经胸超声心动图引导下行房间隔缺损封堵术治疗先天性房间隔缺损的临床研究

目的:探讨经胸超声心动图引导下行房间隔缺损封堵术治疗先天性房间隔缺损(Atrial septal defect,ASD)的临床疗效。方法:比较先天性ASD患者行超声心动图组(49例)或介入组(53例),患者的疗效及心脏功能的变化。结果:超声心动图组并发症发生率显著低于介入组(P0.05);术后4周,两组患者的心率、舒张期室间隔厚度(Interventricular septal thickness,IVST)、左室后壁厚度(Left ventricular posterior wall thickness,LVPWT)、左心室心肌重量(Left ventricular mass,LVM)和左心室心肌重量指数(Left ventricular mass index,LVMI)明显降低(P0.05),左心室射血分数(Left ventricular ejection fraction,LVEF)和左心室高峰充盈率(Left ventricular peak filling rate,LVPFR)均显著升高(P0.05),其余指标则无明显变化(P0.05);但术后1周超声心动图组的LVEF、IVST和LVMI即显著高于术前(P0.05)。结论:胸超声心动图引导下行ASD封堵术与X线介入封堵术疗效相当,但前者可能对ASD患者的心脏功能的改善更为显著。     

预防经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术后二尖瓣反流的进一步研究

目的:对342例经皮球囊二尖辫成形术(Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty,PBMV)资料进行回顾性分析,进一步探讨PBMV的适应证及总结二尖瓣反流并发症的预防.方法:我院2000年1月至2009年12月行PBMV的二尖瓣狭窄患者342例中,男性69例(20.18%),女性273例(79.82%).年龄18-63岁,平均(35.20±11.47岁).收集术前、术后超声心动图和临床评估资料进行回顾性分析.结果:wilkins评分为9-11分与评分≤8分的相比、常规扩张法与逐渐扩张法组相比、完美组与可接受组相比发生二尖辩关闭不全比率均明显增加,均有统计学意义.结论:二尖瓣反流是PBMV中主要的并发症,严格掌握适应证和仔细的术中操作,可以减少并发症的发生率.     

彩色多普勒超声在胎儿心脏瓣膜反流检测中的应用价值

目的探讨彩色多普勒超声在胎儿心脏瓣膜反流检测中的应用价值。方法选择2015年1月~2016年6月在我院行产前检查的孕妇150例,采用彩色多普勒超声检测胎儿心脏瓣膜反流的情况,并对检测结果进行分析,总结其临床应用价值。结果 150例孕妇中,发现1例胎儿二尖瓣少量反流,4例胎儿三尖瓣少量反流,3例胎儿二尖瓣反流合并三尖瓣反流。新生儿出生后显示,先天性心脏病4例,非先天性心脏病3例。结论在胎儿心脏瓣膜反流诊断中应用彩色多普勒超声检查的效果显著,具有较高的临床应用价值。     

心电图联合超声心动图在心肌病鉴别中的应用

目的分析心电图联合超声心动图在心肌病类型鉴别中的应用效果。方法选取我院2017年1月～2018年2月收治的50例扩张性心肌病患者作为A组,选取同期治疗的50例缺血性心肌病患者作为B组,采用心电图联合超声心动图检查比较两组患者的心功能、瓣膜反流及心脏形态变化情况。结果 A组每搏量、左心室射血时间及左心室射血分数方面均较B组低,右心室内径、左心室收缩期内径、左心室舒张期内径、主动脉内径、二尖瓣E点至室间隔距离、R_(v6)/R_(max)和R_(v6)/R_(mv)均较B组高,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。A组弥漫性管壁运动障碍与左心室呈球状占比较B组高(P0.05),B组管壁矛盾运动、管壁节段性运动障碍、左心室呈拱门状和左心室心尖圆薄占比均较A组高(P0.05)。A组与B组主动脉瓣膜反流、肺动脉瓣膜反流及三尖瓣膜反流占比分别为60%、68%、80%和30%、32%、38%,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论在心肌病类型鉴别诊断中应用心电图联合超声心动图具有较高的临床应用价值,能够清楚显示心肌病类型,提高了心肌病诊断准确率,值得临床应用。     

