Pseudo-mitral-valve Echogram Following Prosthetic Mitral Valve Replacement

Echocardiographic recordings from a patient with a prosthetic mitral valve revealed echoes within the left ventricular cavity that mimicked the motion pattern of a "normal" anterior mitral leaflet. The echo pattern was continuous, recorded from multiple views, and by two-dimensional images it was localized to the level of the papillary muscles. Although thrombus and vegetation are possibilities, this echo probably originates from a pliable chordal structure severed but not removed at the time of surgery. The apparent responsiveness to hemodynamic influences was striking, and we suggest that the prevalence and pathophysiologic implications of such findings are of potential import.