Abstract
A case of leaflet fracture and embolization of a mitral prosthetic valve is described. A 54-year-old man had received mitral valve replacement with an Edwards-Duromedics 29M prosthetic valve, at 10 years ago. Emergency mitral valve replacement was performed because the patient had severe congestive left heart failure with severe acute mitral regurgitation caused by a fracture in one of the mitral valve leaflets. The leaflet, which was fractured into 2 pieces, was removed from the right common iliac artery at 3 months after valve replacement Visual inspection revealed that the leaflet contained a midline fracture. The fracture originated within a cavitary erosion pit near the major radius of the leaflet The patient recovered from acute renal failure, requiring hemodialysis for 80 days, and is currently without complaints. We have used a Duromedics mitral valve in 11 patients, from April 1987 to April 1988. No subsequent valve failure has occurred. The diagnosis, treatment and cause of a mechanical valve fracture are discussed.
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Sudo, K., Sasagawa, N., Ide, H. et al. Late leaflet fracture and embolization of a Duromedics mitral prosthesis. Jpn J Thorac Caridovasc Surg 48, 520–523 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03218190
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03218190