Retrograde dislodgement of a Harken mitral valve disc occluder.

The previous generation of mechanical heart valves was unfortunately prone to disc variance, dislodgement and catastrophic failure. This is illustrated by the recent case of a 59-year-old male who presented with retrograde dislodgement of a Harken mitral valve disc 20 years after implantation. Expediency in diagnosis and implementing surgical therapy are the keys to success in these patients.