Mechanical Prosthetic Mitral Valve Research Articles

Left Atrial Appendage Closure in Patients With a Mechanical Mitral Valve Prosthesis: A Multicentre Italian Pilot Study

BackgroundIn patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) on vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy and therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) range, the incidence of cardiac thromboembolism is not negligible, and the subgroup of patients who have a mechanical prosthetic mitral valve (PMV) has the highest risk. We aimed to assess the long-term effects of left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in AF patients with a mechanical PMV who experienced a failure of VKA therapy. MethodsIn this retrospective, multicentre study, patients underwent LAAC because of thrombotic events including transient ischemic attack and/or stroke, systemic embolism, and evidence of left atrial appendage thrombosis and/or sludge, despite VKA therapy, were enrolled. Patients with a mechanical PMV were included and compared with those affected by nonvalvular AF. The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause death, major cardiovascular events, and major bleedings at follow-up. The feasibility and safety of LAAC also were assessed. ResultsA total of 55 patients (42% female; mean age, 70 ± 9 years), including 12 with a mechanical PMV, were enrolled. The most-frequent indication to LAAC (71%) was LAA thrombosis or sludge. Procedural success was achieved in 96% of overall cases, and in 100% of patients with a PMV. In 35 patients, a cerebral protection device was used. During a median follow-up of 6.1 ± 4.3 years, 4 patients with a PMV, and 20 patients without a PMV, reported adverse events (hazard ratio 0.73 [95% confidence interval 0.25-2.16, P = 0.564]). ConclusionsLAAC seems to be a valuable alternative in patients with AF who have a mechanical PMV, with failure of VKA therapy. This off-label, real-world clinical practice indication deserves validation in further studies.

Thrombosis of Prosthetic Tricuspid Valve During Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support: A Case Report

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is frequently used for severe postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock in patients with bioprosthetic valves. Acute prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) is a rare complication after valve replacement surgery and significantly increases morbidity and mortality. Patients who develop PVT on ECMO could significantly influence the long-term durability of the bioprosthetic valves. However, previous studies only analyzed risk factor and treatment of the mitral valve thrombosis during ECMO support. The mechanism of thrombosis on the tricuspid valve was still unknown. Here we describe the symptoms and treatment of a valve replacement patient who developed bioprosthetic tricuspid valve thrombosis during veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). Meanwhile, the patient’s mechanical prosthetic mitral valve functioned normally. An emergency re-do tricuspid prosthesis replacement was performed, and the patient finally developed the successful decannulation. At 6 months follow-up, the patient showed asymptomatic and had a reasonable quality of life. The pathophysiology of tricuspid valve thrombosis may be different from the left heart. Our case highlights that the risk of thrombosis associated with a prosthesis in the tricuspid position can be even higher in the setting of VA-ECMO support. In such patients, promoting forward blood flow across the prosthesis and improving levels of anticoagulation may be particularly important.

Systemic thrombolysis for mechanical prosthetic valve thrombosis - case report and review of literature

Prosthetic valve thrombosis is one of the life-threatening complications in patients with prosthetic heart valves. It is more common in mechanical prosthetic valves in the setting of inadequate or missing anticoagulation. Besides optimization of anticoagulation urgent surgery or thrombolytic therapy should be considered but both are associated with an increased risk for complications and mortality. We report a case of a patient with imaging data for mechanical prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis. Considering the individual patient’s characteristics and the published guidelines we decided to perform systemic thrombolysis with ultra-slow low-dose infusion of tissue-type plasminogen activator. The therapy was successful without any bleeding or thromboembolic complications. 

ORAL ANTİKOAGÜLASYON İLE TEDAVİ EDİLEN SERBEST YÜZEN SOL ATRİYAL TOP TROMBÜSÜ

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed a free-floating left atrial ball thrombus in a 56-year-old male patient who was taking warfarin for mechanical prosthetic mitral valve and had recently short-term warfarin interruption for noncardiac surgery and bridging with enoxaparin was admitted to an external center for left abdominal pain and after the detection of spleen and renal infarct, the patient was referred to us for further examination. The patient, who was considered to be at high risk for surgical intervention by the cardiac surgeons, was treated with a warfarin regimen and on the 14th day of the treatment, computed tomography (CT) scan showed that the thrombus disappeared. According to this case report, if patients who have a free-floating left atrial ball thrombus are at high risk for surgical intervention, warfarin therapy can be considered as an alternative to surgery.

