Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (MitraClip)
MitraClip for Treatment of Mitral Regurgitation
The MitraClip procedure is used to treat patients who have symptoms of mitral “leaking” or regurgitation. Mitral regurgitation occurs when your heart’s mitral valve doesn’t close well, and allows the blood to flow backward, or “leak” into your heart and lungs. This increases the workload of the heart and often causes symptoms like shortness of breath.
Why MitraClip May Be an Option for You
The multidisciplinary team at the Mitral Valve Clinic will guide you through tests to determine which treatment is best for your mitral valve condition.
With the MitraClip procedure, you may experience the following benefits:
- Improved heart function
- Improved quality of life and life expectancy, especially in patients with heart failure and mitral regurgitation
- Quicker return to daily activities than with open-heart surgery
- Reduction in hospitalizations for heart failure
- Relief of symptoms
- Shortened recovery time
- Shorter hospital stay – most patient spend one day in the hospital
How the MitraClip Procedure Is Performed
The procedure is performed in the hospital under general anesthesia. A small opening is made in a large vein in the groin area at the top of your leg (femoral vein). Then a long, flexible tube (thin catheter) is threaded up to your heart using ultrasound and X-ray imaging guidance. Your doctor inserts the MitraClip through this catheter to the leaking part of your mitral valve.
The MitraClip will grasp and pull the front and back leaflets of your mitral valve and clip them together. This allows the valve to close better, and reduces the amount of blood leaking backwards.
Recovery
The length of your stay in the recovery depends on several factors, including your recovery from anesthesia. However, most patients leave the hospital next day and return to their normal activity in a week.
Schedule an Appointment in the Mitral Valve Clinic
Do you have mitral regurgitation and want to speak to our experts?
Phone: 210-450-4888 and 210-450-9247
Refer a patient, please contact the valve coordinator.
Phone: 210-450-9247
Fax: 210-450-6018
