Prosthetic Valve Obstruction: Diagnostic Usefulness of Cineradiography and Multidetector-Row Computed Tomography

Introduction

Despite recent advances in prosthetic valve technology and anticoagulant therapy, obstruction of mechanical prosthetic valves due to valve thrombosis or pannus formation is a serious and occasionally fatal complication [[1], [2]]. We have previously demonstrated that the incidence of obstruction of St. Jude Medical (SJM; St. Jude Medical, Inc., St. Paul, MN, USA) valves in the aortic position is higher than previously reported [[3]]. Echocardiography has been employed as the gold standard to detect prosthetic valve obstruction; however, we have emphasized the usefulness of a combination of cineradiography and echocardiography for the early and accurate diagnosis of obstruction in an aortic SJM valve [[3]].

In this study, we report a case of prosthetic valve obstruction in an aortic SJM valve caused by pannus overgrowth, in which a combination of cineradiography and multidetector-row computed tomography was useful for the early and detailed diagnosis of valve obstruction.

References

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