The SAPIEN 3 is a type of transcatheter heart valve made by Edwards Lifesciences. It is used in the TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) procedure to replace a calcified aortic valve in the heart. The leaflets are the part of the valve that open and close to regulate blood flow in the heart. In the SAPIEN 3 valve, the leaflets are made from cow tissue, bovine, specifically the pericardium (the membrane that surrounds the heart). The use of bovine tissue in the Sapien 3 valve is intended to provide a strong, flexible material that can withstand the stresses of opening and closing in the heart over time.

A small incision is made in the patient's leg to access the femoral artery, and a catheter is inserted through a blood vessel and guided to the heart. A replacement valve is then placed over the existing valve and expanded to take its place. TAVR is often used as an alternative to open-heart surgery, particularly for patients who are at a higher risk of complications from traditional surgery due to age, frailty, or other health conditions.

PVL can be caused by over calcification on the aortic valve leaflets. PVL can cause blood to leak back into the heart chamber, leading to a decrease in the efficiency of the valve and possible symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or heart failure.