Although porcine mitral bioprostheses provide predictably good long-term
outcomes, unexpected leaflet tears leading to abrupt haemodynamic
changes may occur. We report on a patient who presented with acute
dyspnea due to cuspal tear of a porcine bioprosthetic mitral valve
causing severe mitral regurgitation, her condition was subsequently
complicated by systemic infection, probably pneumonia, and was
successfully managed with urgent redo-mitral valve replacement.