Despite iron substitution therapy, a patient developed severe hemolytic anemia 23 yr after insertion of a cloth-covered Starr—Edwards model 2320 aortic valve prosthesis. The prosthesis showed no sign of significant dysfunction. Upon removal, it showed extensive cloth wear on the inner surface of all three struts; one strut was completely denuded of its cloth covering. Hemolysis immediately resolved after replacement with a St Jude aortic prosthesis.
ScottenfeldM., WisheartJ. D., RossJ. K., Cloth destruction and haemolysis with totally cloth-covered Starr-Edwards prostheses. Thorax, 1971, 26, 159–162.
2.
PierachC. A., BaurH. R. and KiserJ. C., Severe hemolysis with a fabric-worn cloth-covered aortic valve prosthesis. Chest, 1975, 67, 486–487.
3.
ShahA., DolginM., TiceD. A., Complications due to cloth wear in cloth-covered Starr-Edwards aortic and mitral valve prostheses and their management. American Heart Jounal, 1978, 96, 407–414.
4.
HuberS., BurckhardtD., RaederE. A., Complication in patients with cloth-covered Starr-Edwards prostheses. Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery, 1980, 21, 19–24.
5.
IsomO. W., SpencerF. C., GlassmanE., Long-term results in 1375 patients undergoing valve replacement with the Starr-Edwards cloth-covered steel ball prosthesis. Annals of Surgery, 1977, 186, 310–323.
6.
PluthJ. R., BroadbentJ. C., BarnhorstD. A., Aortic and mitral valve replacement with cloth-covered Braunwald—Cutter prosthesis. A three year follow up. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 1975, 20, 239–248.
7.
JonasR. A., Barrat-BoyesB. G., KerrA. R., Late follow-up of the Braunwald—Cutter valve. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 1982, 33, 554–561.
