Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast and thrombus formation at septal puncture during percutaneous mitral valve repair with the MitraClip system of severe mitral regurgitation: a report of two cases

Percutaneous mitral valve repair with the MitraClip is a new promising therapeutic option for symptomatic severe mitral regurgitation (MR) for patients being at high risk for conventional surgery. In spite of its beneficial effect, theoretically, Mitraclip may have an acute, harmful effect on left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (LASEC) and thrombus formation especially in severe MR patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, to the best of our knowledge, LASEC and thrombus formation during percutaneous mitral valve repair with the MitraClip of severe MR has not been well documented in the literature.