[Intermittent dysfunction of a Björk-Shiley tricuspid prosthesis caused by thrombosis suspected through pulmonary...

Thrombosis of a Björk-Shiley tricuspid valve prosthesis was observed 4 years after its implantation. The resulting dysfunction was intermittent blocking the disc in the closed position leading to recurrent near-syncopal malaises probably due to a temporary fall in cardiac output and cerebral blood flow and a right to left interatrial shunt which was detected at pulmonary scintigraphy performed to exclude pulmonary embolism. The Björk-Shiley prosthesis was replaced with a Carpentier-Edwards n. 29 prosthesis with a good result after a follow-up of one year.