Diagnosis of Left-Sided Mechanical Prosthetic Valve Thrombosis: A Pictorial Review.

Although transcatheter valve therapy is rapidly evolving, surgical valve replacement is still required in many patients with severe left-side valve stenosis or regurgitation, the mechanical bi-leaflet heart valve being the standard prosthesis type in younger patients. Moreover, the prevalence of valvular heart disease is steadily increasing, especially in industrialized countries, and the problem of lifelong efficient anticoagulation of these patients remains fundamental, especially in the context where vitamin K antagonists continue to be the current standard of anticoagulation despite a level of oscillating anticoagulation. In this setting, avoiding prosthetic valve thrombosis after surgery is the number one objective for both the patient and the responsible physicians. Although rare, this complication is life threatening, with the sudden onset of acute cardiac failure such as acute pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, or sudden cardiac death and inadequate anticoagulation remaining the leading cause of prosthesis thrombosis, along with other risk factors. The availability of multimodal imaging techniques enables and encompasses to a full extent the diagnosis of mechanical valve thrombosis. The gold-standard diagnostic methods are transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Moreover, 3D ultrasound has undoubted value in giving a more accurate description of the thrombus's extension. When transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography are uncertain, the multidetector computer tomography examination is an important complementary imaging method. Fluoroscopy is also an excellent tool for evaluating the mobility of prosthetic discs. Each method complements the other to differentiate an acute mechanical valve thrombosis from other prosthetic valve pathologies such as pannus formation or infective endocarditis and aids the physician in accurately establishing the treatment method (surgical or pharmaceutical) and its optimal timing. The aim of this pictorial review was to discuss from an imagistic perspective the mechanical prosthetic aortic and mitral valve thrombosis and to provide an overview of the essential role of non-invasive exploration in the treatment of this severe complication.

Mechanical prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis during dabigatran treatment

Dabigatran has been approved for prevention of thromboembolic complications in non-valvular atrial fibrillation. We present a case of a mechanical prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis during anticoagulation with dabigatran, switched in the last three months after 10 years treatment with warfarin. The patient presented with acute respiratory failure and decompensated heart failure. She was initially treated with unfractioned heparin and then was sent for emergency surgery for cardiogenic shock. As emerging from contemporary evidence and as recommended by guidelines, dabigatran, as well as the other direct oral anticoagulants, should be avoided in patients with mechanical valve prosthesis. Echocardiography is indicated if dyspnoea develops in such patients.

Simplified stepwise anatomical ablation strategy for mitral isthmus: efficacy, efficiency, safety, and outcome.

Bidirectional and durable block of mitral isthmus (MI) is essential for catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) and perimitral flutter (PMF), but it remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to create a simple anatomical ablation strategy with minimal fluoroscopy that would yield a high success rate for MI block. Patients with PeAF or PMF were included. Mitral isthmus was ablated in a stepwise strategy. In Step 1, endocardial MI linear ablation was performed; in Step 2, ablation was targeted to the posterolateral portion of the left atrium along the MI line; in Step 3, epicardial ablation within the coronary sinus (CS) was performed across the MI line to the ostium of the vein of Marshall (VOM) or performed within the VOM if available; in Step 4, the catheter was rotated and ablated in the CS to isolate the CS; and in Step 5, the early activation site with complex component potential above the MI line during distal CS pacing was considered as the ablation target. All patients were followed up. A total of 178 (17 patients with mechanical prosthetic mitral valve) were included. One hundred and sixty-six patients achieved a confirmed MI bidirectional conduction block (93%). One patient had cardiac tamponade. Four patients showed re-conduction across the MI line during a repeated ablation. In the latest follow-up [12 (7, 16) months], 161 of 178 (90%) patients maintained their sinus rhythm. A simple stepwise anatomical ablation strategy for MI shows a high success rate with low fluoroscopy exposure.

