Prognostic impact of identifying etiology of prosthetic valve dysfunction with CT

In 132 patients with suspected PVD, an etiology was diagnosed on CT in 60.6% and on echocardiography in 34.1% patients. On adjusted multivariable analyses, CT diagnosis of structural valve degeneration was significantly associated with the composite outcome of reoperation or death whereas echocardiography diagnosis was not. CT assessment of PVD had prognostic significance for hard outcomes and should be considered in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected PVD.