Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2003;24:298
© 2003 Elsevier Science NL
Images in cardio-thoracic surgery |
Echocardiographic diagnosis of incomplete St. Jude's bileaflet valvular closure after mitral valve replacement with subvalvular preservation
Donald Oxorn*,
Edward D. Verrier
Divisions of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia and Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Received 9 January 2003;
received in revised form 21 April 2003;
accepted 23 April 2003.
* Corresponding author. Department of Anesthesiology, Box 356540, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
e-mail: oxorn{at}u.washington.edu
Key Words: Echocardiography • Mitral valve • Mechanical prosthesis
A 25-year-old male presented with severe anterior mitral leaflet prolapse secondary to a torn cord. The mitral annulus measured 45 mm. A 33-mm St. Jude's bileaflet mechanical prosthesis was placed with preservation of the native anterior and posterior leaflets; however, a large intravalvular regurgitant jet was subsequently noted on TEE, associated with loitering of the medial aspect of the native anterior leaflet within the valvular apparatus. The jet resolved following resection of the putative valvular tissue (Figs. 1 and 2)
.
