Malfunction of a Smeloff-Cutter mitral valve prosthesis diagnosed by simultaneous echocardiography imaging of the prosthesis and the tricuspid valve

ABSTRACT

The case of a young woman with a malfunction of a Smeloff-Cutter mitral ball-valve prosthesis 17 years after insertion is reported. Simultaneous M-mode echocardiographic imaging of the mitral valve prosthesis and the tricuspid valve was used to demonstrate the imperfect operation of the mitral ball-valve prosthesis. This imaging technique can objectively demonstrate the timing of opening and closing of the mitral valve poppet, compared to the native tricuspid valve motion, even in the presence of an irregular rhythm.