Successful thrombolytic treatment of prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis

Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis is a rare but serious complication. Surgery is the first-line therapy in symptomatic obstructive mechanical valve thrombosis, thrombolytic therapy has been used as an alternative to surgical treatment. In this case report we described a 47-year-old woman who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft and mitral valve replacement operation 9 months ago. A thrombus was detected on the prosthetic mitral valve with high transmitral gradient by transoesophageal echocardiography. Tissue plasminogen activator treatment was administered successfully. The gradient was improved on prosthetic mitral valve and embolic complications or bleeding were not occurred. Copyright 2013 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.