auf eine operative Entfernung des Katheters unter Berücksichtigung der Literatur über seltene ähnliche Fälle diskutiert.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kouchoukos NT, Karp RB (1976) Functional disturbance following extracorporeal circulatory support in cardiac surgery. In: Ionescu MI, Wooler GH (eds) current techniques in extracorporeal circulation. Butterworths, London, p 252
Swan HJC, Ganz W, Forrester JS (1970) Catheterization of the heart in man with use of a flow-directed balloon-tipped catheter. New Engl J Med 283:447–451
Bechara FA, Pett SB, Jr, Wernly JA, Berman W, Jr, Dillon T (1984) Unusual complication of direct left atrial pressure monitoring line. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 88:1033–1035
Reyes LH, Ratzan KR, Rheinlander HF (1973) Serratia marcescens bacteremia originating from a catheter line in the left atrium after mitral valve replacement. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 65:241–244
Robles de Medina EO, Westerhof PW, Van Mill GJ, Huysmans HA, Schaepkens Van Riempst A (1977) Removal of a fragment of catheter entrapped in a Bjork-Shiley aortic valvular prosthesis. Chest 72:98–99
Win A, Pastore JO, Coletta D, Junda RJ (1980) Echocardiographic detection of a retained left atrial catheter. Am Heart J 99:93–95
Behl PR, Brown AH (1983) Late snaring of Lillehey-Kaster prosthesis by a fragment of left atrial monitoring catheter. Thorax 38:879–880
Behl PR, Hilton CJ, Holden MP (1984) Retrieval of left atrial catheters with a mediastinoscope. Thorax 39:479–480
Casarotto D, Bortolotti U, Betti D, Chioin R, Rizzoli G, De Mozzi P, Gallucci V (1979) Risultati della sostituzione valvolare con le protesi a disco oscillante di Bjork-Shiley e Lillehey-Kaster. Minerva Cardioangiol 27:1–6
Intonti F, Baruffi E (1985) Valutazione della valvola Bjork-Shiley. In: D'Alessandro LC (eds) Heart surgery. Scientificia Internazionale, Roma
Delle Donne R (1988) Personal communication
Browdie DA, Agnew RF, Hamilton CS Jr (1978) Poppet jamming during mitral valve replacement. Ann Thorac Surg 28:591
Peacock EE, Jr (1974) Wound healing and wound care. In: Schwartz SI (ed) Principles of surgery. McGraw-Hill, New York
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bordignon, D., Betti, D. Sudden death from left atrial pressure line wedging into cardiac valve prosthesis: Pathologic findings and forensic significance. Z Rechtsmed 101, 131–135 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00200294
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00200294