The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 58, 168-169, Copyright © 1994 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Thrombotic obstruction of bileaflet valves: surgical management and fiberoptic thrombectomy
Z al-Halees and N Kumar
Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Three patients underwent emergency operation for thrombotic obstruction of
a bileaflet mechanical prosthesis (two St. Jude and one Duromedics) in the
mitral position. The three valves were successfully thromboectomized with
return to normal function. In 2 patients removal of the thrombus at the
valve hinges was assisted by the use of a flexible fiberoptic
choledochoscope. All 3 patients remain well 2 years after the procedure,
maintained on a regimen of warfarin and dipyridamole.