Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 11, 2025

Fully Endoscopic Mitral Valve Repair with Percutaneous Cannulation of Groin Vessels
Published on: May 26, 2023
Leaflet Fracture and Embolization of a CarboMedics Prosthetic Mitral Valve: Case Report
Tae Yeon Kim1, Myoung Young Kim1
1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Korea.
Abstract:
Fracture of prosthetic valve leaflets in the absence of traumatic injury is very rare. Leaflet fracture can cause acute pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock and is potentially life-threatening, requiring emergency surgery. Thus, a leaflet fracture must be diagnosed quickly and accurately. We present the case of a 46-year-old man with CarboMedics prosthetic aortic and mitral valve replacements implanted 24 years previously. The patient presented at our emergency department with abrupt dyspnea and fever. We diagnosed severe mitral valve regurgitation with anterior leaflet fracture. The patient underwent venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and delayed mitral valve replacement. The foreign body was removed step by step because the diagnosis was missed. Two pieces of broken leaflets were found in the left common iliac artery and left external iliac artery. The patient was treated successfully and remains asymptomatic 1 year following surgery.
Related Concept Videos
Mitral Stenosis III: Medical Management
Mitral Valve Prolapse I: Introduction
Mitral Valve Prolapse II: Assessment and Management
Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests
Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction
Mitral Regurgitation III: Medical Management
