Cardiology Letters 2025, 34(2):101-112

Mechanical prosthetic valve thrombosis

Stanislava Buday Bujňáková

I. kardiologická klinika UPJŠ LF a VÚSCH, a. s., Košice, Slovenská republika

Prosthetic valve thrombosis is a rare but serious complication of valve replacement, most often encountered with mechanical prostheses. The significant morbidity and mortality associated with this condition warrants rapid diagnostic evaluation. However, diagnosis can be challenging, mainly because of variable clinical presentations and the degree of valvular obstruction. Trans­ thoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography, fluoroscopy, and computed tomography represent the main diagnostic procedures. Although surgical treatment is usually preferred in cases of obstructive prosthetic valve thrombosis, optimal treatment remains controversial. The different therapeutic modalities available for prosthetic valve thrombosis (heparin treatment, fibrinolysis, surgery) will be largely influenced by the presence of valvular obstruction, by valve location (left- or right-sided), and by clinical status. Hence, treatment of an obstructive left-sided prosthetic valve thrombosis will differ from that of non-obstructive or right-sided prosthetic valve thrombosis. The purpose of this work is to review the physiopathology, diagnosis and treatment of prosthetic valve thrombosis.

Keywords: mechanical valve; thrombosis; thrombolysis

Published: February 1, 2025  Show citation