The SAPIEN 3 is the only transcatheter heart valve commercially
available for compassionate transcatheter mitral valve replacement in
patients with previous mitral surgical rings and mitral annular
calcification (valve in ring [VIR] and valve in mitral annular
calcification [VIM]). Reported outcomes have been inconsistent or poor.
The review provides an overview of the authors’ approach to achieve
largely consistent results despite the intrinsic limitations of SAPIEN 3
VIM and VIR. The approach includes bedside modifications of the valve
implant, the delivery system, and of the cardiac substrate itself. Until
purpose-built devices are readily available, VIR and VIM procedures
will require aggressive multidisciplinary cooperation, meticulous
planning and execution, and postprocedure management by experienced,
high-volume operators.