Bioprosthetic mitral valve thrombosis less than one year after replacement and an ablative MAZE procedure: a case report

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Omar Saeed, Emory University; Byron R Williams Jr., Emory University; Melvin Ku, Department of Medicine, Michigan State University; Omar Lattouf, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2010-03-29
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: ©2010 Saeed et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.crossref.org/10.1186%2F1749-8090-5-18
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Volume: 5
• Start Page: 18
• End Page: 18
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Occurrence of bioprosthetic valve thrombosis less than a year after replacement is very uncommon. Here, we describe a case of a 57 year old male, who presented 10 months after receiving a bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement with a two week history of dyspnea on exertion, worsening orthopnea and decreased exercise tolerance. Echocardiography revealed severe mitral regurgitation (MR), thrombosis of the posterior mitral leaflet, left atrial (LA) mural thrombus and a depressed left ventricular ejection fraction of twenty-five percent. Given severe clot burden and decompensated heart failure (New York Heart Association - NYHA class III) repeat sternotomy was done to replace the bioprosthetic mitral valve and remove LA mural thrombus. MR was resolved postoperatively. This brief report further reviews promoting factors, established guidelines and management strategies of bioprosthetic valve thrombosis.