First transcatheter mitral bioprosthesis implantation in the University Clinical Center MUW

On December 9, 2020, the HighLife 29 mm transcatheter biologic mitral valve (TMVI) was implanted via femoral access for the second time in Poland and the twelfth time worldwide. The procedure took place in the Hemodynamics Laboratory (Head: Associate Professor Janusz Kochman) of the 1st Department of Cardiology of the Medical University of Warsaw (Head: professor Grzegorz Opolski).

The procedure was performed via femoral access by a team consisting of: Prof. Zenon Huczek (operator), Dr. Adam Rdzanek (operator), Dr. Bartosz Rymuza (operator), Dr. Nicolo Piazza (proctor, McGill University, Montreal), Dr. Piotr Scisło (echonavigator), Dr. Jean Buithieu (procotor, McGill University, Montreal), Dr. Tadeusz Bering (cardiac anesthesiologist) and nurses - Grażyna Drozdowska and Renata Makowska.
The implantation was performed in a 69-year-old patient with severe functional mitral regurgitation and high risk of classical cardiac replacement (history of myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, and stroke). During 30-day follow-up, good bioprosthesis function and absence of cardiovascular complications of the procedure were confirmed.

Transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) with bioprosthesis, like aortic bioprosthesis implantation (TAVI) 20 years ago, is undoubtedly a milestone in the treatment of patients with valvular heart defects. By launching the percutaneous mitral valve prosthesis implantation program, the 1st Department of Cardiology joins the few centers in the world that perform transcatheter implantation and repair of all heart valves: mitral TMVI/TMVR, tricuspid (TTVR), aortic (TAVI) and pulmonary artery valve (PTVI).

Photograph: dr. Piotr Ścisło