Percutaneous valve repair refers to minimally invasive procedures used to treat heart valve disorders without the need for open-heart surgery. These procedures are typically performed in a catheterization laboratory (cath lab) and involve the use of specialized devices to repair or replace dysfunctional heart valves.
There are several types of percutaneous valve repair procedures, including:
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): TAVR is used to treat aortic valve stenosis, a condition where the aortic valve becomes narrowed and obstructs blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. During TAVR, a replacement valve is delivered to the site of the diseased aortic valve through a catheter and deployed, effectively replacing the diseased valve.
Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (TMVR): TMVR is used to treat mitral valve regurgitation, a condition where the mitral valve does not close properly, causing blood to leak backward into the left atrium of the heart. TMVR procedures typically involve the use of devices such as the MitraClip®, which clips together the leaflets of the mitral valve to reduce regurgitation.
Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement (TPVR): TPVR is used to treat pulmonary valve stenosis or regurgitation, conditions where the pulmonary valve becomes narrowed or leaky. TPVR procedures typically involve the use of a balloon-expandable or self-expanding valve that is delivered to the site of the diseased pulmonary valve through a catheter and deployed, effectively replacing the diseased valve.
Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Repair (TTVR): TTVR is used to treat tricuspid valve regurgitation, a condition where the tricuspid valve does not close properly, causing blood to leak backward into the right atrium of the heart. TTVR procedures typically involve the use of devices such as the TriClip®, which clips together the leaflets of the tricuspid valve to reduce regurgitation.
Percutaneous valve repair procedures offer several advantages over traditional open-heart surgery, including shorter recovery times, reduced risk of complications, and the ability to treat high-risk patients who may not be candidates for surgery.