Partial obstruction of a mitral mechanical prosthetic valve: echocardiographic and surgical correlation

Partial obstruction of a mitral mechanical prosthetic valve: echocardiographic and surgical correlation

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in patients with valvular heart disease.

The non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban have transformed the management of atrial fibrillation (AF), but are only approved by regulatory authorities for stroke prophylaxis in patients with so-called “non-valvular AF.” This terminology has spawned confusion about which patients with valvular heart disease benefit from NOACs and which should be treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) instead. Patients with valvular heart disease other than mechanical prosthetic valves or severe mitral stenosis (including those with bioprosthetic valves) were included in pivotal trials demonstrating the benefit of NOACs over VKAs, and consensus guidelines recommend NOACs over VKAs in these patients. Subsequent devoted randomized controlled trials in patients with AF and bioprosthetic valves, including transcatheter valves, have confirmed the safety of NOACs in this population. In patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis, observational studies indicate that NOACs may be safe and effective, but randomized controlled trials are ongoing. By contrast, a randomized controlled trial showed that dabigatran is harmful in patients with mechanical prosthetic mitral valves; however, these data may not extrapolate to patients with mechanical valve prostheses in other locations or to other NOACs, and randomized controlled trials are ongoing. In this review, we discuss these data in greater depth, and make recommendations for the use of NOACs in patients with valvular heart disease.

Mechanical Prosthetic Valve Thrombus in a Term Pregnant Woman Presenting as Acute Heart Failure: Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract Cardiovascular disease in pregnancy contributes to a significant proportion of death worldwide. Though pregnancy-associated myocardial infarction and aortic dissection are the common causes of adverse cardiac events in developed countries, rheumatic heart diseases continue to be the important reason for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The risk of adverse cardiac outcome is dependent on the type and severity of valvular abnormality, functional status, left ventricular function, and pulmonary arterial pressure. Managing a pregnant woman with a mechanical heart valve prosthesis is challenging because of the difficulty in achieving optimal anticoagulation in the presence of hypercoagulability. Mitral valve thrombus is a life-threatening event and women can present with acute heart failure or thromboembolic events. We report successful management of a 26-year-old primigravida with rheumatic heart disease diagnosed to have huge thrombus on mechanical prosthetic mitral valve presented with acute heart failure at 36 weeks. She received multidisciplinary care and underwent concurrent cesarean section followed by thrombectomy under cardiopulmonary bypass. She had a good recovery following surgery and the complexity surrounds the management merit the presentation with a review of management strategies for a women with mechanical prosthetic heart valve in pregnancy.

Thrombolysis Versus Redo-Surgery for Treatment of Mechanical Prosthetic Mitral Valve Thrombosis in Young Adult Patients

Abstract Objectives To evaluate and compare outcome of redo-surgery and thrombolysis for treatment of mitral PVT following mechanical valve replacement for rheumatic etiology in young adult patients (<50 years old). Methods and Results This retrospective study included 42 young adult patients who had PVT after mechanical valve replacement for rheumatic mitral valve disease, between January 2014 and June 2019. Eighteen patients underwent redo-surgery and 24 patients underwent thrombolysis (Streptokinase 100,000 U/h for at least 24 hours). The approach of treatment was based on proposed criteria considering hemodynamic status, NYHA functional class, and thrombus size. Complete response to thrombolysis was defined by normal clinical and echocardiographic parameters. Primary outcome included response to thrombolysis, complications, mortality, and recurrence. The median follow-up period was 24 months. The thrombus size was significantly larger in redo-surgery group (9.88±2.44 mm2 vs 5.87±1.26 mm2, P < 0.001). The response to thrombolysis was complete recovery (70.8%), partial recovery (16.7%), or failure (12.5%). There was no significant difference in the incidence of major complications. Mortality was significantly higher in redo-surgery group (27.8% vs 4.2%, P = 0.03), with cumulative survival of 72.2% for redo-surgery versus 95.8% for thrombolysis (Log-rank P-value = 0.04). The reduced cumulative survival with redo-surgery was more evident in patients with delayed presentation (> 1 week). Recurrent thrombosis occurred only with thrombolysis (8.3% vs 0%, P = 0.20). Cumulative proportions for freedom from thrombosis were 100% for surgery versus 78.1% for thrombolysis (Log-rank P-value = 0.17). Conclusions Proper patient selection may improve outcome after treatment of mitral PVT using thrombolysis or redo-surgery in young adults. Redo-surgery has advantages over thrombolysis regarding mid-term recurrence of thrombosis; however, thrombolysis has significantly lower mortality than redo-surgery. Further evaluation of the proper treatment for delayed presentation of PVT is recommended.

