Dual-Source Computed Tomography Assessment of Malfunctioning Mechanical Prosthetic Valve

A41-year-old woman was admitted to the Medical University of South Carolina cardiology service with new-onset atrial fibrillation, with chest tightness, shortness of breath, and a nonproductive cough. As a child, she had a congenital bicuspid aortic valve with severe aortic stenosis that initially required commissurotomy, a bioprosthetic valve replacement at age 10, and a St. Jude mechanical valve (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN) replacement at age 12. She had never received anticoagulant therapy other than aspirin, originally as part of a research protocol, subsequently because of pregnancies and then through loss of follow-up.
On admission, her blood pressure was 100/85 mm Hg with an irregular pulse of 125 beats/min. (…)

Full text: Ann Thorac Surg. 2009 May;87(5):e50.

Authors: Gorka Bastarrika, MD, PhD, William W. Brabham, MD, Terrence X. O’ Brien, MD, Philip Costello, MD, and U. Joseph Schoepf, MD