Digital frequency analysis of valve sound phenomena in patients after prosthetic valve surgery – its capability as a true home monitoring of valve function

Abstract

Objectives: Depending on the individual risk profile of the patient, disturbances of the functional integrity of mechanical heart valve prostheses' occur in 1 to 5.5%/patient and year. The early phase of prosthetic dysfunction (due to thrombus formation or tissue ingrowth) usually remains undiagnosed, as patients do not present with symptoms in this situation and imaging techniques (e.g. echocardiography, fluoroscopy) demonstrate normal occluder motion. The delay between the onset of prosthetic valve dysfunction and its clinical manifestation may result in complications (e.g. thromboembolism) or extended therapeutic options (e.g. reoperation instead of more intensive anticoagulation).