Minimally Invasive Treatment for Mitral Regurgitation
MitraClip is a type of transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR). This procedure is an option our heart valve experts at St. Luke’s use to treat mitral regurgitation, a condition in which the heart’s mitral valve leaks blood back into the heart instead of letting it all pump out. Without treatment, mitral regurgitation can lead to serious complications, including atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
The St. Luke’s team has vast experience in treating mitral regurgitation with MitraClip. Healthgrades® has named us one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery™ since 2019. And our superior outcomes for heart valve surgery put us among the top 5% of hospitals nationally. If you need a MitraClip procedure, our heart valve providers will be here for you throughout the process.
What Are the Benefits of MitraClip?
Because MitraClip is a minimally invasive procedure, we don’t need to make any large incisions to access your mitral valve. That means you’re likely to recover faster and spend less time in the hospital after the procedure as compared to open-heart surgery. You’re also likely to have less pain compared to traditional surgery.
What to Expect From Your MitraClip Procedure
Your procedure will take around one to three hours. Your surgeon will make a small incision in the groin area to access the femoral vein, which helps bring blood to your heart. Next, we’ll insert a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) into the vein. Using X-rays and echocardiography (a test that creates images from high-frequency sound waves), we’ll guide the catheter to your heart and position it at your leaky mitral valve.
We’ll then put the MitraClip device through the catheter and at the site of the mitral valve’s leak. Your surgeon will use the clip to hold the edges of your mitral valve together and prevent it from leaking. When the clip is in place, the surgeon will remove the catheter and close the incision in your groin.
You’ll spend a day or two with us in the hospital to recover. During this time, we’ll monitor you to make sure your symptoms are improving. After you go home, your doctor may prescribe medications to lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
You’ll need regular checkups to make sure your MitraClip device is working properly. Your doctor may also recommend that you complete cardiac rehabilitation to strengthen your heart.