Bloody tricuspid stenosis: case report of an uncommon cause of haemoptysis.

BackgroundHaemoptysis is usually caused by pulmonary and infectious diseases. In few cases, it has a cardiac cause, such as pulmonary embolism or mitral valve stenosis. Haemoptysis may be an uncommon symptom of prosthetic valve dysfunction, being related to elevated right heart pressures.Case summaryA 22-year-old woman from sub-Saharan Africa known for a triple valve replacement was hospitalized for dyspnoea and haemoptysis. A careful clinical evaluation excluded the most common causes of haemoptysis. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed normal biventricular function, normally functioning mechanical prosthetic aortic and mitral valves, and the biological tricuspid prosthesis showed an increased transvalvular gradient. Contrast chest computed tomography scan excluded pulmonary embolism and mechanical valve obstruction, but revealed marked systemic venous hypertension. Right heart catheterization confirmed increased right heart pressures and severe bioprosthetic tricuspid valve stenosis. The patient underwent a successful percutaneous tricuspid valve-in-valve replacement, with complete resolution of symptoms.DiscussionThe increase in venous pressures due to bioprosthetic tricuspid stenosis caused veno-venous shunts: blood from the lower body was drained into the superior vena cava via the azygos vein. Increased pressure in the latter affected pressure in bronchial veins and arteries, leading to haemoptysis. Cardiac surgical reinterventions are associated with worse outcomes and higher mortality rates. Management of a degenerated prosthetic tricuspid valve is challenging and requires a multidisciplinary assessment. Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement is becoming a feasible option in patients with prosthetic dysfunction. Based on evidence to date, tricuspid valve-in-valve replacement appears to be a safe, feasible, and effective alternative in selected young patients.

Sixty-seven Hours After Cesarean Successfully Redo Prosthetic Mitral Valve Leaflet Replacement at 29th Gestational Week: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract On April 3, 2020, a 37-year-old woman successfully completed heart valve replacement after cesarean section 67 hours in the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University.The woman underwent the mechanical mitral valve replacement in the same hospital 10 years ago. She used low molecular weight heparin instead of warfarin, when she realized her pregnancy. On March 25, 2020 (28+5 weeks of gestation), due to New York Heart Association class IV, severe pneumonia, type I respiratory failure, the patient was admitted to the hospital for treatment. Three days later, she discharged herself from hospital by refusing the cesarean section. The next day she was re-admitted to the ward because of the worsen symptoms and oliguria. Cesarean section was performed 50 hours after admission. The neonate was 1 400 g; Apgar score was 5 in 1 minute, 8 in 5 minutes, transferred to neonatal intensive care unit. Because of the unrecovered heart function, she was confirmed stuck mechanical prosthetic mitral valves. On April 3, 2020, through multi-disciplinary cooperation, the patient was safe without any life-threatening emergency. Eleven days after the replacement, the patient was discharged smoothly, so was the neonate 33 days after delivery.