介入治疗室间隔缺损疑难病例的特点和手术方式研究

研究介入治疗室间隔缺损疑难病例术中出现困难的常见原因和相应的手术方式。方法:收入264例膜部室间隔缺损患者,经胸超声心动图和左室造影证实符合室间隔缺损治疗适应症后,采用先建立动静脉轨道,然后由静脉端送入封堵器到室间隔缺损位置进行封堵的方法行介入治疗,对术中出现困难的病例分析其原因并分别采用不同方法和器材完成封堵手术。结果: 260例患者中15例封堵术中出现困难,其中6例表现为室间隔膜部瘤破口最大径≤3mm造成导丝不易通过,3例室间隔膜部瘤破口位置异常导致导丝通过困难,5例升主动脉或主动脉窦变形增宽造成不能按照通常方法将长鞘推入左室,1例合并下腔静脉肝段缺如造成静脉途径导管不能经正常途径进入右室。15例中除1例未成功建立轨道转胸外科治疗外,14例分别通过更换特别的导管导丝、膜部瘤部位选择性造影和经颈内静脉途径等方法完成介入封堵治疗。结论:室间隔缺损介入封堵治疗术的关键和难点是输送轨道的建立,患者心血管系统的生理和病理变异或畸形是造成输送轨道建立困难的常见原因,通过全面分析影像学资料、选择不同的器材和血管途径有助于在疑难病例中完成介入治疗。     

随机、平行对照评价陶瓷膜室间隔缺损封堵器安全性和有效性

目的:随机、平行对照的临床试验验证先健科技(深圳)有限公司生产的TM陶瓷膜VSD封堵器治疗室间隔缺损的安全性及有效性。方法:根据试验的要求入选术前确诊为室间隔缺损的病人42例,随机分为实验组(A组)和对照组(B组),每组各21例,对A组病人植入CeraTM陶瓷膜VSD封堵器,对B组病人植入普通镍钛合金VSD封堵器,在超声心动图下或X线下观察室间隔缺损大小、位置、形态、类型,选择合适的封堵伞,经输送系统置入封堵器闭合VSD,分别于术前、术后24小时、术后30天、90天及术后180天进行随访,主要随访内容包括临床症状和体征、超声心动图、心电图、胸片、24小时动态心电图检查等。比较这两组患者的即刻手术成功率以及随访过程中终点事件发生率的不同。结果:试验组和对照组的成功率均为100%,残余分流率分别为0和4.8%,试验组的并发症发生率与对照组未见明显差异(P0.005)。结论:试验组与对照组安全性与疗效相当,应用国产陶瓷封堵器是安全、有效的。但由于该项技术是一项新技术,临床试验样本量较少,其安全性和疗效特别是中远期疗效仍需进一步观察。     

双极射频消融改良迷宫术治疗房颤的中远期疗效及其影响因素分析

目的:分析心脏瓣膜置换同期行双极射频消融改良迷宫术治疗房颤的术后中远期疗效及其影响因素。方法:选取2007年7月至2010年12月于我院行心脏瓣膜置换同期行双极射频消融改良迷宫术治疗房颤的72例患者,术后随访3至6年,获得患者术后十二导联心电图、24 h动态心电图和心脏彩超结果,并且记录术后药物应用、相关并发症、心功能恢复情况及生活质量是否改善等情况。根据心电图结果,将患者分为窦性心律组与非窦性心律组,应用统计学方法比较两组患者术前相关因素是否有差异。结果:截止至随访终点,有效随访的68例患者中窦性心律维持率为63.2%。单因素分析显示术前房颤病程、术前左室射血分数、是否合并三尖瓣成形或置换是影响手术效果的影响因素,多因素分析显示术前房颤病程、合并三尖瓣成形或置换是影响手术效果的危险因素。结论:心脏瓣膜置换同期行双极射频消融改良迷宫术治疗房颤的中晚期疗效好,术后并发症少,能够有效防止血栓栓塞,术前房颤病程长、合并三尖瓣成形或置换的患者术后中远期效果相对较差。     

