Mechanical malfunction and thrombosis of prosthetic heart valves

The incidence of acute valvular malfunction of prosthetic heart valves has been increasing. Mechanical failure is usually due to changes of the poppets or thrombosis of the valve. Thrombosis of the valve limits the poppet movement, thus causing dysfunction. Thrombosis has been noted in essentially all types of prosthetic valves. Changes in the poppet include ball variance, disc variance and wearing of the poppet. Abnormalities of the poppet have been detected in the Starr-Edwards, SCDK-Cutter, Smeloff-Cutter, Magovern-Cromie, Hufnagel, and Wada-Cutter aortic and mitral valves, as well as the Cross-Jones, Kay-Shiley, Kay-Suzuki, Beall-Surgitool, Hammersmith and Cape Town mitral valves. The present report reviews the clinical and diagnostic problems of mechanical malfunction of prosthetic valves.