Leaflet escape of a mitral Duromedics prosthesis. Case report

This article reports a case of leaflet embolization of a mitral Edwards-Duromedics prosthesis. The patient had abrupt onset of acute pulmonary edema and was initially treated medically for 3 days. Fluoroscopy showed only one freely moving leaflet and the other was (incorrectly) assumed to be blocked in the closed position. The patient received IV thrombolysis for another 3 days and was finally operated. He died 8 days later from sepsis and the leaflet was recovered at autopsy in the abdominal aorta. Leaflet escape of a mitral Edwards-Duromedics prosthesis is a rare, potentially curable mode of valve failure. Correct interpretation of clinical signs and symptoms and of fluoroscopy should allow early diagnosis and surgical therapy.