Detection of acute thrombosis of mitral tilting disk prosthesis by transesophageal echocardiography.

Acute thrombosis is a very severe complication in the replacement of mechanical prostheses and most often fatal if immediate treatment is not implemented. We describe a case in which an acute thrombosis of a mitral tilting disk prosthesis was adequately diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography and immediate surgical replacement of the dysfunctioning device was possible without catheterizing the patient.