Early percutaneous valve failure within bioprosthetic tricuspid tissue valve replacements

To describe the cases of percutaneous valve failure following implantation of the Medtronic Melody™ and the Edwards Sapien™ valve in the tricuspid position.

There have been recent reports of the use of percutaneously delivered valves to manage failing bioprosthetic tricuspid valves. Total patient numbers remain small and follow-up times are limited.

We describe four procedures in three patients from two centers where implantation of percutaneous valves within the scaffold of a bioprosthetic tricuspid valve was technically successful but there was early valve failure.

In all cases, immediate results suggested excellent valve function; however, valve failure occurred early in three and later in one. Two patients elected for valve explantation and surgical placement of a further tricuspid valve. The third patient underwent a second percutaneous valve-in-valve procedure though this valve is also showing early signs of failure.

Transcatheter placement of percutaneous valves in the tricuspid position is technically a relatively straightforward procedure but early valve failure raises some concerns about the viability of the valve in this position, at least in some patients.