MAUDE Adverse Event Report: EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES SAPIEN 3 TRANSCATHETER HEART VALVE; AORTIC VALVE, PROSTHESIS, PERCUTANEOUSLY DELIVERED

Model Number	9600TFX29A
Medical Device Problem Codes	Gradient Increase (1270); Perivalvular Leak (1457)
Health Effect - Clinical Code	Insufficient Information (4580)
Date of Event	04/29/2026
Type of Reportable Event	Serious Injury
Additional Manufacturer Narrative
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.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 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.It is normal to have a small gradient across a prosthetic valve after implant; however, elevated gradients may indicate obstructed flow across the valve.Residual gradients after implantation may result from patient factors such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (hcm), sub-valvular aortic stenosis, or inadequate leaflet coaptation.It may also be indicative of sub-optimal frame expansion or patient-prosthesis mismatch.Over time, gradients can develop or worsen due to leaflets being affected by the development of calcification, or the formation of pannus/host tissue, or thrombus.Low gradients may not be indicative of significant dysfunction.High gradients may be indicative of ongoing dysfunction and may require surgical or percutaneous intervention to restore normal flow.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 that a product malfunction contributed to this adverse event.Investigation results are inconclusive; however, the progression of the valvular disease and patient age [74] may have contributed to the patient requiring a 2nd valve at approximately 6 years and 4 mos.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.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.
Event or Problem Description
It was reported by the field clinical specialist (fcs), that approximately 6 years, 4 months, 25 days post transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (tavr) procedure with a 29mm sapien 3 valve, the patient's echo revealed moderate-severe paravalvular regurgitation; with severe regurgitation suggested by holodiastolic flow reversal in the descending aorta.The peak systolic velocity is 3.4 m/sec and the mean systolic gradient is 28.0 mm hg.The valve area by the velocity-time integral method is 1.59 cm2 and the regurgitation pressure half-time is 555 ms.The patient underwent a successful valve-in-valve (viv) procedure with a 29mm sapien 3 ultra resilia valve.

• Brand Name: SAPIEN 3 TRANSCATHETER HEART VALVE
• Common Device Name: AORTIC VALVE, PROSTHESIS, PERCUTANEOUSLY DELIVERED
• Manufacturer (Section D): EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES; 1 edwards way; irvine CA 92614
• Manufacturer (Section G): EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES; 1 edwards way; irvine CA 92614
• Manufacturer Contact: renee van dorne ; 1 edwards way; irvine, CA 92614 ; 9492506385
• MDR Report Key: 25229977
• Report Number: 2015691-2026-15357
• Device Sequence Number: 5017522
• Product Code: NPT
• UDI-Device Identifier: 00690103194364
• UDI-Public: (01)00690103194364(17)210730
• Combination Product (Y/N): N
• Initial Reporter State: MT
• Initial Reporter Country: US
• PMA/510(K) Number: P140031
• Number of Events Summarized: 1
• Summary Report (Y/N): N
• Device Implanted Year: 2019
• Serviced by Third Party (Y/N): N
• Reporter Type: Manufacturer
• Report Source: Health Professional,Company Representative
• Initial Reporter Occupation: Physician
• Type of Report: Initial
• Report Date (Section B): 05/20/2026

1 Device was Involved in the Event

1 Patient was Involved in the Event

• Is this an Adverse Event Report?: Yes
• Is this a Product Problem Report?: No
• Operator of Device: Health Professional
• Device Expiration Date: 07/30/2021
• Device Model Number: 9600TFX29A
• Was Device Available for Evaluation?: No
• Is the Reporter a Health Professional?: Yes
• Was the Report Sent to FDA?: No
• Type of Report(Section G): Thirty-Day
• Initial Date Received by Manufacturer: 04/01/2026
• Initial Report FDA Received Date: 05/20/2026
• Was Device Evaluated by Manufacturer? (Y/N): No
• Date Device Manufactured: 07/31/2019
• Is the Device Labeled for Single Use? (Y/N): Yes
• Is This a Single-Use Device that was Reprocessed and Reused on a Patient? (Y/N): No
• Usage of Device: Initial
• Patient Sequence Number: 1
• Outcome Attributed to Adverse Event: Required Intervention
• Patient Sex: Male