Early experience with the Intrepid system for transcatheter mitral valve replacement

Severe mitral regurgitation is common and results in a poor prognosis in patients with either symptoms or severe ventricular dilatation. While mitral regurgitation has traditionally necessitated surgical repair or replacement, new transcatheter methods, such as the IntrepidTM transcatheter mitral valve replacement, has recently emerged. The Intrepid system is a circular, self-expanding, tri-leaflet bovine pericardial prosthesis housed within a nitinol frame. In early feasibility studies, the Intrepid prosthesis has been found to be effective for relief of mitral regurgitation and associated with functional improvement in the majority of survivors.