超声心动图对缺血性二尖瓣反流血流动力学的研究

目的:应用超声心动图研究缺血性二尖瓣反流(IMR)所致左室、二尖瓣环动力学变化。方法:超声心动图检测86例缺血性二尖瓣反流患者(前壁心肌梗死49例,下壁心肌梗死37例)和30例正常人的心脏,测量左室参数及二尖瓣环形态参数。结果:IMR组左室EDV、ESV增加,LVEF减低,但与对照组无显著差异;二尖瓣环面积及位移与对照组有显著差异;不同部位心肌梗死均发生明显左室重构;下壁梗死组PPM-AMP明显延长。结论:超声心动图作为心肌梗死患者的常规检查,可以针对不同患者进行不同的参数检查,这也为临床医生选择个性化治疗方案和疗效评价提供了依据。     

冠心病合并缺血性二尖瓣关闭不全的手术方案探讨

目的:探讨适用于冠心病合并缺血性二尖瓣关闭不全的手术方法及临床效果,为心外科手术提供参考。方法:选取2012年2月至2013年5月在我院心脏外科接受手术治疗的冠心病合并缺血性二尖瓣关闭不全的患者31例。根据手术方式的不同,将所选病例分为二尖瓣成形术组和二尖瓣置换术组。术后随访6-24个月,观察并比较患者手术前后的左心房内径(LAD)、舒张末期直径(LVEDD)、收缩末期直径(LVESD)、左心室射血分数(LVEF)及二尖瓣返流面积。结果:围术期死亡1例,手术成功率为96.7%。30例成功获得随访,随访率为98.8%。二尖瓣成形术组并发症的发生率为22.7%,二尖瓣置换术组并发症的发生率为23.3%,两组术后并发症的发生率无显著差异(P0.05)。与手术前相比,两组患者术后的左心房内径变小,左室舒张末直径和收缩末直径增加,左室射血分数升高,二尖瓣反流面积缩少,差异显著且具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:对于冠心病合并重度缺血性二尖瓣关闭不全的患者行二尖瓣成形术或置换术应根据患者的实际情况和病理特点选择最佳的手术方案,以提高手术的成功率和安全性。     

肥厚梗阻性心肌病的外科治疗

目的:总结肥厚室间隔切除术治疗肥厚梗阻性心肌病的手术效果,探讨外科治疗策略。方法:2002年3月至2010年10月,外科手术治疗33例肥厚梗阻性心肌病病人。其中男16例,女17例;年龄13～59岁,平均(42.7±13.6)岁;左室流出道压差(LVOTGP)70～120 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133Kpa),平均(95.0±22.6)mmHg。其中合并二尖瓣关闭不全24例,主动脉瓣关闭不全7例,升主动脉增宽3例,冠心病2例。手术在全麻低温体外循环下完成,按常规经主动脉切口行室间隔心肌切除术,同期完成二尖瓣置换术(MVR)7例,二尖瓣成形术(MVP)7例,二尖瓣、主动脉瓣成形术(MVP+AVP)5例,二尖瓣、升主动脉成形术3例,二尖瓣、主动脉瓣成形、冠状动脉旁路移植术(MVP+AVP+CABG)2例。分析比较病人术前超声心动图(UCG),术中经食管心脏超声(TEE),以及术后1周、3月、6月、1年超声心动图结果。结果:手术死亡1例(3.0%,1/33例),主要死因为严重低心排综合症以及多脏器功能衰竭。二次开胸止血1例(3.0%,1/33例)。术中经食管心脏超声示所有病人二尖瓣前叶收缩期前向运动现象(SAM征)消失。存活病人手术效果良好,解剖狭窄解除,峰值压差降低,SAM现象基本消失。远期随访生存病人症状消失,生活质量明显改善,心功能I～II级,无远期死亡、并发症或再次手术。结论:外科治疗肥厚梗阻型心肌病具有良好的手术效果。了解病生理过程、术中仔细探察、手术切除彻底是手术成功的关键。     

