Advances in percutaneous valvular intervention.

We are entering a new era in the percutaneous treatment of valvular heart disease. Novel techniques and devices have given rise to the possible treatment of a range of valvular heart diseases that previously necessitated surgical therapies, including aortic stenosis, pulmonary regurgitation and mitral regurgitation. Despite the enormous potential of these percutaneous therapies, enthusiasm needs to be balanced by an understanding of the challenges that need to be overcome before such therapies can be widely embraced. This review provides a critical assessment of the status of the major developments in percutaneous valvular intervention to date, and provides the authors' perspective on the current role and future potential of these techniques.