Patient Prosthesis Mismatch

Abstract

Concept of patient prosthesis mismatch came into existence from 1978 onward when Rahimtoola first defined it as mismatch can be considered to be present when the effective prosthetic valve area, after insertion into the patient, is less than that of a normal human valve. Patient prosthesis mismatch produces higher than expected pressure gradient through normally functioning valve. Since insertion of first ball caged mechanical valve in descending aorta by Dr. Charles Hufnagel in 1952, prosthetic valve had undergone tremendous improvement in terms of valve design, hemodynamics, durability, and thrombogenicity. Despite these marked changes in valve design, prosthetic valves are still subjected to inherent complications.