Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis of a stuck bioprosthetic mitral valve leaflet.

Stuck (immobilized) leaflet of a metallic mitral prosthetic valve due to obstruction by mitral subvalvular apparatus is a well recognized complication after placement of prosthetic valves. However, a stuck mitral valve leaflet involving a bioprosthetic valve has not been reported so far most likely because of increased pliability of tissue leaflets. We describe the first case of a stuck bioprosthetic mitral valve leaflet in which intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was useful to make a definitive diagnosis and helped to resolve the problem immediately.