Mitral valve paravalvular leaks: Comprehensive review of literature

Background Mitral paravalvular leaks (mPVL) are a recognized complication for patients with mitral valve prostheses. Although clinically insignificant for many patients, it may pose life‐threatening haemolysis and regurgitation‐induced heart failure, and so clinicians should have a high index of suspicion in the presence of new symptoms. Aims This review discusses the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, imaging and treatment of mPVLs. Methods A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane database, Google Scholar and Ovid. Search terms used included “mitral valve paravalvular leak,” “transthoracic echocardiography,” “2D transoesophageal echocardiography,” “3D transoesophageal echocardiography,” “cardiac computed tomography,” (CT) “cardiac magnetic resonance imaging,” “intracardiac echocardiography,” “cinefluoroscopy,” “fluoroscopy,” and “percutaneous closure.” Results All patients with mPVLs should undergo regular full evaluation, including patient history, physical examination, laboratory work‐up, imaging, and referral, if necessary. Echocardiography is fundamental to the diagnosis, and is augmented with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, cardiac computerized tomography and fluoroscopy for further characterization and procedural planning amongst the structural heart team. Conclusion The prevalence of mPVL is expected to increase proportionally to the growing number of surgical and transcatheter valve replacements conducted in the ageing population. Multimodal imaging is instrumental in guiding diagnostic and therapeutic strategies when managing mPVLs. Advances in imaging and capabilities of transcather devices will prompt growing uptake of percutaneous treatment over conventional, higher‐risk surgery for mPVL management.