Balloon assisted translocation of the mitral anterior leaflet to prevent left ventricular outflow obstruction (BATMAN): A novel technique for patients undergoing transcatheter mitral valve replacement.

INTRODUCTION: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is an option for patients at high risk for mitral valve replacement or repair via sternotomy or left thoracotomy approach. TMVR carries up to 22% risk of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. Severe LVOT obstruction can have devastating hemodynamic and clinical consequences.

HYPOTHESIS: We previously presented a novel technique to prevent LVOT obstruction during transapical retrograde mitral valve replacement, by penetrating and ballooning the anterior mitral leaflet (AML), resulting in creation of a "hole" and posterior translocation of AML, then deploying the valve.

METHODS: Three patients underwent TMVR at Saint Louis University for severe mitral regurgitation after being deemed too high risk for surgery, and not candidates for a Mitra-clip procedure. These patients were deemed to be at risk for LVOT obstruction based on the preprocedural evaluation. Via transapical approach, a needle was advanced "through," perforating the AML and wire was placed in the left atrium. Over the wire, an 20-mm valvuloplasty balloon was positioned "within" the anterior leaflet and inflated leading to translocation of the AMVL. Then the valve was deployed.

RESULTS: This novel technique has been performed on three patients at our institution. Sapien S3 transcatheter valves were used in all three patients, with 100% procedural success rate. Intraoperative TEE demonstrated no significant LVOT obstruction, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 42-44 min.

CONCLUSION: The balloon assisted translocation of the mitral anterior leaflet to prevent left ventricular outflow obstruction technique described here may offer the option of transcatheter mitral valve implantation in patients at high risk of LVOT obstruction. A variation of this technique to allow application in cases with transseptal approach is under investigation.