ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 January 1998
Page Count: 3

Fatal Embolization of Ball Portion of Starr-Edwards Aortic Valve Prosthesis
Anders, KH
Chief of Pathology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Woodland Hills, associate clinical professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, CA

Reddy, KK
Medical student University of Health Sciences, CA

Sathyavagiswaran, L
Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner, County of Los Angeles, Department of Coroner, California

(Received 1 April 1997; accepted 21 April 1997)

Abstract

We report an unusual case of a Starr-Edwards aortic valve malfunction with fatal dislodgment and embolization of its ball portion to the distal abdominal aorta, just above the bifurcation, leading to sudden death. This case is unusual in that it is, to date, the longest time elapsed between valve placement and ball dislodgment.

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic pathology, heart valves, prosthesis, Starr-Edwards ball valve

Paper ID: JFS16121J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS16121J
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