Acute intravascular hemolysis indicating thrombosis of Bjork-Shiley aortic prosthesis

A patient with a Bjork-Shiley aortic prosthesis inserted two years and four months prior to receiving adequate anticoagulant therapy suddenly had severe intravascular hemolysis develop as a result of thrombosis of her aortic prosthesis. There was no notable hemodynamic compromise. The mechanism of the intravascular hemolysis is discussed.