Mitral stenosis (MS) poses significant challenges in diagnosis and management due to its varied etiologies, such as rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS) and degenerative mitral stenosis (DMS). While rheumatic fever-induced RMS has declined in prevalence, DMS is rising with aging populations and comorbidities. Starting from a complex clinical case of DMS, the aim of this paper is to review the literature on mitral stenosis by analyzing the available tools and the differences in terms of diagnosis and treatment for rheumatic and degenerative stenosis. Emerging transcatheter techniques, such as transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) and lithotripsy-facilitated percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC), represent promising alternatives for DMS patients deemed unfit for surgery. In particular, intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) has shown potential in facilitating percutaneous interventions by fracturing calcific deposits and enabling subsequent interventions. However, larger prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings and establish IVL’s role in DMS management. To further enhance this technique, research could focus on investigating the long-term outcomes and durability of mitral lithotripsy, as well as exploring its potential in combination with PMC or TMVR.

Objectives. To evaluate the impact of left ventricular outflow tract calcification (LVOT-CA) localization and extension on permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) rates after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with second-generation devices. Methods. This single-center retrospective study included all consecutive patients who underwent transfemoral TAVI with second-generation devices at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, Italy from January 2014 to June 2017. Original Contribution from Journal of Invasive Cardiology.

The impact of sex on the baseline characteristics, morphology, and clinical presentation of degenerative aortic stenosis (AS) is well-documented but remains poorly understood. Unlike valve surgery, for which patients have been predominantly male, percutaneous treatment of AS has shown balanced representation of both sexes, with women demonstrating greater benefit from transfemoral aortic valve replacement compared to surgical treatment. This review explores sex-specific differences in the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic challenges, treatment approaches, and clinical outcomes of degenerative AS. Furthermore, it addresses technical, sex-specific considerations in transfemoral aortic valve replacement, including preprocedural screening, device selection, implantation strategy, and postprocedural management.

Underexpansion of a self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve (TAVI) is a critical issue that can negatively impact long-term outcomes, including paravalvular leak, valve thrombosis, and increased mortality. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the pathophysiology and consequences of such complications, including three primary mechanisms: (1) infolding, (2) incorrect site of crossing and (3) true underexpansion. It also discusses strategies to address these challenges, including pre-procedural planning and procedural techniques to ensure proper valve deployment and expansion. Mitigating these issues is essential to improving both immediate and long-term outcomes in TAVI patients.