Echocardiographic analysis of a malfunctioning Davila-Sierra mitral valve.

Although the Davila-Sierra mitral valve prosthesis was removed from the market nearly a decade ago, a number of patients still have this valve in place. We recently studied the echocardiographic features of a malfunctioning Davila-Sierra mitral valve prosthesis. Abnormalities that suggested improper functioning of the prosthesis included a markedly delayed poppet opening and an early diastolic hump believed to represent motion of the mitral annulus. Previously described echocardiographic indications of dys-function were not observed in our patient. We report the first known echocardiographic evaluation of a Davila-Sierra prosthesis.