MitraClip

The mitral valve is located between the two chambers on the left side of the heart. It allows blood to flow forward through the heart. If the mitral valve fails to close properly, some blood will flow backward. This backward flow, or “leaky” heart valve, burdens the heart and can lead to other serious conditions, such as heart failure.

MitraClip is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with mitral valve disease. This procedure is for patients with severe mitral regurgitation and are at high risk for complications from traditional open-heart surgery. MitraClip is a device positioned to join or clip together a portion of the mitral valve, reducing or eliminating the backward flow of blood.

What to Expect

The MitraClip procedure is performed under general anesthesia and takes approximately 3-4 hours. The surgeon will make a small incision in a blood vessel in the leg (femoral vein). A catheter holding the MitraClip device will be guided through the femoral vein to the affected area of the heart. Once it is securely attached to the mitral valve, the catheter is removed. Following the procedure, patients may stay in the hospital for two days to be monitored. Patients who undergo the MitraClip procedure may be prescribed blood thinners for a period of time.