Intraprocedural guidance: which imaging technique ranks highest and which one is complementary for closing paravalvular leaks?

Echocardiographic guidance is critical for procedural success of paravalvular leak closure. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and particularly three-dimensional echocardiography represent the gold standards. Fusion imaging provides real-time integration of three-dimensional echocardiography and X-ray fluoroscopy and can further facilitate spatial orientation, wire placement and device deployment. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is a secondary approach possibly beneficial in selected cases.