Spontaneous embolization of an aortic prosthesis disc

Custodio-López J.J. · Cirugia Cardiovascular (2023) · DOI: 10.1016/j.circv.2022.06.002

Resumen

We report the case of spontaneous disc embolization of a mechanical aortic prosthesis 4 years after its implantation. The reason for the implant was due to bacterial endocarditis. The patient was admitted with dyspnea and severe pulmonary edema due to aortic insufficiency that required immediate prosthesis replacement surgery. Cardiac catheterization revealed the absence of the disc, which was confirmed intraoperatively. Postoperative radiographic controls showed that the disc was embedded in the center of the longitudinal axis of the left iliac without causing obstruction to blood flow. The disc was never removed. The patient remained asymptomatic without vascular sym ptoms for 15 years. He died due to Fornier's gangrene complicated by Covid-19.