Emergency transapical mitral valve-in-valve implantation for bioprosthesis failure: transapical implantation of an Edwards Sapien-XT in a dysfunctional mitral bioprosthesis in a critical patient

BACKGROUND: Valve-in-Valve (VIV) Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is now the treatment of choice in high-surgical-risk patients with failing aortic bioprosthesis. Although less performed, VIV-Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) is a valid treatment option for selected high-risk patients with degenerated mitral bioprostheses. Several cases of elective ViV- TAVR and -TMVR have been reported but only few were performed in critical hemodynamic conditions. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a patient underwent balloon-expandable transapical mitral valve-in-valve implantation in an emergency setting due to a severe stenosis of a bioprosthesis in mitral position. The procedure was successfully performed, with no residual mitral regurgitation or paravalvular leaks, and uneventful. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter transapical mitral valve-in-valve implantation could represent a feasible and effective strategy even in critical setting. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13019-017-0680-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.