Disc dislodgment in Björk Shiley mitral valve prosthesis: two successfully operated cases

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Device Safety

Background:

• The Björk Shiley mechanical heart valve has been widely used for mitral valve replacement.
• Potential complications, though rare, require thorough investigation for patient safety.

Observation:

• Two patients presented with severe complications following Björk Shiley mitral valve replacement.
• Complications included disc migration and embolization, occurring both early (hours) and late (years) after surgery.

Findings:

• One patient experienced disc migration shortly after surgery; another suffered strut fracture with disc translocation six years post-operation.
• Clinical manifestations included pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, and a lack of prosthetic valve sounds.
• Both patients required emergency reoperation due to prosthetic mitral valve dysfunction.

Implications:

• Prompt diagnosis and emergency surgical intervention are critical for managing Björk Shiley valve disc displacement.
• Long-term survival is possible after complex reoperations, even with retained dislodged components.
• This highlights the importance of vigilance for mechanical heart valve complications.