Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction related to a valve prosthesis: case caused by a low-profile mitral...

Mechanical and bioprosthetic mitral prostheses may have many potential complications. In patients with isolated mitral stenosis and a small left ventricular cavity, low-profile prostheses are recommended to avoid myocardial impingement that can result from a high-profile valve and lead to possible left ventricular inflow or outflow obstruction or ventricular arrhythmias. This case report illustrates that left ventricular outflow obstruction may also result from a low-profile mitral valve prosthesis. This obstruction was not diagnosed before cardiac catheterization. Assessment of patients with suspected prosthetic valve dysfunction is difficult and may necessitate cardiac catheterization or even direct surgical inspection for conclusive information.