Closure of prosthetic paravalvular mitral regurgitation with the Gianturco-Grifka vascular occlusion device.

Paravalvular regurgitation associated with prothetic mitral valves is often a consequence of infectious endocarditis. The condition is usually treated with debridement and repeat surgical valve replacement. However, repeated operations are associated with high risk. This report describes a case of successful transcatheter treatment of severe paravalvular mitral regurgitation and pulmonary edema in a patient in whom repeat mitral valve replacement was not believed possible. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.