Trans-catheter paravalvular leak closure: a single-centre experience

Introduction A significant paravalvular leak (PVL) is estimated in at least 1-3% of patients undergoing surgical aortic and/or mitral valve replacement. Surgical repair of a PVL is associated with a 30-day mortality of approximately 10%. Percutaneous closure of PVL has emerged as an alternative to surgical repair. Aim We sought to examine the clinical outcomes of patients treated with percutaneous closure of PVL at an Irish tertiary referral centre. Methods A prospective registry was used to record patient and procedural characteristics at the time of the PVL procedure. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed to assess clinical outcomes during the index hospitalisation and at follow-up. Results A total of 26 PVL procedures were performed in 21 patients (mean age 68 +/- 13 years, 76% male). Heart failure (HF), haemolysis (HL) or a combination of both was the presenting symptoms in 62%, 24% and 14% of patients, respectively. In the entire cohort, clinical success was achieved in 18 patients (86%). Clinical success was achieved more frequently when HF was the clinical indication compared to HL (100% versus 66%). Among patients presenting with isolated HF (n = 13), the mean NYHA class at baseline and follow-up was 2.5 +/- 0.7 and 1.4 +/- 0.7, respectively. Thirty-day mortality was 0%. There was one (3.8%) major adverse procedural complication (stroke). A total of six deaths (28%) occurred during follow-up (22 +/- 13.4 months). Conclusions Patients with PVL represent a high-risk patient cohort. Percutaneous PVL offers a safe alternative to surgical PVL repair and appears particularly effective in those patients who present primarily with HF.