Mechanical Aortic Valve Thrombosis: Treatment With Tissue Plasminogen Activator.

BACKGROUND

Mechanical aortic valve thrombosis is a rare complication in patients with mechanical valve replacements. Despite the advantages of mechanical valves, they necessitate lifelong anticoagulation therapy to prevent thrombotic events.

CASE SUMMARY: A 32-year-old man with a mechanical aortic valve presented with chest pain and dyspnea suggestive of myocardial infarction. Left heart catheterization revealed 100% occlusion of the distal left circumflex artery whereas cardiac computed tomography revealed a thrombus on the mechanical aortic valve. The patient was successfully treated with thrombolytic therapy using slow intravenous Alteplase infusion.