Percutaneous Closure of Mitral Paravalvular Leak: Long-Term Results in a Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Paravalvular leak occurs in 5-17% of patients following surgical valve replacement, more often in mitral position. The prognosis without treatment is poor. Percutaneous device closure represents an alternative to repeat surgery. The objective of this work is to evaluate the medium and long-term results in the percutaneous closure of PVL in mitral prosthesis. METHODS: This observational study is based on a retrospective registry including consecutive mitral PVL cases undergoing percutaneous closure at a single tertiary-care center from April 2010 to December 2020. The safety and efficacy results of the procedure, at 90 days and in the long term, were analyzed. Also, predictors of procedure failure and long-term events were identified. RESULTS: A total of 128 consecutive mitral paravalvular leak closure procedures were included. Technical success was achieved in 115 (89.8%) procedures. The presence of multiple PVLs was the sole factor that independently predicted procedural failure. Median follow-up of our sample was 41.8 months (mean 47.7 ± 35.7 months). Underlying hemolytic anemia as the indication for PVL closure, a recent admission for decompensated HF, and lack of improvement in functional class emerged as consistent predictors of MACE and death during long-term follow-up, while lack of procedural success during the first PVL procedure and chronic kidney disease were also associated with MACE during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous mitral PVL closure displayed high technical and procedural success rates, with an acceptable safety profile, in a high-risk population. Percutaneous mitral PVL closure achieved an improvement in short- and long-term functional class and a reduction of hemolysis in the vast majority of patients. In addition, long-term survival in our study was good, in particular for patients undergoing successful PVL closure procedures.

Cierre percutáneo de orejuela izquierda con dispositivo LAmbre / Percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage using the LAmbre device

Abstract Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an increasing health care problem associated with thromboembolic risk about 5% per year, with high mortality and morbidity when associated to stroke. Oral anticoagulants (OAC) are the treatment of choice for preventing ischemic stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, these drugs are associated with an increased risk of serious complications such an intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). In this context percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is an effective therapeutic alternative to OACs, with an increasing success rate. Novel devices might allow or facilitate the procedure in some anatomically and technically complicated cases. Two patients with a complex morphology of the LAA, in which the LAmbre (Lifetech Scientific [Shenzhen] Co. Ltd.) device was implanted with good technical and clinical results are presented.

Percutaneous closure of iatrogenic femoral arteriovenous fistula using a covered coronary stent.

We present the case of a patient with a high-output fistula between the right superficial femoral artery and femoral vein after left atrial appendage closure successfully treated with a PK-Papyrus covered coronary stent using a 6F guiding catheter. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time a PK-Papyrus coronary stent has been used in this setting.

Percutaneous Closure of Paravalvular Leaks: A Systematic Review.

Paravalvular leak (PVL) is an uncommon yet serious complication associated with the implantation of mechanical or bioprosthetic surgical valves and more recently recognized with transcatheter aortic valves implantation (TAVI). A significant number of patients will present with symptoms of congestive heart failure or haemolytic anaemia due to PVL and need further surgical or percutaneous treatment. Until recently, surgery has been the only available therapy for the treatment of clinically significant PVLs despite the significant morbidity and mortality associated with re-operation. Percutaneous treatment of PVLs has emerged as a safe and less invasive alternative, with low complication rates and high technical and clinical success rates. However, it is a complex procedure, which needs to be performed by an experienced team of interventional cardiologists and echocardiographers. This review discusses the current understanding of PVLs, including the utility of imaging techniques in PVL diagnosis and treatment, and the principles, outcomes and complications of transcatheter therapy of PVLs.

Perivalvular pannus and valve thrombosis: two concurrent mechanisms of mechanical valve prosthesis dysfunction.

A 78-year-old woman was admitted to our institution with progressive dyspnea. She had previously been diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease and had undergone cardiac surgery for mechanical mitral valve replacement ten years previously. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed blockage of the mechanical prosthesis and the patient was scheduled for surgery, in which a thrombus was removed from the left atrial appendage. A partial thrombosis of the mechanical prosthesis and circumferential pannus overgrowth were concomitantly detected. Prosthetic heart valve blockage is a rare but life-threatening complication, the main causes of which are thrombosis and pannus formation. The two conditions are different but both are usually misdiagnosed. Two concurrent mechanisms of prosthesis blockage were found in this patient.

Paravalvular leak closure with the Amplatzer Vascular Plug III device: immediate and short-term results.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous paravalvular leak closure is a complex procedure with varying success rates; the lack of closure devices specifically designed for this purpose has hampered this technique. The characteristics of the Amplatzer Vascular Plug III appear to be well suited for paravalvular leak closures; however, the available data are limited to case reports or small series of patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the feasibility and efficacy of paravalvular leak with this device. METHODS: The immediate and 90-day safety and efficacy of mitral and aortic paravalvular leak closures performed with this device at our hospital were analyzed. RESULTS: Percutaneous repair of 34 paravalvular leaks (27 mitral, 7 aortic) was attempted in 33 patients. The device was successfully implanted in 93.9% (in 2 patients, a second planned procedure was needed), and successful closure (defined as regurgitation reduction ≥ 1 grade) was achieved in 90.9% of patients. Complications included emergency surgery due to disc interference (n=1) and blood transfusion (n=3). There were no reports of procedure-related death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. At 90 days, survival was 100%, and 90.3% of patients showed significant clinical improvement; 4 patients developed vascular complications (pseudoaneurysm). CONCLUSIONS: Mitral and aortic paravalvular leak closure with the Amplatzer Vascular Plug III is feasible and safe, with high clinical and echocardiographic success rates.

Amplatzer Amulet left atrial appendage occluder entrapment through mitral valve.

We report on a 77-year-old woman in whom percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure was performed. The patient had a left atrial myxoma resection 3 years previously, and 2 years later, she suffered a transient ischemic attack. Atrial fibrillation was detected and anticoagulation therapy was established. An episode of intracranial bleeding forced interruption of anticoagulation. Thus, percutaneous LAA closure with an Amplatzer Amulet LAA Occluder (St Jude Medical) was proposed. During the procedure, the LAA occluder migrated and became trapped in the mitral valve. Secondary massive mitral regurgitation and hemodynamic instability forced emergent cardiac surgery. Successful removal of the Amplatzer Amulet LAA Occluder was achieved.