European Multicentre Registry of Percutaneous Paravalvular Leak Closure

When someone has a heart valve replaced, either through surgery or a less invasive keyhole procedure, sometimes a small leak can form around the edge of the new valve. This is called a 'paravalvular leak'. These leaks can sometimes cause health problems like tiredness, breathlessness, or even needing blood transfusions. For many years, surgery was the only way to fix these leaks. However, for some people, especially those who are already quite unwell, open-heart surgery can be too risky.

Because of this, doctors have developed a keyhole procedure to try and close these leaks without needing major surgery. This involves using thin tubes (catheters) to guide tiny devices to the leak and seal it. While this procedure has become better over time with improved tools and more experienced doctors, we still need more information about how well it works for patients in the long term, and critically, how it affects their daily lives and overall health.

This study aims to collect detailed information from many hospitals across Europe about this keyhole procedure. We want to find out how successful the procedure is, how safe it is, and whether it truly makes a difference to patients' symptoms and their quality of life. We believe that even a small reduction in the leak could lead to big improvements in how patients feel, such as having more energy and less breathlessness. By gathering this information, we hope to improve care for people with these types of heart valve leaks.