Between December 2014 and March 2021, 144 patients with aortic (Ao) or mitral (Mi) paravalvular leaks (PVLs) were enrolled at 21 sites in 10 countries. Safety data were available for 137 patients, who were included in the safety analysis fraction (SAF), 93 patients with Mi PVLs and 44 patients with Ao PVLs. The full analysis set (FAS) comprised 112 patients with available stratum (aortic/mitral leak) as well as baseline (BL), 180-day or later assessments (2 years). Procedural success (implantation of the device with a proper closure of the PVL, defined as reduction in paravalvular regurgitation of ≥one grade as assessed by echocardiography post implantation) was achieved in 91.3% of FAS patients with Mi PVLs and in 90.0% of those with Ao PVLs. The proportion of patients suffering from significant or severe heart failure (HF), classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III/IV, decreased from 80% at baseline to 14.1% at 2-year follow-up (FAS). The proportion of FAS patients needing hemolysis-related blood transfusion decreased from 35.5% to 3.8% and from 8.1% to 0% in Mi patients and Ao patients, respectively. In total, 35 serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in 27 patients (19.7%) of the SAF population. The SAEs considered possibly or probably related to the device included device embolization (three patients), residual leak (two patients) and vascular complication (one patient). During follow-up, 12/137 (8.8%) patients died, but none of the deaths was considered to be device-related. Patients implanted with the Occlutech Paravalvular Leak Device (PLD) showed long-lasting improvements in clinical parameters, including NYHA class and a reduced dependency on hemolysis-related blood transfusions.
Moderate to severe paravalvular-leak (PVL) regurgitation after surgical aortic-valve replacement or after transcatheter valve implantation represents a well-known complication associated with symptoms related to heart failure, hemolysis, or both in patients with multiple comorbidities and with poor prognostic outcomes. The transcatheter closure of aortic paravalvular leaks (APVLs) is currently considered a valid alternative to cardiac surgery. Nevertheless, careful patient selection, optimal cardiac imaging for intraprocedural guidance, and expert operators are key for success. Although technically demanding, particularly in APVLs after transcatheter valve implantation, catheter-based closure is an effective, less invasive, and often the only option for high-risk patients with symptomatic PVL regurgitation.
Widespread catheter-based interventions for structural heart disease have overtaken the treatment of paravalvular leaks (PVL). Multimodality imaging techniques play a crucial role in accurate diagnosis, procedure planning and performance. However, PVL closure is often technically challenging due to the complex anatomy of the defects and their relation to surrounding anatomical structures. The application of echocardiography and fluoroscopy imaging fusion (EFF) may simplify challenging imaginative three-dimensional reconstruction of the intracardiac anatomy and facilitate the procedure. To master new technology, personnel must make cognitive changes, overcome a learning curve, and obtain adequate theoretical knowledge. Main aim of this manuscript is to present basic recommendations for EFF application in practice, alongside, each scenario is supported by technically challenging clinical examples. We may conclude that our manuscript may provide useful information for physicians on EEF application in clinical practice.
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