Echocardiographic findings in pannus ingrowth on an omniscience mitral prosthesis

Serial echocardiographic findings in a patient with an Omniscience mitral prosthesis presenting progressive perivalvular pannus ingrowth are described. The first echocardiographic study was carried out one year after prosthesis implantation and showed decreased prosthetic opening velocity. As prosthetic thrombosis was suspected, hemodynamic study was performed, which proved normal. The patient remained in functional grade II for a year and a half prior to the onset of progressive dyspnea and dizzy spells. Echocardiogram was thus repeated and revealed the presence of multiple dense echoes behind the prosthetic disc. Three months after this last study, the patient presented acute pulmonary edema and reduction of disc excursion and opening and closing velocities. Hemodynamic study suggested prosthetic obstruction. Surgery revealed the presence of perivalvular pannus trapping the prosthetic disc. The prosthesis was subsequently replaced by a Bjork-Sorin. This case emphasizes the usefulness of echocardiography in the early detection of perivalvular pannus ingrowth revealing prosthetic mobility anomalies, even before hemodynamic changes occur.