The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 58, 1184-1185, Copyright © 1994 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Elective reoperation for a strut fracture in a Bjork-Shiley convexo- concave mitral valve
ME Cane and LB McGrath
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Deborah Heart and Lung Center, Browns Mills, New Jersey 08015.
A 71-year-old asymptomatic man who had previously undergone mitral valve
replacement with a 31-mm Bjork-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.