Late mitral annuloplasty failure: the loss of the ring

Int J Cardiol. 2007 Jan 2;114(1):127-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.11.053. Epub 2006 Jan 10.

Abstract

An 81-year-old man complained with increasing dyspnoea and asthenia few months after a successful double mitral and tricuspid valvuloplasty intervention. The echocardiogram revealed a partial detachment of the mitral annuloplasty ring due to dehiscence determining a severe regurgitation. Curiously, at Color-Doppler analysis of mitral inflow, the prolapse of the detached ring produced a fascinating circular line inside the regurgitation signal, mimicking the shape of a gemstone ring. We described a case of a relatively uncommon cause of late mitral valvuloplasty failure characterized by a really unusual echocardiographic finding.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mitral Valve / diagnostic imaging
  • Mitral Valve / surgery*
  • Prosthesis Failure*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Failure
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color