Cologne University Hospital implants novel mitral valve prosthesis for the first time

This makes Cologne University Hospital one of the first three centers in Germany to use this novel procedure since its CE approval.

The Sapien M3 is an innovative heart valve implant that is inserted into the body via the groin using a minimally invasive, catheter-based technique - i.e., without opening the chest - and then guided to the heart under X-ray and ultrasound guidance. There, the prosthesis replaces the damaged mitral valve, which is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. A leak in the mitral valve (“mitral valve insufficiency”) often leads to shortness of breath, limited exercise capacity, and heart failure.

The Sapien M3 is a two-part system consisting of a flexible anchor (“dock”) that is placed around the mitral valve and a biological heart valve that is then anchored in it. This design enables stable fixation regardless of calcification and reduces the risk of narrowing of the cardiac outflow tract.

“With the Sapien M3, we now have another promising procedure at our disposal that enables safe and effective treatment for high-risk patients with severe mitral valve regurgitation, and unlike other systems, it is performed exclusively via vascular access. We hope this will result in a significantly better safety profile,” explains Dr. Matti Adam.

Prof. Baldus adds: “Catheter-based mitral valve replacement is considered one of the greatest challenges in modern cardiology. The fact that we are now one of the first centers in Germany to implant the Sapien M3 underscores the role of Cologne University Hospital as a leading center for innovative heart valve therapies.” With this successful procedure, the Heart Center continues its commitment to introducing new catheter-based procedures into clinical practice at an early stage, thereby playing a key role in the further development of minimally invasive treatment options for structural heart disease.

Scientific contact
Prof. Dr. Stephan Baldus
Secretariat-prof-baldus[at]uk-koeln.de

This message has been modified by the CMMC (K. Heber & D. Grosskopf-Kroiher) and is based on the text by the press and communications team of the University Hospital Cologne (original German version here).