Fatal Thrombosis of a Porcine Aortic-Valve Graft

To the Editor: Several long-term follow-up studies1 2 3 4 5 of glutaraldehyde-treated porcine aortic-valve xenografts have suggested that long-term anticoagulation is not needed because the rate of thromboembolic complications without anticoagulation is as low as that observed with other prostheses when anticoagulants are used. As shown by recent extensive histologie studies,6 ,7 bioprostheses undergo progressive deterioration, and fibrin deposits are common on the outflow surfaces of the valves. However, the mechanical forces to which the leaflets are subjected usually prevent the formation of large thrombi. To our knowledge, no thrombotic subobstruction of these valves has been reported. However, we recently observed the evolution of. No extract is available for articles shorter than 400 words.