Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement in Patients with Severe Mitral Annular Calcification.

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is a fibrous, degenerative calcification of the mitral valve. It is associated with endocarditis, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and congestive heart failure. Patients with severe MAC associated with mitral valve disease are considered poor candidates for traditional surgery. The current available outcomes data of transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) in severe MAC were limited by high rates of serious complications and subsequent high short-term and midterm mortality. This review article describes the procedural complications, clinical outcomes, and optimal patient selection for TMVR in patients with severe MAC.