Sapien XT Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement Under Direct Vision in the Setting of Significant Mitral Annular Calcification.

Mitral valve replacement carries a high risk in patients with extensive mitral annular calcification. We report the case of a 71-year-old woman with severely calcified mitral valve stenosis and extensive annular calcification. We approached the mitral valve through a left atriotomy using cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac arrest. We successfully deployed a 29-mm Sapien XT valve under direct visualization with satisfactory positioning. We further balloon-expanded the device to diminish the likelihood of periprosthetic regurgitation. Open mitral valve replacement with a transcatheter valve can be performed without the need for decalcification of the mitral annulus and is a good alternative to conventional mitral valve replacement.