A rare case report of early bioprosthetic valve thrombosis presenting with acute heart failure salvaged by thrombectomy

BACKGROUND: Bioprosthetic valve thrombosis is previously considered as an extremely rare complication which hasn’t been systemically recognized and understood. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we present an unusual case of a patient manifesting with acute heart failure, secondary to thrombus formation in a porcine aortic bioprosthesis which was implanted 11 months prior to hospitalization. Due to the patient’s poor heart function and intraoperative findings, thrombectomy was performed. For our best knowledge, cases of early bioprosthetic valve thrombosis presenting with acute heart failure have seldomly been reported. CONCLUSION: Our study reviews predisposing factors, typical echocardiographic features and treatment for bioprosthetic valve thrombosis and it should be considered as a reason for bioprosthetic malfunction. A combination of clinical and echocardiographic features can help for diagnosis preoperatively. In some certain circumstances, early reoperation can be avoided if anticoagulant therapy works.