How Dr Malik Closed A Challenging Paravalvular Leak
Dr Malik talks through a challenging case, explaining what a paravalvular leak is and the best available treatments.
With one of the UK’s largest experiences of closing paravalvular and other odd leaks, he’s got the expertise to keep your mind at ease and help you avoid the need for surgery. Let’s delve into the case study.
Watch Dr Malik discuss a tricky case of Paravalvular leak
Video: Click Here
“Watch me deliver a presentation to a group of surgeons on this tricky case. A complication of open surgical valve replacement, with a tricky hole was left behind. I managed to plug it and reduce the leak. The patient has felt so much better ever since!”
What is a paravalvular leak?
After surgical valve replacement, leaks can sometimes occur. Either THROUGH the valve – or BY THE SIDE of it – due to a weakness in the tissues which allows the sutures to loosen. If the leak is severe enough, the valve can even start “rocking”.
In this particular case that I presented, however, a suture seemed to have created an additional hole, connecting the left ventricle to the right atrium. This is what’s known as a Gerbode Defect.
What treatments are there for Paravalvular Leak?
There are several options:
- Medical therapy. If you’ve got no symptoms and the heart is stable, it may not be necessary to close the leak. Not every hole needs closing.
- Transcatheter device placement. Plug it with a transcatheter device put in from the leg.
- Redo surgery. If the surgical risk isn’t too high and a plug’s not possible, re-doing the surgery will likely be your best option.
What tests do I need?
For a suspected paravalvular leak, you’ll need a full assessment. This includes:
- ECG
- Echocardiography
- Transoesophageal Echocardiogram
- CT scanning
- Bloods
Worried about your heart?
Please book a consultation or contact us at DrMalikPA@OneWelbeck.com. With our patient-centred approach, you’ll feel confident you’re in safe hands.
Article by Dr Malik, a UK leading cardiologist. He works at One Welbeck Heart Health – London’s Largest Private Cardiology Group, and at Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, one of the largest NHS Trusts in the UK.
