Sutureless mitral valve replacement: initial steps toward a percutaneous procedure.

PURPOSE: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement would represent a major advance in heart valve therapy. Such a device requires a specialized anchoring and sealing technology. This study was designed to test the feasibility of a novel mitral valve replacement device (the sutureless mitral valve [SMV]) designed to anchor and seal in the mitral position without need for sutures.

DESCRIPTION: The SMV is a self-expanding device consisting of a custom-designed nitinol framework and a pericardial leaflet valve mechanism.

EVALUATION: Ten sheep underwent successful surgical SMV device implantation. All animals underwent cardiac catheterization 6 hours postoperatively. Hemodynamic, angiographic, echocardiographic and necroscopic data were recorded. The mean aortic cross-clamp time was 9.5 ± 3.1 minutes. Echocardiography and angiography revealed excellent left ventricular systolic function, no significant perivalvular leak, no mitral valve stenosis, no left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and no aortic valve insufficiency. Necropsy demonstrated that the SMV devices were anchored securely.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the feasibility and short-term success of sutureless mitral valve replacement using a novel SMV device.