Radiographic appearances of the St. Jude Medical Valve

D J Paquet1, P A Randall, F B Parker

  • 1Department of Radiology, SUNY Health Science Center, Syracuse.

Insights

The St. Jude Medical Valve (SJMV) is often difficult to see on X-rays. This study found the SJMV is visible in 92% of patients on standard chest radiographs, aiding radiologist identification.

Area of Science:

  • Radiology
  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Prosthetic Devices

Background:

  • The St. Jude Medical Valve (SJMV) is a widely used prosthetic cardiac valve.
  • Previous reports suggest SJMV visualization on plain radiographs is poor, often requiring fluoroscopy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the visibility and typical appearances of the SJMV on plain chest radiographs.
  • To determine the diagnostic utility of standard radiography for SJMV evaluation.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of chest radiographs from 76 patients with 85 implanted SJMVs.
  • Analysis of frontal and lateral radiographic views for SJMV visibility and characteristics.

Main Results:

  • The SJMV was visualized postoperatively in 70 out of 76 patients (92%) on chest radiographs.
  • Both frontal and lateral views contributed to visualization in the majority of cases.

Conclusions:

  • The SJMV is readily visible on plain chest radiographs in most patients.
  • Familiarity with normal SJMV radiographic appearances and cardiac anatomy aids radiologist identification.

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