Long-term outcomes of melody valve-in-valve implantation for bioprosthetic mitral valve dysfunction

This study reports long-term outcomes percutaneous Melody valve (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) valve-in-valve therapy in patients with prosthetic valve dysfunction.

Repeat valve surgery is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve is a promising alternative in patients at high-risk for cardiac surgery.

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 13 patients who underwent Melody valve-in-valve for bioprosthetic dysfunction from July 2011 to October 2013.

Mean age was 74.4 years, 46% male, and STS score 13.5 ± 6.8%. All patients had NYHA class 3 or 4 symptoms with improvement to class 1 or 2 in 82% post procedure. Median follow-up was 4.5 years with longest follow-up of 5.5 years. Thirty-day mortality was 15.4% with 1-year mortality of 25% and no other reported deaths until 4.5 years. 76.9% of patients had mitral gradient of 5 mmHg or less immediately postprocedure. One patient required repeat valve procedure for structural deterioration at 4.4 years. At 1, 3, and 5 year follow-ups 75% of patients were NYHA class 1 or 2, mean gradients were 4.5 ± 0.6, 6.8 ± 0.5, and 7.5 ± 0.7, respectively. Using 4-point scale, mitral regurgitation postprocedure was 0.8 ± 0.6. At 1, 3, and 5 years this increased to 1.0 ± 1.1, 1.3 ± 1.3, and 2.5 ± 2.1, respectively.

Melody valve-in-valve therapy was effective with 1-year symptomatic improvement. Prosthesis deterioration requiring repeat intervention was observed in one patient. Larger cohorts with multicenter registries are needed to determine the role of this percutaneous valve-in-valve therapy as valve technology and procedural techniques improve.