Percutaneous transcatheter closure of mitral paravalvular leak via transarterial retrograde approach

Repeat surgery has usually been considered the first choice to solve paravalvular leaks of prosthetic valves, but it cames a high operative risk, a high mortality rate and an increased risk for re-leaks. Percutaneous closure of such defects is possible, and different approaches and devices are used for this purpose. For mitral paravalvular leaks, constructing an arterio-venous wire loop for delivering the closure device through an antegrade approach is the most commonly used technique. Transcatheter closure can also be performed through a transapical approach or retrograde transfemoral arterial approach. We present a case of 68-year-old man with a mitral paravalvular leak that was suc- cessfully closed using an Amplatzer~ Duct Occluder H, via retrograde transfemoral arterial approach under three-dimensional transesophag- eal echocardiographic guidance, without the use of a wire loop. The initial attempt to cross the paravalvular defect was unsuccessful, but the obstacle was finally overcome by introducing complex interventional techniques.