Design of a novel vascular plug delivery device for minimally invasive surgical closure of aortic paravalvular leaks

Abstract

Post-operative paravalvular leaks are a serious complication which may result in mortality. The newer sutureless valves and transcatheter valves (TAVI) are more susceptible to this complication. The gold-standard treatment is a percutaneous one, especially in cases of stable valves with a moderately sized defect between annulus and valve ring. However this method may prove impossible due to the stent of the valve or acute angle of the catheter needing to cross the defect. In such cases the only option is re-operation, which carries significant risk to the patient. In this paper a delivery device is proposed, which allows surgeons to deploy a vascular plug, identical to that used percutaneously, however with the full control of an open heart surgical operation. [Excerpt]