Quantification of periprosthetic valve leakage with multiple regurgitation jets by magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

A patient with aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis required replacement of the prosthesis, After initial recovery, his left ventricular function gradually declined and echocardiography revealed minor paravalvular leakage and a cavern around the prosthesis. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed, flow-imaging and volume-based measurements showed high-grade paravalvular leakage of 45 and 58% regurgitant fraction, respectively. Intraoperatively, the dehiscence of more than half of the circumference of the aortic prosthesis was seen. This study shows that MRI can accurately assess even periprosthetic valve leakage with multiple regurgitation jets. © Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2005.