A tiny gap may occasionally appear at the margin of the prosthetic valve following a mechanical or biological heart valve replacement procedure. We refer to this as a paravalvular leak (PVL).
Some leaks can allow blood to flow backward, resulting in weariness, edema, shortness of breath, or even anemia owing to damage to red blood cells. However, many leaks are small and do not cause any symptoms. Timely treatment becomes crucial in these situations to safeguard cardiac function and avoid consequences.
A catheter-based, less invasive technique called paravalvular leak closure is intended to stop these leaks without requiring additional open heart surgery. During the surgery, sophisticated imaging technology is used to guide a thin tube (catheter) into a blood vessel, generally from the groin, and toward the heart. A specifically made closure device is used to seal the opening and restore normal valve performance once the leak point has been identified.
This strategy has several important advantages, including
- Prevents the need for additional open-heart surgery
- Shortens hospital stays and speeds up rehabilitation
- Immediately alleviates symptoms like exhaustion and dyspnea
- Improves heart function and quality of life
Every procedure at our hospital is meticulously designed by a skilled group of cardiac imaging specialists and interventional cardiologists. To guarantee precision, security, and sustained success, we employ cutting-edge imaging and closure technologies.
In addition to repairing the leak, our objective is to restore patients' trust in their heart health so they can resume an active, normal lifestyle.