Cerebral microembolization in patients with prosthetic valve and anticoagulation assessment using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography

Background Transcranial Doppler detection of microemboli is widely described, and thromboembolism is a major cause of morbidity in patients with prosthetic heart valves. They require lifelong anticoagulation to minimize thrombotic complications. This study was undertaken to assess the clinical relevance of microembolic signals (MESs) and their relation to anticoagulation.Patients and methods Thirty patients with single mitral mechanical prosthetic valve were included. All of them were selected with low intensity of international normalization ratio (INR). After 2-week interval, INR intensities were stabilized to the recommended levels. Transcranial Doppler monitoring for MES detection was done to the same patients, before and after the stabilization of INR intensities.Results Microemboli were detected in 86.7% of patients before and after the INR level adjustment, with mean number of 57.63±13.12 before adjust. The numbers were significantly lowered after the adjustment of INR, as the emboli number became 24.1±9.12.Conclusion Compared with previously thought findings, the study results were different, as there was a significant effect of the anticoagulation on the number of MESs detected in patients with mechanical valve replacement, but without effect in MES incidence, denoting that, there were a variety of MESs rather than thrombotic. Further assessment by MES differentiation to define solid ones will be indicated.

Cardiac masses

Cardiac masses comprise acategory that includes benign, malignant, and nontumoral mass lesions. The present study aims to share the findings relating to cardiac masses observed at our tertiary cardiology hospital in Turkey. The records of patients who presented with cardiac masses and underwent surgery at our institute between 2006 and 2015, and whose tissue samples were sent to apathology laboratory, were retrospectively reviewed in aconsecutive manner. The study included 228 patients with an average age of 52.5± 17.3years. Of the study'ssubjects, 95 (41.7%) were male and 133 (58.3%) female. The most commonly observed mass was myxoma in 68patients (29.8%), of whom 20(29.4%) were male and 48 (70.6%) female. The second most frequently detected mass was pannus, with 38cases (16.7%) - 10 (26.3%) in males and 28 (73.7%) in females. The third most common cardiac mass was thrombus (16.2%), with 18cases of thrombi in men (48.6%) and 19 (51.4%) in women. The most commonly observed cardiac mass was myxoma and most were localized in the left atrium. The second most frequently detected mass was pannus, which was mostly found on mitral mechanical prosthetic valves. Thrombi were the third most prevalent mass and were commonly localized in the right atrium.

Clinical Cases: Pericardial disease39Diagnostic difficulties of a vasculitis caused by uncommon cardiovascular manifestation40Pericardial mass in a post-surgery mitral endocarditis patient41Focal constrictive pericarditis: multimodality imaging

Clinical Cases: Pericardial disease39Diagnostic difficulties of a vasculitis caused by uncommon cardiovascular manifestation40Pericardial mass in a post-surgery mitral endocarditis patient41Focal constrictive pericarditis: multimodality imaging

WITHDRAWN: Use of Repositionable Transcatheter Aortic Valve Systems in Past Mechanical Prosthetic Mitral Valve Recipients

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A Double Edged Sword - Anticoagulation Treatment in a Patient with Mechanical Prosthetic Mitral Valve Complicated by Brain Hemorrhage

In the current case presentation, a patient with prosthetic mechanical mitral valve developed brain hemorrhage following head trauma. Cessation of anticoagulation treatment resulted in left atrial thrombus; patient presented with recurrent emboli events to major arteries that required recurrent embolectomy. This case highlights the clinical conflict of restarting vitamin K anticoagulation following brain hemorrhage in a high risk patient and demonstrates the importance of multimodalities imaging in assessing those patients.

Continued Use of Tinzaparin at Therapeutic Doses for Prophylaxis of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Intolerance to Antivitamins K

