Transcatheter mitral valve repair, or mitral clip, is a minimally invasive procedure that can be an option for patients with mitral regurgitation. Mitral regurgitation occurs when the mitral leaflets or flaps inside the valve do not close properly and blood flows from the main pumping chamber of the heart (left ventricle), back through the mitral valve, and back into the top left chamber of the heart (left atrium). This extra strain can enlarge and weaken the heart leading to a condition called congestive heart failure in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to keep up with the demands of the body. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, swelling, abnormal weight gain, fatigue, irregular heartbeats, and cough.
Unlike surgery, the mitral clip procedure does not require opening the chest and temporarily stopping the heart. It is best suited for patients that are too high risk or too deconditioned for an open heart surgery.
A thin tube or catheter is passed through a large vein in the upper leg to reach the heart. A clip is placed in the center of the mitral valve to reduce the mitral regurgitation. The valve continues to open and close allowing blood to flow on either side of the clip. The hospital stay for this procedure ranges from 1-3 days depending on your recovery and overall health. Benefits of this type of surgery include a shorter hospital stay, fewer complications, decreased post-operative pain and quicker recovery.
If you wish to be first evaluated by a Summa Health cardiologist for possible referral into the program, talk to your doctor. A physician referral is needed to be seen in the Summa Health Heart Valve Program.
