Accurate patient diagnosis of acute porcine valve failure.

Spontaneous porcine bioprosthetic valve failure is usually of gradual onset. We report a case of acute porcine mitral valve rupture resulting in rapid hemodynamic decompensation. The patient perceived the moment of valvular failure as the abrupt onset of a vibrating sensation in his chest. As the number of patients with porcine bioprostheses continues to increase, acute valvular failure may become a more common clinical entity.