Prosthetic valve thrombosis: a case report and review of the literature.

An elderly man with a St Jude mitral prosthesis presented to our institution in cardiogenic shock. Acute thrombosis of the valve was diagnosed by fluoroscopy and transoesophageal echocardiography. Successful lysis of the thrombus was achieved with intravenous streptokinase therapy and the patient recovered without any adverse sequelae. Prosthetic valve thrombosis is a life-threatening condition that requires prompt detection and surgical intervention. Thrombolytic therapy is a promising alternative to surgery especially in critically ill patients.