二尖瓣成形术与二尖瓣生物瓣置换术治疗风湿性二尖瓣重度关闭不全的效果比较

目的:探讨二尖瓣成形术(Mitral valve plasty,MVP)与二尖瓣生物瓣置换术(Mitral valve replacement,MVR)治疗风湿性二尖瓣重度关闭的临床疗效和安全性。方法:选择我院2014年1月至2019年1月收治的因风湿性二尖瓣重度关闭而行二尖瓣成形术或二尖瓣生物瓣置换术的患者60例,其中二尖瓣成形术组(MVP组)27例,二尖瓣生物瓣置换术组(MVR组)33例。比较两组患者的围手术期各项指标,治疗前后的心功能指标(左心室射血分数,左心房内径、左心室收缩末期内径、左心室舒张末期内径)及二尖瓣反流情况以及术后并发症的发生情况。结果:(1)MVP组患者的手术时间、体外循环时间均明显长于MVR组(P0.05);而术中出血量、呼吸机使用时间、住院时间MVP组均显著低于MVR组(P0.05);(2)术后,MVP组的LVEF和LVEDD水平高于MVR组,而LAD和LVESD水平则低于MVR组(P 0.05);(3)出院前及末次随访时,MVP组二尖瓣反流发生率与MVR组相比差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。(4)MVP组患者的术后并发症发生率低于MVR组(P 0.05)。结论:二尖瓣成形术治疗风湿性二尖瓣重度关闭的临床疗效和安全性优于二尖瓣生物瓣置换术,但术者需严格掌控MVP的手术适应症。     

国产房缺封堵器治疗多孔型房缺

目的：评估国产封堵器治疗多孔型房缺的可行性及安全性。方法：在X线及超声引导下对19例多孔型房缺植入国产房缺封堵器,术后常规进行心电图及经胸心脏超声随访半年。结果：所有患者均成功进行了房缺封堵,其中5例放置1枚国产普通型房缺封堵器,7例放置2枚国产普通型房缺封堵器,另7例则分别放置1枚细腰大边型房缺封堵器,术后即刻超声检查1例仍有少许分流,术后1月时随访分流消失,所有患者随访半年未出现明显并发症。结论：国产房缺封堵器可安全应用于多孔型房缺患者的封堵治疗,在经验丰富的先心病介入治疗专科中心,封堵治疗可做为部分多孔型房缺患者的首选治疗。     

国产Amplatzer蘑菇伞介入治疗中老年动脉导管未闭的近中期疗效分析

目的:评价国产Amplatzer蘑菇伞介入治疗中老年动脉导管未闭(patent ductus arteriosus,PDA)的近中期临床疗效及安全性。方法:选择2007年1月至2011年12月我院收治的32例中老年PDA患者,经临床、心电图、X线及经胸超声心动图(TTE)检查确诊,均成功行介入治疗。术后行心电图、X线胸片、TTE随访。结果:32例均1次封堵成功,成功率100%。无重要并发症发生。随访X线胸片显示肺血较术前减少,心胸比率不同程度缩小。术后48小时(32例)超声心动图显示左房内径(LAD)、左室舒张末内径(LVDd)及肺动脉收缩压(PASP)较封堵前明显缩小(P0.01);术后1、3、6月(32例)超声心动图随访显示LAD及LVDd、PASP进一步缩小;术后1年(30例)、术后2年(20例)、术后3年(12例)、术后4年(5例)超声心动图随访显示心脏大小及肺动脉收缩压恢复正常。结论:国产Amplatzer蘑菇伞介入治疗中老年PDA具有操作简单、创伤小、安全且技术成功率高、住院时间短等优点,近中期疗效明确,并发症少。     

Serial Echocardiographic and Clinical Evaluation of Valvular Regurgitation Before,During, and After Treatment with Fenfluramine or Dexfenfluramine and Mazindol or Phentermine

