Noninvasive diagnostic tools available for discrimination pannus from thrombus in patients with prosthetic valve dysfunction

Abstract

We have recently read with great interest the article by Barroso Freitas‐Ferraz et al1 entitled “Prosthetic aortic valve thrombosis: To fibrinolyse or not to fibrinolyse? That is the question!”. The authors reported a case of aortic prosthetic valve dysfunction (PVD), which was successfully treated surgically. We congratulate the authors for achieving a successful outcome in such a high‐risk patient. However, we would like to discuss the importance of noninvasive diagnostic tools for differentiation of prosthetic valve thrombus and pannus, which are the major causes of PVD, before surgical treatment.