New Valve-in-Valve procedure offers hope for failing heart valves

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Failing surgically implanted bioprosthetic valve in the mitral position demonstrating ≥ moderate stenosis and/or ≥ moderate insufficiency. 2. Surgical bioprosthetic valve with a true internal diameter (True ID) of 16.5 mm to 28.5 mm. 3. NYHA Functional Class ≥ II. 4. Heart Team agrees the patient is intermediate risk (i.e. STS score of ≥3 and \< 8). 5. Heart Team agrees valve implantation will likely benefit the patient. 6. The study patient has been informed of the nature of the study, agrees to its provisions and has provided written informed consent as approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) / Ethics Committee (EC) of the respective clinical site. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Index valve has ≥ mild paravalvular regurgitation where the surgical bioprosthesis is not securely fixed in the native annulus or is not structurally intact as determined by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). 2. Surgical or transcatheter aortic valve placed so that extension into left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) that may impinge on the mitral implant. 3. Known residual mean gradient \>10 mmHg at the end of the index procedure for implantation of the original surgical valve. 4. Severe right ventricle (RV) dysfunction. 5. Anatomical characteristics that would preclude safe access to the apex (transapical). 6. Severe regurgitation or stenosis of any other valve. 7. Severe lung disease (FEV1 \< 50% predicted) or currently on home oxygen 8. Severe pulmonary hypertension (e.g., PA systolic pressure ≥ 2/3 systemic pressure) 9. Anatomical characteristics that would increase risk of LVOT obstruction (e.g., aortomitral angle, LVOT size, etc.). 10. Evidence of an acute myocardial infarction ≤ 1 month (30 days) before enrollment. 11. Any therapeutic invasive cardiac procedure resulting in a permanent implant that is performed within 30 days prior to the index procedure. Implantation of a permanent pacemaker (PPM) or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is not considered an exclusion. 12. Patients with planned concomitant surgical or transcatheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. 13. Leukopenia (white blood count \< 3000 cell/mL), anemia (hemoglobin \< 9 g/dL), thrombocytopenia (blood platelet count \< 50,000 cell/mL), history of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy, or hypercoagulable states. 14. Untreated clinically significant coronary artery disease requiring revascularization. 15. Hemodynamic or respiratory instability requiring inotropic support, mechanical ventilation, or mechanical heart assistance within 30 days of enrollment. 16. Emergency intervention/surgical procedures within one month (30 days) prior to the procedure. 17. Any planned surgical, percutaneous coronary, or peripheral procedure to be performed within the 30-day follow-up from the procedure. 18. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with obstruction (HOCM). 19. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \< 30%. 20. Cardiac imaging evidence of intracardiac mass, thrombus, or vegetation. 21. Inability to tolerate or condition precluding treatment with antithrombotic/anticoagulation therapy during or after the valve implant procedure. 22. Absolute contraindications or allergy to iodinated contrast that cannot be adequately treated with premedication. 23. Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) within 90 days of enrollment. 24. Symptomatic carotid or vertebral artery disease or successful treatment of carotid stenosis within 30 days of enrollment. 25. Renal insufficiency (eGFR \< 30 ml/min per the Cockcroft-Gault formula) and/or renal replacement therapy at the time of screening. 26. Active bacterial endocarditis within 6 months (180 days) of the procedure. 27. Patient refuses blood products. 28. Estimated life expectancy \< 24 months. 29. Currently participating in an investigational drug or another device study. Note: Clinical trials requiring extended follow-up for products that were investigational, but have since become commercially available, are not considered investigational trials. 30. Positive urine or serum pregnancy test in female subjects of childbearing potential.