RYAN, DONNA H., GEORGE A. BRAY, FRED HELMCKE, GARY SANDER, JULIA VOLAUFOVA, FRANK GREENWAY, PRAMILLA SUBRAMANIAM, AND D. LUKE GLANCY. Serial echocardiographic and clinical evaluation of valvular regurgitation before, during, and after treatment with fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine and mazindol or phentermine. Obes Res. Objective: The prevalence of cardiac valvular regurgitation demonstrated by echocardiography in patients who took appetite-suppressant medication for weight loss has been assessed at 5%-30%. We studied 86 patients who had echo-cardiograms before treatment with appetite suppressants to determine the incidence of new cases and to evaluate the clinical implication of the echocardiographic findings. Research Methods and Procedures: We studied 69 men [Mean± Standard Deviation (S) age 49±81] and 17 women (mean±S age 50±7) who had 233 echocardiograms before, during, and after a weight-loss program that used predominantly fenfluramine (or dexfenfluramine) with mazindol (or phentermine). Mean drug exposure was 17 months. Blinded echocardiographic readings were performed to identify and grade aortic regurgitation (AR) or mitral regurgitation (MR). Results: Seven of 86 patients (8%) had pre-existing regurgitation with five (6%) meeting our case definition. Thirteen (16. 5%) of initially normal patients developed valvular regurgitation and were new cases. Of the new cases, 12 were grade IAV AR and one was both grade II/III MR and IIDV AR. All 13 patients were asymptomatic, and only two aortic insufficiency murmurs could be auscultated. There was significantly greater risk for developing valvulopathy for those who took medications longer than 6 months (p = 0. 03), and no new cases were observed in patients exposed for less than 8 months. No increased risk associated with age, presence of hypertension, or exposure to fenfluramine-phentermine combination was demonstrated. Although there was a higher incidence of new regurgitation in women (31% vs. 13% for men), this was not statistically significant (p = 0. 093). Discussion: Some patients who had normal echocardiograms at baseline developed cardiac valvular regurgitation after exposure to fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine with mazindol or phentermine. The development of valvulopathy was significantly correlated with duration of exposure. The clinical implications of echocardiographically demonstrated regurgitation are uncertain, since there were only two audible murmurs and no other clinically relevant signs or symptoms among the patients.     

不同三尖瓣成形术治疗风湿性二尖瓣病变合并三尖瓣关闭不全临床研究

目的:比较行不同成形术治疗风湿性二尖瓣病变合并功能性三尖瓣关闭不全的外科疗效。方法:选取风湿性二尖瓣病变合并功能性三尖瓣关闭不全患者119例,按照治疗方法将患者分为对照组、三尖瓣人工环植入成形术组(成形环组)以及三尖瓣缝线成形术(缝线组),分别统计患者年龄、性别、手术方式、术前及术后心功能分级等指标,采用t检验对患者术前、术后2周以及术后6个月心脏各腔内径进行统计学分析。结果:患者行三尖瓣人工环植入成形术以及三尖瓣缝线成形术治疗后,心脏各腔内径均明显缩小,成形环组患者术后心脏内径缩小最显著,行三尖瓣缝线成形术患者次之。术前成形环组左心房、右心房以及右心室内径较对照组扩大明显(P0.05);术前缝线组左心房、右心房以及右心室内径较对照组扩大明显(P0.05);术前成形环组与缝线组右心房、右心室内径组间无明显差异;术后2周以及术后6个月三组间左心房内径无明显差异(P0.05)。术后2周成形环组以及缝线组右心房以及右心室内径仍大于对照组(P0.05),术前成形环组与缝线组组间无显著差异。术后6个月成形环组右心房以及右心室内径较缝线组显著缩小(P0.05),成形环组和对照组间无明显差异。结论:治疗风湿性二尖瓣病变合并功能性三尖瓣关闭不全的方法中,三尖瓣人工环植入成形术效果优于三尖瓣缝线环缩术。     

国产Amplatzer蘑菇伞介入治疗中老年动脉导管未闭的近中期疗效分析

目的：评价国产Amplatzer蘑菇伞介入治疗中老年动脉导管未闭（patentductusarteriosus,PDA）的近中期临床疗效及安全性。方法：选择2007年1月至2011年12月我院收治的32例中老年PDA患者,经临床、心电图、x线及经胸超声心动图（TTE）检查确诊,均成功行介入治疗。术后行心电图、x线胸片、TTE随访。结果：32例均1次封堵成功,成功率100％。无重要并发症发生。随访x线胸片显示肺血较术前减少,心胸比率不同程度缩小。术后48小时（32例）超声心动图显示左房内径（LAD）、左室舒张末内径（LVDd）及肺动脉收缩压（PASP）较封堵前明显缩小（P〈0．01）;术后1、3、6月（32例）超声心动图随访显示LAD及LVDd、PASP进一步缩小;术后1年（30例）、术后2年（20例）、术后3年（12例）、术后4年（5例）超声心动图随访显示心脏大小及肺动脉收缩压恢复正常。结论：国产Amplatzer蘑菇伞介入治疗中老年PDA具有操作简单、创伤小、安全且技术成功率高、住院时间短等优点,近中期疗效明确,并发症少。     

Prevalence of Valvular Heart Disease in A Cohort of Patients Taking Cabergoline for Management of Hyperprolactinemia

