Thrombosis of mitral valve bioprostheses in patients requiring circulatory assistance

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 60; no. 6; pp. 1814 - 1816
• Main Authors: Hagley, Michael T, Lopez-Candales, Angel, Phillips, Kenneth J., Daily, Bill B., Kouchoukos, Nicholas T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.12.1995; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Bioprosthesis - adverse effects; Female; Heart Valve Prosthesis - adverse effects; Heart-Assist Devices - adverse effects; Humans; Medical sciences; Mitral Valve - surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart; Thrombosis - diagnosis; Thrombosis - etiology; Human; Heart failure; Intensive cardiocirculatory care; Mitral valve; Infarct; Prosthesis; Cardiocirculatory support; Cardiovascular disease; Replacement; Heart valve; Coronary heart disease; Myocardial disease; Thrombosis; Case study; Treatment; Cardiac valvular disease; Surgery; Mitral regurgitation; Myocardium; Complication
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/0003-4975(95)00627-3

Two patients with new mitral valve bioprostheses required implantation of Bio-Medicus centrifugal pumps (Bio-Medicus, Minneapolis, MN) for circulatory support and had evidence of prosthetic valve thrombosis 1 and 4 days later. Both patients died of thromboembolic complications despite surgical removal of the thrombus. Thrombosis is a rare early complication of bioprosthetic valves and in these cases was probably related to low transvalvular flow due to the use of circulatory assist devices. We discuss possible strategies for avoiding and managing this catastrophic complication.