The concept of a temporary heart valve is novel, as an artificial valve is often thought of as a permanent prosthetic implant. However, the clinical application of a temporary valve device is relevant during acute valvular failure, when open-heart valve replacement surgery is not readily available. The reasons for the extended time needed may include acute endocarditis requiring antibiotic sterilization or patient transport from a non-tertiary center. In these not-so-uncommon clinical scenarios, a rapidly deployable, percutaneous, relatively low-cost, and potentially lifesaving bridging device becomes a necessary option. In this textbook, a first-of-its-kind temporary aortic valve catheter is introduced. An up-to-date summary of the mathematical modeling, as well as the proof-of-concept bench and animal validations of the preclinical prototype, is provided. For the first time in the history of medicine, a clinically viable temporary heart valve catheter for the treatment of acute valvular failure may be becoming a reality.
