Echocardiographic diagnosis of thrombus on a heterograft aortic valve in the mitral position.

Echocardiographic studies were used to diagnose a thrombus adherent to the ventricular surface of a stent-mounted porcine aortic heterograft valve in the mitral position. Multiple, intense, irregularly thickened echoes were present within and behind the anterior and posterior heterograft valvular stent. This suggested the presence of adherent biologic material, such as a thrombus. The abnormal echocardiographic findings are compared to the findings in a normally functioning porcine heterograft aortic valve in the mitral position.