The case of an explanted 16-year-old mitral Carpentier-Edwards pericardial bioprosthesis.

We report the case of a mitral Carpentier-Edwards pericardial bioprosthesis that was explanted from a 43-year-old female patient because of structural valve deterioration 16 years following implantation. Upon removal, the prosthesis was found to be discolored and all leaflets were stiff and hard, showing extensive calcification, pannus overgrowth, leaflet hematoma, and multiple disruptions. One leaflet presented a wavy free margin due to commissural disruptions, leading to incomplete cusp coaptation. The accumulated physical symptoms of the patient were consistent with these findings.