Late Explantation of a Starr‐Edwards Caged‐ball Mitral Valve Prosthesis

Mechanical mitral valve (MV) prostheses have evolved considerably over the past few decades, with early designs still being seen in patients because of their proven durability. Although these early-generation valves like the caged-ball prosthesis demonstrated remarkable longevity, their long-term use was eventually limited by the risk of thromboembolic complications and gradual development of gradients due to pannus formation. Despite discontinuation of their manufacture, such valves continue to be encountered in current clinical practice due to their extensive historical implantation. In this report, we discuss a case of a 30-year-old female who underwent an MV replacement with a Starr-Edwards (SE) caged-ball valve prosthesis 15 years back and had now come with a significant gradient. This case highlights the durability of the SE valve and how the need for later replacement is not due to a structural issue of the valve.