Demonstrates the utility of real-time 3D TEE in diagnosing prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis and the feasibility of successful thrombolytic treatment with streptokinase in a non-surgical center.
Prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) is a rare but serious complication of valve replacement, most often encountered with mechanical prostheses. The different therapeutic modalities for PVT (fibrinolysis with heparin treatment or surgery) will largely be influenced by the presence of valvular obstruction, the valve location (left or right sided), the patient's clinical status, the existence of and expertise in therapeutic modalities at the institution, and the patient's decision. This report describes a patient with thrombosis of a prosthetic mitral valve, which was successfully treated with recombinant streptokinase in a hospital without cardiac surgery. In this context, the authors present the real-time transoesophageal echocardiographic appearance of this complication, and give a brief review of the literature.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Morais et al. (2011) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: