Patient Details: A 34 year old lady, post aortic valve replacement – Bi leaflet St Jude Valve

Presented 7 months later with history of giddiness and breathlessness. She was on proper oral anti coagulation during this seven months period with INR around 2.3 – 2.5 (optimally anti coagulated). Her echo showed prosthetic aortic valve gradient of 81 mm of Hg. A fluroscopy of the valve showed a single mobile leaflet and a dysfunctional immobile second leaflet.

She was treated with thrombolytics ( Streptokinase infusion, IL units /hr) for 24 hours, following which an echo revealed significant reduction in reduction in Prosthetic Aortic valve gradient of 17 mm of Hg. Patient showed significant clinical improvement and fluroscopy of the valve showed both leaflets to be functioning and mobile.

A redo surgery for struck valve costs around 2 to 2.5 lakh Indian rupees where as the thrombolytic therapy for struck valves costs you around 5000 to 6000 Indian Rupees. In this case we have used just 1 1/2 vials of streptokinase and  saved the patient from a redo surgery.

1 Comment

1.   Gregorio   |  Friday, 31 December 2010 at 8:18 pm

   It is interesting how do you save lives with this technique.