OBJECTIVESThe low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) are typically administered at fixed doses like thromboprophylaxis or at doses adjusted to the weight of the patient in order to obtain a therapeutic effect. Generally they do not require laboratory monitoring, although it could be considered in special situations (renal failure, extreme weights, pregnant women). The LMWH do not affect the APTT, so it has been proposed to determine the anti-factor Xa activity when it is necessary to monitor its effect. The anti-factor Xa activity should be determined approximately 4 hours after sc administration of the LMWH that it is employed, concurring with the peak of activity. The therapeutic range of the anti-factor Xa activity is between 0.6 and 1 IU / mL when LMWH is administered every 12 hours. At single daily dose is less clear, although it seems that lies above 1 IU / mL.Nowadays, LMWH are the anticoagulant of choice during pregnancy. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown the existence of an antineoplastic effect of heparin. LMWH is commonly used for prolonged treatment of thrombosis associated with cancer.METHODSThe main aim of our study is to evaluate the efficacy of tinzaparin sodium at therapeutic doses in preventing VTE in renal failure, active cancer and/or patients with contraindications to oral anticoagulation. The dose has been therapeutic and adjusting it has been made in terms of anti-factor Xa levels obtained monthly. Hemorrhagic or thrombotic complications and other possible side effects have been assessed.Until now, a total of 70 patients, 42 men and 28 women aged between 30 and 95 years old, have received tinzaparin sodium treatment. The main reason of anticoagulation are: atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter (with or without valve disease), VTE (with or without thrombophilia), stroke and transient ischemic attacks and mechanical prosthetic aortic and mitral valves (some of the patients carrying a double metal prosthesis). There was 1 resistance and 1 allergic reaction to anti-vitamin K. 4 of the patients were pregnant and 14 had renal failure. Prior to initiation of therapy, analytical determinations were performed, including: blood count, blood coagulation and biochemistry to assess renal function (urea and creatinine).20 patients (14 were anticoagulated by atrial fibrillation, 2 for bearing a mechanical aortic prosthesis and 4 because of DVT, 1 of which had also a TEP) had active cancer or were in remission from their neoplasia (3 multiple myeloma, 1 LAM, 1 CMML, 4 renal tumors, 1 lung cancer, 5 prostate cancers, 1 hepatocellular carcinoma, 2 colon cancer, 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma and 1 retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma). 1 with MDS was treated with LMWH because he had intra- and extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis.RESULTSSome of the patients had received prior treatment with anti-vitamin K (INR objective depending on pathology) but, in other cases, the low molecular weight heparin was the only treatment since the beginning of their anticoagulation. All the patients had received 175 IU / Kg of Tinzaparin Sodium once a day as initial dose, then the dose was adjusted according to the anti-factor Xa levels. They were controlled until 31/07/2015.In terms of side effects, 8 patients presented complications: 3 mucosal bleeding, 2 episodes of stroke in a patient, hemoptysis, deep vein thrombosis and 2 bleeding at the puncture site of heparin, which have not required discontinuation of therapy. When these complications occurred, we proceeded to the corresponding heparin dose adjustment based on new determinations of anti-factor Xa.CONCLUSIONSAlthough only in 70 cases, the results obtained confirm the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of the continuous use of LMWH. Determination of anti-factor Xa levels are considered very useful for dose adjustment parameter. In our study, tinzaparin sodium has proved to be very useful in preventing venous thromboembolism associated or not with cancer, in patients with conditions requiring anticoagulation and presenting contraindications to the use of anti-vitamin K.The results obtained have demonstrated that tinzaparin is safe and, most likely, further studies will provide valuable confirmation data to support the use of low molecular weight heparins in the prolonged treatment of patients who require oral anticoagulation and can not receive it. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Real-time three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiographic imaging of an aorto-left atrial fistula

A 21-year-old man with Marfan syndrome with aortic and mitral mechanical prosthetic valve presented with a type-3 aortic dissection. A successful endovascular aortic repair with graft stent was performed. On the fifth day of admission, he was uneventfully discharged. But ten days later, he represented with dyspnoea, high fever (39.2°C) and chills. He had a 4/6 diastolic murmur at aortic point in physical examination. He had leukocytosis (27,000 × 109/L) and increased C-reactive protein (75 mg/L) levels on laboratory analysis. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed due to the suspicion of infective endocarditis which demonstrated a paraaortic abscess. Twoand real-time three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE) confirmed the presence of an abscess and showed a paravalvular leak through an aorto-left atrial fistula (Fig. 1). Furthermore, real-time 3D TEE clearly depicted that there were two openings into the left atrium (Fig. 2). Antibiotherapy was administered to the patient and he underwent a successful operation after the infection was controlled. This case highlights that real-time 3D TEE may be superior to conventional transoesophageal echocardiography in evaluating complications of aortic prosthesis.