Echocardiographic demonstration of porcine mitral valve vegetation and dehiscence.

The echocardiographic study of a patient with a malfunctioning porcine valve in the mitral position is presented. Echocardiography of the mitral valve revealed multiple, dense heterogeneous echoes behind and within the valve stent which were suggestive of vegetations. At the aortic valve level, a clear systolic echo in the left atrium was recorded. This echo probably represented the prolapsing anterior valve stent and was caused by a major dehiscence of the valve stent due to endocarditis.