Publication Date
2011
Journal
The Texas Heart Journal
PMID
21423478
Publication Date(s)
2011
Language
English
PMCID
PMC3060745
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
2011
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-Print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Aortic valve insufficiency/complications/diagnosis/etiology, echocardiography, transesophageal, heart catheterization, heart valve diseases/therapy/ultrasonography, heart valve prosthesis/adverse effects/standards, postoperative complications/therapy/ultrasonography, prosthesis failure, risk assessment, risk factors, treatment outcome
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Paravalvular leaks are well-recognized sequelae of mechanical aortic valve implantation. Clinical manifestations include hemolysis, arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure. Frequently, patients who receive mechanical aortic valves are poor candidates for repeat valve surgery, and the reoperative mortality rate is high. Percutaneous intervention has recently become an alternative to surgery in selected patients. Herein, we describe the percutaneous closure of an aortic paravalvular leak in a 45-year-old man who had undergone 2 aortic valve replacements with mechanical valves. The patient, who was at high surgical risk due to comorbidities, underwent the implantation of 2 AMPLATZER devices with the use of real-time 2- and 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. The early outcome of the procedure was favorable and without sequelae. To our knowledge, this is the 1st report of the closing of an aortic paravalvular leak with the use of 2 closure devices and real-time echocardiographic guidance.