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Previous Volume 333:1714-1715 December 21, 1995 Number 25 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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To the Editor: O'Neill et al. (Aug. 17 issue)¹ described a radiographic method for the detection of strut separation in Björk–Shiley convexo-concave mitral valves that had a reasonable sensitivity (83 percent) and high specificity (99.7 percent). The authors suggest that this method may be useful for screening patients with this type of mechanical heart valve, since the elective removal of valves with a defect in one leg of the outlet strut will prevent death from subsequent mechanical failure of the second leg.

The alternatives to screening are direct elective surgery without screening on the one hand, and expectant management (observation) . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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