A novel alternative: transapical transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation using J-Valve for failed bioprosthesis

Transapical transcatheter mitral valve implantation with J-valve in patients with degenerated mitral bioprostheses

BACKGROUND

Due to the widespread application of bioprosthetic valve in the treatment of mitral valve disease in recent years, the incidence of valve failure has increased significantly, which is facing the need of reoperation. For high-risk patients, transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve placement is increasingly being used as an alternative to surgical reoperation.

CASE PRESENTATION

Here we report the successful transapical transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantations of J-Valves in 3 patients with high risk of mitral bioprostheses failure. All patients were discharged successfully, and the follow-up results were good 30 days after operation without major complication.

CONCLUSIONS

For high-risk patients, transcatheter implantation of the J-valve is a feasible solution for the treatment of degenerated mitral bioprostheses.

Transcatheter Mitral Valve-in-Valve Implantation Applying a Long Pre-Curved Sheath for Patients with Degenerated Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve

Backgrounds

Percutaneous transseptal transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation (TMViV) has become an alternative minimally invasive treatment choice for patients with degenerated mitral bioprosthesis and high surgical risk. However, transseptal approach is more technically challenging than transapical approach in TMViV procedures.

Objective

The objective of this study was to introduce the experience of applying long pre-curved sheaths in transseptal TMViV procedures and to evaluate the effect of long pre-curved sheath techniques in TMViV procedures.

Methods

Between January 2020 and December 2021, 27 patients with degenerated bioprosthetic mitral valve underwent TMViV procedures using a balloon-expandable valve via the transseptal approach. The regular 14/16F expandable sheath were used for low-profile delivery in first 10 cases, and 22F long pre-curved sheath were used in the next 17 cases during procedures. We retrospectively reviewed the catheter techniques, perioperative characteristics, and prognosis. The median follow-up time was 12 (1-21) months. To further scrutinize our data, we divided the group into the early 10 patients using 14/16F expandable sheath and the subsequent 17 patients with long pre-curved sheath in order to assess the impact of different sheaths and procedural details on outcomes.

Results

Procedural success was obtained in all patients with no in-hospital mortality. Seventeen patients received 26 mm prostheses; the remaining ten patients received 29 mm prostheses. Post balloon dilatation was performed in one case. Total procedure time was (96.1 ± 28.2) min, the fluoroscopic time was (27.4 ± 6.5) min, and total contrast volume was (50.7 ± 10.1) mL. One patient received blood transfusion because of hemorrhage at the femoral puncture site. One patient received a permanent pacemaker implantation due to high-degree atrioventricular block at postoperative day 3. There were no other major post-procedure complications and the median length of hospital stay was 4 days. Twenty-five (92.6%) patients improved by ≥ 1 New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class at 30 days. In subsequent sub analysis, there were shorter procedural time [(85.2 ± 24.3) vs. (115.2 ± 25.6) min, p = 0.0048] and shorter fluoroscopic time [(24.3 ± 5.2) vs. (31.3 ± 5.1) min, p = 0.0073] in cases with the long pre-curved sheath than ones with regular expandable sheath. The iatrogenic atrial septal defect (ASD) closure was performed because of the transeptal large right to left shunt in 2 cases with regular expandable sheath, but no patient needed intraoperative ASD closure in cases with the long pre-curved sheath.

Conclusions

Transseptal TMViV using long pre-curved sheath could simplify transseptal approach with reliable outcomes for patients of degenerated mitral bioprosthesis.

Transcatheter Mitral Valve-in-Valve Implantations Using Inverted J-Valve

Background

As bioprosthetic valves are being widely used, the incidence of structural valve deterioration increases, as well as the need for reoperation. Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantations are being increasingly adopted as an alternative to redo-surgical mitral replacement for patients with high surgical risks. This study reports a series of transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantations using inverted J-valves.

Methods

From April 2019 to September 2021, 17 symptomatic high-risk patients with mitral bioprosthetic valve dysfunction underwent transapical transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantations using inverted J-valves at our institution.

Results

The median age was 70 years, with 76.5% being female. The median Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality (STS PROM) was 17.2% (8.7–82.24%). All patients had successful transapical transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantations except for one intraoperative death due to left ventricle rupture. Four patients underwent simultaneous transcatheter aortic valve implantation, two of which had valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation. There was no major complication except one case of bleeding. Thirty-day mortality was 11.8% (2/17), and 90-days mortality was 23.5% (4/17). Percentages of patients with New York Heart Association class III/IV symptoms decreased from 100 (17/17) to 20% (3/15) at 30-days. Median mitral inflow velocity was 1.95 mm/s at 30 days, compared to 2.7 mm/s at baseline. Median mitral valve effective orifice area increases from 1.5 mm at baseline to 1.85 mm at 30 days.

Conclusion

Transcatheter transapical valve-in-valve implantations with J-valve can be a plausible solution to failed mitral bioprosthesis with acceptable results for high-risk patients.