Mechanical valve thrombosis is a serious and potential lethal complication unless early diagnosis & prompt therapy are made. We have been experienced 3 cases of valve thrombosis. From Aug. 1988 to July 1994, reoperations of mitral valve
replacement(MVR)
with mechanical prostheses(all mitral) were performed in three patients( 2 men, 1 woman) due to valve thromboses. All three patients were diagnosed by means of cineradiography. Preoperative status of was shock status and he was applied
intra-aortic balloon pump(IABP). All three cases of prosthetic valve failure(PVF) were treated by Redo-MVR. Time intervals of reoperations were 5 months, 40 months, and 35 months, respectively. In all cases, valve thromboses were excised
successfully.
Cineradiography provided an accurate diagnosis in all cases, which was utilized as safe, reliable & noninvasive imaging modalities. There were no operative death & complication. All three patients were fully recovered and returned to their
employements,
and active lives. (Korean J Thoracic Cardiovas Surg 1994; 27:1031-5)
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