BACKGROUND: Prosthetic heart valves are commonly used in the management of significant valvular disease. Although bioprostheses are increasingly popular, structural deterioration with cusp tears and calcification persists. METHODS: We present a case of a Mitroflow pericardial bioprosthesis (Sorin Group Inc., Mitroflow Division, Vancouver, Canada) explanted after 4.5 years from a 78-year-old woman for bioprosthesis stenosis. RESULTS: The morphological reasons for bioprosthesis failure include structural tissue deterioration with thickening of the pericardial cusps, cusp calcification, and parastent post tears resulting in significant valvular dysfunction. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed morphological description of the failure modes of a surgically explanted Mitroflow (A12) pericardial bioprosthesis.
BACKGROUND: Prosthetic heart valves are commonly used in the management of significant valvular disease. Although bioprostheses are increasingly popular, structural deterioration with cusp tears and calcification persists. METHODS: We present a case of a Mitroflow pericardial bioprosthesis (Sorin Group Inc., Mitroflow Division, Vancouver, Canada) explanted after 4.5 years from a 78-year-old woman for bioprosthesis stenosis. RESULTS: The morphological reasons for bioprosthesis failure include structural tissue deterioration with thickening of the pericardial cusps, cusp calcification, and parastent post tears resulting in significant valvular dysfunction. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed morphological description of the failure modes of a surgically explanted Mitroflow (A12) pericardial bioprosthesis.
Authors: Marco Gennari; Gianluca Polvani; Mara Rubino; Francesco Arlati; Andrea Annoni; Marco Agrifoglio Journal: Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Date: 2017-11-29