An 64-year-old man received a 31-mm CarboMedics mechanical prosthesis for severe mitral regurgitation. After four days the patient presented fatigue and dyspnoea with rest; transthoracic and transesophageal Doppler echocardiographic study confirmed a failing mobility of prosthetic valve leaflet from thrombosis and an emergency operation was done. The postoperative course was uneventful. This is an unusual case of acute dysfunction from thrombosis of a mechanical mitral valve prosthesis in a patient on oral anticoagulant therapy and calciheparin.
Thrombosis; Echocardiography; Mitral valve replacement