M mode and two dimensional echocardiographic features of porcine valve dysfunction.

The echocardiographic features are presented of degeneration of nine glutaraldehyde-fixed porcine xenograft valves implanted in eight patients. These features occurred 11 to 68 months after implantation and were correlated with surgical and necropsy findings. Acute bacterial endocarditis was present in two patients, and had been successfully treated medically in three other patients 47 to 52 months before valve degeneration was recognized. The valve was severely thickened in four patients and in two of the four the thickening was associated with a significant hemodynamic transvalve gradient. M mode echocardiography demonstrated increased thickness and loss of the cusp detail. In five patients severe regurgitation due to a tear in one or more cusps developed in the the valve in the mitral position. M mode echocardiography in all five patients revealed on the valve systolic or diastolic fluttering echoes, or both. The two dimensional echocardiogram demonstrated thickened cusps with systolic protrusion of the leaflets into the left atrium. Both modes of echocardiography were of valve in identifying degeneration of the porcine xenograft valve.