Mitral Regurgitation Treatment Option

Until now, mitral valve surgery has been the only option for treating mitral regurgitation. If you are not a candidate for surgery, you now have a less-invasive treatment option.

Considering any type of procedure can be stressful for both patients and caregivers, but knowing the facts about the MitraClip procedure can help alleviate anxiety:

• It is less invasive than traditional open heart surgery
• It is included in the new medical guidelines to treat mitral regurgitation.
• Patients usually have only a short hospital stay of two to three days.
• Improvement in symptoms of mitral regurgitation generally happen quickly.
• This procedure can improve your quality of life. 

About the Procedure

MitraClip is a form of transcatheter mitral valve repair. It is generally performed in a hybrid suite under general anesthesia while a ventilator helps you breathe. Using a fluoroscopy (type of x-ray) and echocardiography (heart ultrasound), the doctors can visualize your heart while inserting a catheter into the heart through a small incision in your upper leg. The catheter is used to place a clip onto your mitral valve to help it close. The doctor will perform some tests to be sure the clip is working properly. The implanted clip becomes a part of your heart and you will need to carry a card so you can inform doctors about your MitraClip.