David J. Cohen1,2, MD, MSc; Sebastian Ludwig1,3,4, MD; Nicolo Piazza5, MD, PhD, FRCPC
1. Cardiovascular Research Foundation, New York, NY, USA; 2. St. Francis Hospital, Roslyn, NY, USA; 3. Department of Cardiology, University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany; 4. German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Luebeck, Hamburg, Germany; 5. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
Pros
David J. Cohen, MD, MSc; Sebastian Ludwig, MD
The emergence of transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) for the treatment of native mitral regurgitation (MR) was once expected to follow the meteoric trajectory of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) by providing simple and safe replacement of the diseased valvular apparatus via a minimally invasive approach. Over the last decade, however, it has become clear that treating the mitral valve represents a much more complex endeavour than TAVR given the saddle-shaped and non-calcified mitral annulus as well as potential interactions with the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT).