Transcatheter Therapies for the Treatment of Valvular and Paravalvular Regurgitation in Acquired and Congenital Valvular Heart Disease.

Overview

Transcatheter therapies in structural heart disease have evolved tremendously over the past 15 years. Since the introduction of the first balloon-expandable valves for stenotic lesions with implantation in the pulmonic position in 2000, treatment for valvular heart disease in the outflow position has become more refined, with newer-generation devices, alternative techniques, and novel access approaches. Recent efforts into the inflow position and regurgitant lesions, with transcatheter repair and replacement technologies, have expanded our potential to treat a broader, more heterogeneous patient population. The evolution of multimodality imaging has paralleled these developments. Three- and 4-dimensional visualization and concomitant use of novel technologies, such as fusion imaging, have supported technical growth, from pre-procedural planning and intraprocedural guidance, to assessment of acute results and follow-up. A multimodality approach has allowed operators to overcome many limitations of each modality and facilitated integration of a multidisciplinary team for treatment of this complex patient population.