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of valvular heart disease in a cohort of patients taking cabergoline for the management of hyperprolactinemia.MethodsA retrospective review of medical records identified patients with hyperprolactinemia who underwent evaluation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center between January and June 2007. The medical records of those patients who were prescribed cabergoline and who underwent elective echocardiography were reviewed for details pertaining to cardiac valvular abnormalities and cabergoline use.ResultsForty-five patients (mean age, 41 ± 10 years [SD]) taking 0.91 ± 0.96 mg of cabergoline per week for a mean duration of 39 ± 29 months underwent echocardiography. Abnormalities of the cardiac valves were present in 3 patients (7%): 1 patient exhibited mild mitral regurgitation, 1 patient had focal aortic valve thickening, and 1 patient demonstrated mitral valve thickening. We found no significant difference in either the cumulative dose of cabergoline (P = .800) or the duration of cabergoline therapy (P = .745) between those patients with and those without these echocardiographic abnormalities.ConclusionWe found echocardiographic valve abnormalities in 3 of 45 patients (7 %) who had been prescribed cabergoline for the management of hyperprolactinemia. This prevalence of valvular heart disease after approximately 3 years of cabergoline treatment is no different from that previously reported in normal populations as determined by echocardiography. (Endocr Pract. 2008;14:672-677)     

Feasibility and Safety of Transthoracic Echocardiography-Guided Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defects with Deficient Superior-Anterior Rims

Although previous studies showed that transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) can be used to guide transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD), whether TTE can be used to guide transcatheter closure of secundum ASD with a deficient superior-anterior rim is unknown and this critical issue was addressed in the present study. A total of 280 patients with secundum ASD who underwent transcatheter ASD closure were recruited and divided into groups A and B depending on ASD superior-anterior rim>4 mm (n = 118) or ≤4 mm (n = 162). TTE was used to guide Amplatzer-type septal occluder (ASO) positioning and assess residual shunt. Procedure success was defined as no, trivial and small residual shunt immediately after the procedure as assessed by color Doppler flow imaging. Group A and group B did not differ in complication rate (8.55% vs.7.55%), procedure success rate (98.3% vs. 95.0%) or complete closure rate immediately after the procedure (89.7% vs. 89.3%) or at 6-month follow-up (98.3% vs. 96.8%). The mean procedure and fluoroscopy time in group B were much longer than those in group A. In conclusion, the absence of a sufficient superior-anterior rim in patients undergoing percutaneous closure of secundum-type ASDs using fluoroscopic and TTE guidance is associated with slightly greater device malposition and migration as well as increased procedural and fluoroscopic times, but the overall complication rate did not differ with TTE guidance when compared to historical controls that used TEE guidance.     

The last frontier: transcatheter devices for percutaneous or minimally invasive treatment of chronic heart failure

Heart failure has a high prevalence in the general population. Morbidity and mortality of heart failure patients remain high, despite improvements in drug therapy, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and cardiac resynchronisation therapy. New transcatheter implantable devices have been developed to improve the treatment of heart failure. There has been a rapid development of minimally invasive or transcatheter devices used in the treatment of heart failure associated with aortic and mitral valve disease and these devices are being incorporated into routine clinical practice at a fast rate. Several other new transcatheter structural heart interventions for chronic heart failure aimed at a variety of pathophysiologic approaches are currently being developed. In this review, we focus on devices used in the treatment of chronic heart failure by means of left ventricular remodelling, left atrial pressure reduction, tricuspid regurgitation reduction and neuromodulation. The clinical evaluations of these devices are early-stage evaluations of initial feasibility and safety studies and additional clinical evidence needs to be gathered in appropriately designed clinical trials.     

DISC VARIANCE OF THE HARKEN MITRAL PROSTHESIS: THE CONTRIBUTION OF ASSOCIATED AORTIC REGURGITATION

Four cases of severe mitral regurgitation due to disc variance of the Harken disc prosthesis in the mitral position are described. The valve occluder actually escaped into the left atrium in two patients, and neither survived despite emergency valve replacement. In the other two, disc malfunction was identified by flouroscopy, the prosthesis was replaced, and both patients survived. All four patients had associated aortic regurgitation, which most likely contributed to erosion of the disc edges. It is suggested that patients with the Harken disc prosthesis undergo periodic evaluation to detect abnormal disc motion.