Skip to main content
  • Editorial: Screen failure in transcatheter mitral valve replacement: Knowledge is power

    Transcatheter interventions have become a mainstay for the treatment of valvular heart disease [  ]. The success of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has revolutionized the treatment of aortic stenosis [  ]. Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) has emerged as a safe and effective treatment for mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients at elevated risk [  ,  ]. Naturally, given the prevalence of mitral valve disease globally and the limited role of medical therapy, there is great anticipation that transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is not far behind [  ,  ]. Unfortunately, the mitral valve is a dynamic, asymmetrical, and heterogenous structure, with a saddle-shaped annulus and a complex sub-valvular apparatus. As a result, the mitral valve can be afflicted by a large variety of pathologies resulting in either regurgitation and/or stenosis. The wide range of approaches taken in various investigational TMVR system design reflects the many challenges faced when designing a successful device. As a result, development of a safe and effective TMVR has been elusive. A substantial proportion of those with symptomatic mitral valve disease referred for TMVR trials fail stringent screening criteria [  ]. The natural history of these patients is not well-characterized, and details regarding the reasons for screen failure remain limited.

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Review our Privacy Policy for more details