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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1986; 34(1): 68-69
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1020378
Case Report

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Malfunction of a Lillehei-Kaster Aortic Valve Presenting as Loss of the Normal Valve Click

G. D. Angelini1 , A. G. Fraser2 , I. M. Breckenridge1
  • 1Department of Cardiac Surgery
  • 2Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff UK
Further Information

Publication History

1985

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

We report a patient with a malfunctioning Lillehei-Kaster aortic valve which presented only as loss of the normal valve click, 7 months after temporary interruption of anticoagulation at the time of abdominal surgery. Loss of a normal prosthetic valve click may be the only sign of prosthetic valve malfunction, and it is a surgical emergency. Patients with prosthetic heart valves, who undergo non-cardiac surgery, should not receive vitamin K1, and anticoagulation should be restarted promptly after surgery with intravenous heparin as well as warfarin.

Key words

Lillehei-Kaster - Missing aortic click