Darwazah AK. Recurrent pannus formation causing prosthetic aortic valve dysfunction: is excision without valve re-replacement applicable?
J Cardiothorac Surg 2012;
7:62. [PMID:
22747790 PMCID:
PMC3493295 DOI:
10.1186/1749-8090-7-62]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2012] [Accepted: 06/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prosthetic valve dysfunction at aortic position is commonly caused by pannus formation. The exact etiology is not known. It arises from ventricular aspect of the prosthesis encroaching its leaflets causing stenosis or it may remain localized causing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction without affecting valve function.
The difference in location entails different approaches in management. Such a pathology requires surgical excision of the pannus with or without valve re-replacement.
A recurrent pannus was observed in a female patient who needed repeated surgical intervention to excise a localized pannus without re-replacement of a well functioning prosthetic valve.
Management of our case presents several questions, whether recurrence of pannus is caused by sparing the prosthetic valve, is it simply an exaggeration of an inflammatory healing process in certain individuals or is it ideal to re-replace the valve despite a well preserved function.
Collapse