Pannus formation on St. Jude Medical prosthetic aortic valve 23 years after initial operation

Pannus formation, St. Jude Medical prosthetic valve

A 57-year-old woman who underwent aortic and mitral valve replacement 23 years previously, gradually developed dyspnea on exertion. Echocardiography revealed 120 mmHg of maximum pressure gradient at the left ventricular outflow tract. She underwent redo aortic valve replacement. Previous St. Jude Medical prosthetic aortic valve was covered with circumferential pannus (Fig. 1 ).

Fig. 1

Removed SJM valve; circumferential pannus extended into both on inflow (a) and outflow (b) side of the valve over the pivot guard.