Key result
An embolized mechanical aortic valve leaflet during valve reoperation caused occlusive aortic disease and claudication found 2 years later, emphasizing the need to locate missing leaflet fragments.
Why the study?
Leaflet escape from mechanical heart valves is a rare, potentially fatal complication, and unretrieved fragments increase the risk of infection, thrombosis, and migration.
Case Report (n=1)
Embolized mechanical valve leaflets must be located and retrieved to prevent delayed complications such as occlusive aortic disease.
Embolized mechanical valve leaflets may cause delayed aortic occlusion; extends awareness of rare complications but leaves open optimal retrieval protocols.
Leaflet escape from mechanical heart valves is a rare but potentially fatal complication of prosthetic valve replacement. Historically, the incompetent valve is replaced emergently and the escaped leaflet is subsequently retrieved from its settlement in a distal vessel. If it is not retrieved, the fragment can increase the risk of infection, thrombosis, and migration. We report a case of a mechanical aortic valve leaflet that embolized during valve reoperation and caused occlusive aortic disease found 2 years later. This case emphasizes the importance of locating leaflet fragments after they are noticed missing.
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Eldreth et al. (2020) conducted a case report in Embolized mechanical aortic valve leaflet (n=1). Embolized mechanical aortic valve leaflet was evaluated on Occlusive aortic disease and claudication. An embolized mechanical aortic valve leaflet during valve reoperation caused occlusive aortic disease and claudication found 2 years later, emphasizing the need to locate missing leaflet fragments.
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