Closure of prosthetic paravalvular mitral regurgitation with the gianturco-grifka vascular occlusion device

Paravalvular regurgitation associated with prothetic mitral valves is often a consequence of infectious endocarditis. The condition is usually treated with debridement and repeat surgical valve replacement. However, repeated operations are associated with high risk. This report describes a case of s uccessful transcatheter treatment of severe paravalvular mitral regurgitati on and pulmonary edema in a patient in whom repeat mitral valve replacement was not believed possible. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.