Thrombosed St. Jude Medical valve prosthesis in the right side of the heart in patients with tetralogy of Fallot

Abstract

Five patients who previously had had repair of tetralogy of Fallot underwent pulmonary valve replacement with a St. Jude Medical valve prosthesis for progressive right ventricular failure. One also underwent tricuspid valve replacement. Two of the valves subsequently became thrombotic despite anticoagulant therapy. Because of the high incidence of thrombosis, we conclude that the St. Jude Medical valve prosthesis is not a suitable prosthesis in the right side of the heart in patients with tetralogy of Fallot.