Thalassemia and heart surgery: aortic valve repair after endocarditis

Abstract

Outcome after heart valve surgery in patients affected by thalassemia is an unreported issue and to the best of our knowledge only 7 cases have been described in the literature. Heart valve disease is commonly encountered in thalassemia patients and heart valve replacement carries high risk of prosthesis complications including thrombosis and embolization despite optimal anticoagulation management. We report a successful long-term outcome after a case of aortic valve repair after mycotic valve endocarditis.