What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Case Report. Population: Self-inflicted cardiac needle penetration requiring mechanical aortic valve replacement (n=1). Intervention: Mechanical aortic valve replacement. Primary outcome: Fatal long-term outcome (cardiogenic shock due to prosthetic valve thrombosis).

What does this research mean for the field?

In patients with severe psychiatric disorders and a high risk of anticoagulation non-adherence, bioprosthetic valves should be carefully considered over mechanical valves to prevent fatal thrombotic complications. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To report a rare case of a patient needing mechanical aortic valve replacement following self-inflicted needle injury and assess the implications for anticoagulation management.

June 12, 2026Journal of Clinical MedicineOpen Access

Mechanical Aortic Valve Replacement Following Self-Inflicted Cardiac Needle Penetration in a Patient with Recurrent Self-Harm: A Case Report with Fatal Long-Term Outcome

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Key result

Mechanical AVR leads to fatal thrombosis from anticoagulation non-adherence in a patient with self-harm.

Population

A 24-year-old female with recurrent self-harm presenting after self-inserting multiple needles into her thorax

Design

Case report

Follow-up

More than six years

Authors

MBMartin BreitwieserParacelsus Medical University PKPhilipp Krombholz-ReindlParacelsus Medical University GHGeorg HattwichParacelsus Medical University

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Alerts clinicians to possible cardiac penetration in self-harm patients with new dyspnea; leaves open questions on prevention and management.

Key Points

To report a rare case of a patient needing mechanical aortic valve replacement following self-inflicted needle injury and assess the implications for anticoagulation management.
Detailed case presentation of a 24-year-old female with self-harm history
Emergency sternotomy performed to address needle-related complications
Mechanical aortic valve replacement conducted after failed reconstruction attempts
Patient initially survived but suffered from recurrent anticoagulation non-adherence
Presented with cardiogenic shock and prosthetic valve thrombosis six years post-surgery
Despite emergency interventions, patient succumbed to refractory left ventricular failure

Study Design

Type

Case Report (n=1)

Structured PICO

Population

A 24-year-old female with severe psychiatric disorders who underwent mechanical aortic valve replacement following self-inflicted cardiac needle penetration and was followed for over six years.

Intervention

Mechanical aortic valve replacement

Outcome

Long-term outcome (survival)hard clinical

This case highlights the critical challenges of managing severe psychiatric patients requiring mechanical valve prostheses, suggesting bioprosthetic valves may be preferable when long-term anticoagulation adherence is a major concern.

Cite This Study

Breitwieser et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Self-inflicted cardiac needle penetration requiring mechanical aortic valve replacement (n=1). Mechanical aortic valve replacement was evaluated on Fatal long-term outcome (cardiogenic shock due to prosthetic valve thrombosis). Mechanical aortic valve replacement in a 24-year-old female with recurrent self-harm resulted in fatal prosthetic valve thrombosis over six years later due to non-adherence to oral anticoagulation.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2bd1386550ea4541ffe92c https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15124544

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Implication

Alerts clinicians to possible cardiac penetration in self-harm patients with new dyspnea; leaves open questions on prevention and management.

Mechanical Aortic Valve Replacement Following Self-Inflicted Cardiac Needle Penetration in a Patient with Recurrent Self-Harm: A Case Report with Fatal Long-Term Outcome

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Mechanical Aortic Valve Replacement Following Self-Inflicted Cardiac Needle Penetration in a Patient with Recurrent Self-Harm: A Case Report with Fatal Long-Term Outcome

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider