Transapical repair of mitral valve paravalvular leakage using 3-D transesophageal guidance.

We report a case where transapical access with real time 3D transesophageal echocardiographic guidance is used for repair of a mitral valve paravalvular leakage. The transapical approach is a new, elegant, and relative safe alternative for repair of a paravalvular defect in high-risk patients. The use of real time 3DTEE for guiding the procedure provides the operator fast and complete information about the leakage, and allowing online monitoring of the procedure.