Mechanical prosthetic mitral valve obstruction: Pannus or thrombus? A case report.

Substitution of a defective heart valve with a prosthetic heart valve turns the native disease for prosthesis-related complications. One of the most serious and dreaded complications is prosthetic valve obstruction. It is either the result of a thrombus or pannus formation. For the evaluation of prosthetic valve obstruction, transthoracic echography and fluoroscopy provide functional information but may not provide information about the etiology of the obstruction, unlike multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) which allows a more precise etiological diagnosis to guide the therapeutic attitude. Here, we report a case of a mechanical prosthetic mitral valve obstruction in a 45-year-old patient in whom the diagnosis of pannus was retained on the basis of clinical, biological, and imaging data. The differentiation between thrombus and pannus is crucial because it conditions the therapeutic attitude. Advanced imaging specially MDCT options should be considered whenever mechanical prosthesis valve obstruction is suspected.

Mitral valvar anomalies causing subaortic stenosis: two rare case reports.

Subaortic stenosis (SubAS) is a common cause of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. It may be focal or diffuse, leading to the development of a subaortic tunnel. Considered for a long time as a congenital anomaly, SubAS has been established lately as an acquired anomaly and secondary to a pre-existing anatomic alteration in the interventricular septum and mitral valve apparatus. It is a progressive disease that is often confused with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which can lead to several complications. Case presentation: In this paper, the authors report two cases of SubAS secondary to different mitral valvar anomalies. The analysis of echocardiographic data was a milestone in raising this diagnosis and identifying its mechanisms. Conclusion: This work highlights a rare situation, often underdiagnosed, in which the evolution can be marked by an important risk of recurrence even after surgical cure.

Systemic sclerosis and tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis is a multisystemic character autoimmune disease. It is characterized by vascular dysfunction and progressive fibrosis affecting mainly the skin but also different internal organs. All heart structures are commonly affected, including the pericardium, myocardium, and conduction system. However, tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome is not common in the literature as a cardiac complication of systemic sclerosis. Case presentation We report a case of tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome in a 46-year-old Moroccan woman followed for systemic sclerosis with cutaneous, vascular, and articular manifestations. The diagnosis was based mainly on patient-reported symptoms and electrocardiogram data. A permanent pacemaker was implanted, allowing the introduction of beta-blockers with good outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This case aims to show that even minor electrocardiogram abnormalities should be monitored in this group of patients, preferably by 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram because they could be a good indicator of the activity and progression of cardiac fibrosis.