Although porcine mitral bioprostheses provide predictably good long-term outcomes, unexpected leaflet tears leading to abrupt haemodynamic changes may occur. Here, we report on a patient who was presented with acute dyspnea due to a cuspal tear of a porcine bioprosthetic mitral valve causing severe mitral regurgitation. Her condition was subsequently complicated by a systemic infection, probably pneumonia, and was successfully managed with an urgent redo-mitral valve replacement.
Keywords: bioprosthesis dysfunction; leaflet tear; mitral valve.