A rare case of two mechanisms of prosthetic valve dysfunction in the same patient

Prosthetic valve dysfunction is a significant clinical event. Determining its etiological mechanism and severity can be difficult. The authors present the case of a 50-year-old man, with two mechanical valve prostheses in aortic and mitral positions, hospitalized for decompensated heart failure. He had a long history of rheumatic multivalvular disease and had undergone three heart surgeries. On admission, investigation led to a diagnosis of severe dysfunction of both mechanical prostheses with different etiologies and mechanisms: pannus formation in the prosthetic aortic valve and intermittent dysfunction of the mitral prosthesis due to interference of a ruptured chorda tendinea in closure of the disks. The patient was reoperated, leading to significant improvement in functional class.