Echocardiography-Guided Percutaneous Paravalvular Mitral Leak Closure Without Fluoroscopy
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 16, 2026

A Simplified Stepwise Approach to Echo Guidance during Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair
Published on: October 16, 2021
Kunjing Pang1, Yutong Jiang1, Yaoxing Lu2
1Department of Echocardiography, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, China, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Background:
Transcatheter paravalvular leak (PVL) closure is typically guided by fluoroscopy; however, fluoroscopic imaging may not always be available and can be unsuitable for select patient populations.
First-In-Human/Early Reports Summary:
We present the first-in-human case of successful PVL closure performed entirely under the guidance of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE).
Discussion:
The case demonstrates that 3D-TEE alone can effectively guide catheter navigation and device deployment, with optimal clinical outcomes.
Novelty:
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported experience of percutaneous PVL closure without fluoroscopy.
Take-Home Message:
Fluoroscopy-free PVL closure is feasible under real-time 3D-TEE guidance and may be an alternative for select patients.
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