Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR)

What is Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement?

The mitral valve controls blood flow between the left atrium and the left ventricle. When this valve becomes severely diseased — either narrowed (mitral stenosis) or leaking (severe mitral regurgitation) — the heart has to work far harder, leading to breathlessness, fatigue, palpitations and fluid accumulation in the lungs. Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) is a minimally invasive alternative to open mitral valve surgery, in which a new valve is delivered through a catheter and implanted within or around the diseased native mitral valve, or within a previously placed surgical valve or ring.

Who is a Candidate for TMVR?

• Patients with severe mitral valve disease who are at high or prohibitive risk for open-heart surgery
• Patients with a degenerated surgical mitral bioprosthesis (valve-in-valve TMVR)
• Patients with a failing surgical annuloplasty ring (valve-in-ring TMVR)
• Patients with severe mitral annular calcification not suitable for conventional surgery

How is TMVR Performed?

Detailed pre-procedural imaging with transoesophageal echocardiography and CT is performed to assess the mitral anatomy and plan the ideal access route, which may be transseptal (through the femoral vein and across the atrial septum) or transapical. The replacement valve is then precisely positioned and deployed within the native mitral valve under live imaging guidance, immediately restoring competent valve function.

Benefits of TMVR

• Avoids the risks of open-heart mitral valve surgery in high-risk patients
• Immediate improvement in valve function and symptoms
• Shorter recovery time compared to surgical mitral valve replacement
• A valuable option when repeat mitral surgery carries very high risk

Recovery After TMVR

Most patients notice a marked improvement in breathlessness and exercise tolerance within days of the procedure. Hospital stay is usually a few days, followed by structured outpatient follow-up with echocardiography and medication review.

Why Choose Dr. Prashant Dwivedi for TMVR in Jaipur?

Dr. Prashant Dwivedi is among the select group of cardiologists in India specially trained in TMVR at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. His structural heart team in Jaipur offers meticulous pre-procedural imaging and individualised planning for every mitral valve case.