Elective reoperation for a strut fracture in a Björk-Shiley convexo-concave mitral valve

A 71-year-old asymptomatic man who had previously undergone mitral valve replacement with a 31-mm Björk-Shiley 60-degree convexo-concave valve was evaluated noninvasively and found to have a single leg outlet strut separation. Elective valve explantation was performed, and valve testing confirmed that a strut separation was indeed present. Diagnosis and early reoperation to replace a fractured prosthesis may improve patient survival.