Sudden dilatation of right ventricle in two patients with thrombosis of a mitral Björk valve detected by echocardiography: different aspects of acute and chronic overloads of the right ventricle in these patients

Acta Cardiol. 1990;45(3):225-30.

Abstract

Acute thrombotic obstruction of disc valve prosthesis is a rare but catastrophic event without an immediate correct diagnosis and precocious treatment (Amman et al., 1984; Assanelli et al., 1986; Copans et al., 1980; Mann et al., 1986; Gibson et al., 1974; Johnson et al., 1973; Ledain et al., 1986). That is the main reason it is important to consider each helpful sign in order to recognize such a situation. We detected an important dilatation of the right ventricle in two patients with different stages of thrombosis of mitral Björk, the first one had also a chronic dilatation of the right ventricle due to tricuspid regurgitation. The clinical and pathophysiological aspects of these unusual situations are described in this article.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dilatation, Pathologic / etiology
  • Echocardiography*
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis*
  • Heart Ventricles
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitral Valve
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Thrombosis / diagnosis*