Chest film diagnosis of disc embolization in patients with Beall mitral valve prostheses.

This report presents the chest film findings in three patients with Beall mitral valve prostheses in whom severe disc wear resulted in disc embolization. In all three cases the worn disc embolized to the thoracic aorta with catastrophic decompensation, and all three patients were salvaged with emergency operation. Detection of the embolized disc was possible with plain chest radiography in each case and may permit removal of the embolized disc at the time of valve replacement. Early detection of disc wear and replacement of worn Beall mitral valve prostheses are advocated to avoid this left-threatening complication.