This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by SEYFER, A. E. Articles by STREVEY, T. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by SEYFER, A. E. Articles by STREVEY, T. E.

(Circulation. 1974;50:372.)
© 1974 American Heart Association, Inc.

---

Starr-Edwards Mitral Valve Failure Ten Years After Replacement Surgery: Chronic Fibrous Obstruction of the Prosthesis Frustrum Area

Report of a Case

ALAN E. SEYFER M.D., MC¹; WILLIAM H. HEYDORN M.D., MC¹; WILLIAM P. NELSON M.D., MC¹; MELVIN J. SPICER M.D., LTC, MC¹; TRACY E. STREVEY M.D., MC¹

¹ From the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and Cardiology Services, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Denver, Colorado.

A case of malfunction of a Starr-Edwards caged-ball mitral prosthesis occurring ten years after implantation is presented. The possibility of late malfunction must be suspected in any patient who redevelops symptoms after valve replacement. Preservation of normal prosthetic opening and closing clicks does not prove that the device is functioning normally. The diagnosis is difficult, with cardiac catheterization and demonstration of mitral obstruction providing the most valuable information. Once the diagnosis of prosthesis obstruction is made, reoperation and replacement is mandatory.

This clinical pattern will be seen with increasing frequency as patients with artificial valves are followed over longer periods of time.

Key Words: Mitral valve prosthesis • Valvular obstruction • Heart failure • Prosthetic surgery • Cardiac surgery • Rheumatic heart disease • Thromboembolism

Submitted on March 6, 1974
Accepted on March 26, 1974

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. K. C. Chun and W. P. Nelson Common Cardiac Prosthetic Valves: Radiologic Identification and Associated Complications JAMA, August 1, 1977; 238(5): 401 - 403. [Abstract] [PDF]