Thrombosis of Björk-Shiley aortic valve prostheses.

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Abstract
Though thromboembolic complications are reportedly minimal in patients with Bjork-Shiley aortic valve prostheses, massive thrombosis remains a major and often fatal problem. Of the massive thrombosis in 3 patients, only 1 survived and in all 3 instances the disk of the prosthesis was relatively radiolucent. With valves manufactured after late 1975, which contain a Ta foil hoop, cineradiography is the most rapid and accurate method of showing the disk. A simple method of calculating the valve opening angle from the cineradiograph is described. Serial cineradiographs might be useful in detecting lesser degrees of thrombosis and partial immobolization of the disk.