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Per the instructions for use (ifu), paravalvular leak (pvl) is a known potential adverse event associated with bioprosthetic heart valves and the transcatheter valve replacement (tvr) procedure.Paravalvular leak refers to blood flowing through a channel between the structure of the implanted valve/pre-stent and the landing zone, as a result of a lack of appropriate sealing of the valve to the target site.Some pvl is not uncommon post-deployment.Many cases are mild to moderate, and either resolve over time or do not cause symptoms.Others may be more clinically significant and require intervention.The patient screening manual and the procedure didactic identify several procedural and anatomical factors which could contribute to pvl, including device malposition, inaccurate measurement of the landing zone, uneven distribution of calcium on the landing zone, bulky or severe calcification, an elliptical annulus shape, and valve under-sizing.The mechanism behind worsening or late pvl is not well understood but may be related to cardiac remodeling.Edwards extensively trains physicians before they are qualified to use the sapien transcatheter heart valves (all models).The device training manuals instructs the operator on proper imaging screening requirements, including the use of good quality echocardiography and/or computed tomography (ct) to appropriately measure the landing zone, assess the content and distribution of calcium, and other patient anatomical factors.Multiple imaging modalities should be considered during valve size selection.Contraindications, important considerations when assessing the valve, and choosing the proper transcatheter heart valve are also discussed.The device training manuals also instruct the operator on proper positioning and deployment of the valve, including patients screening and procedural considerations.Device preparation, approach, deployment, imaging, procedure-specific training manuals, and proctored procedures are also included.In this case, there was no allegation or indication a product malfunction contributed to this adverse event.Due to the limited information provided, the cause of the paravalvular leak is unknown.A review of edwards lifesciences risk management documentation was performed for this case.The reported event is an anticipated risk of the transcatheter heart valve procedure, additional assessment of this adverse event is not required at this time.The ifu and training manuals have been reviewed and no inadequacies have been identified with regards to warnings, contraindications, and the directions/conditions for the successful use of the device.Per the instructions for use (ifu), structural valve deterioration (wear, fracture, calcification, leaflet tear/tearing from the stent posts, leaflet retraction, suture line disruption of components of a prosthetic valve, thickening, stenosis), and device degeneration are known potential risks associated with the use of bioprosthetic heart valves.The ifu cautions that accelerated deterioration of the valve may occur in patients with an altered calcium metabolism.Long-term durability has not been established for the valve.Regular medical follow-up is advised to evaluate valve performance.Structural valve deterioration (svd) may be manifested as stenosis with thickened leaflets.Svd may be mild and not require any intervention, or it may be moderate to severe.It can cause the heart to work harder to eject blood from the ventricle.Depending on the severity it could be an indication for valve replacement or medical intervention.Tissue calcification is a common failure mode.The mechanisms for bioprosthetic heart valve tissue calcification are not yet fully understood.Many factors can contribute to the onset and propagation of calcification including patient-related (e.G., patient age, disease state, immune status, and other co-morbidities), pharmacological, and intrinsic properties of the valve itself.It is widely understood that patients with chronic renal disease and prior history of calcific stenosis of the native valve may be predisposed to bioprosthetic calcification.During the manufacturing process, all sapien thv valves are 100% visually inspected for defects and 100% functionally tested for proper coaptation under physiological backpressure conditions prior to release for distribution.Therefore, it is highly unlikely that a manufacturing defect or device malfunction contributed to the event.In this case, there was no allegation or indication a manufacturing non-conformance contributed to this product problem.Investigation results suggest/indicate coronary artery disease and hypertension caused or contributed to the degeneration.A review of edwards lifesciences risk management documentation was performed for this case.The reported event is an anticipated risk of the transcatheter heart valve procedure, additional assessment of this adverse event is not required at this time.Complaint histories for all reported events are reviewed against trending control limits monthly, and any excursions above the control limits are assessed and documented as part of this monthly review.As such, neither a product risk assessment, nor corrective or preventative actions are required at this time.
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As reported by the field clinical specialist, approximately 7 years post-transfemoral tavr procedure with a 20 mm sapien 3 valve implanted in an 80/20 position, the patient was admitted to the hospital with worsening chest pain, epigastric pain, and fatigue.A valve-in-valve (viv) workup was requested.The patient returned from a hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan with agonal breathing and hypotension.They were a no code, and their family was at their bedside.A viv procedure was not performed because the patient expired shortly thereafter.Outside of this event, the patient also had active infection with positive blood cultures.The admission echo showed an ejection fraction of 20-25%.There was a well seated tavr 20 mm valve in the aortic position.The mean trans-valvular gradient measured 61 mmhg.The peak gradient was 5.08 m/s, and there was moderate paravalvular regurgitation.The aortic valve peak and mean gradients were 99/61 mmhg, and the aortic valve area calculated using the velocity-time integral was 0.49 cm2.The patient had an echo that showed paravalvular leak, increased gradient and stenosis.The initial reporter did not allege that any of the edward's devices were deficient.
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