Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Mitral Valve Clip Procedure?PurposeHow to PrepareRecovery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Mitral Valve Clip Procedure?
Purpose
How to Prepare
Recovery
The mitral valve clip procedure has been a lifeline for many patients seeking non-surgical alternatives to open heart surgery for mitral regurgitation, the second leading cause of valvular heart disease in the United States behindaortic stenosis.
Verywell / Laura Porter
The mitral valve clip procedure is a way to repair your mitral heart valve without open heart surgery. Although this option was originally adopted for patients who were too sick or too high risk for open heart surgery, many people who are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of mitral regurgitation choose to have this procedure.
The clip is attached to two areas of the defective valve, in what healthcare providers call an ‘edge-to-edge’ repair. This allows for greater blood to flow in the right direction. Although a mitral valve clip may significantly reduce mitral valve regurgitation, sometimes called mitral valve insufficiency, it rarely eliminates the condition altogether, although patients may report a significant reduction in their symptoms a few days after the procedure is performed.
The mitral valve clip procedure is usually scheduled and performed in an outpatient setting. The entire procedure usually lasts between 1 to 3 hours, although it can take longer depending on the complexity of the case.
Contraindications
The mitral valve clip procedure is generally a safe choice even for high-risk surgical candidates. Unfortunately, some people are not candidates for the mitral valve clip procedure. Most healthcare providers believe that the traditional open heart procedure is best for those with severe mitral regurgitation symptoms. It is important to note that the mitral valve clip is not a curative treatment so for more severe cases, surgical repair or replacement is a better option.
The mitral valve clip is also contraindicated in those who cannot tolerate anticoagulation during or after the procedure. Further contraindications include:
Potential Risks
The mitral valve clip procedure is generally considered safe but like all medical procedures, there are potential risks. Two procedural complications include:
There may also be complications related to the implantation of the clip. The two most frequent complications are:
Purpose of Mitral Valve Clip Repair Procedure
When yourmitral valve doesn’t close properly, blood can flow backward from the left ventricle to the left atrium and eventually the lungs. The defective valve does not shut tightly hence the term mitral valve insufficiency. The medical condition that occurs as a result of an insufficient or defective heart valve is mitral regurgitation.
Backflow of blood to the lungs can lead to symptoms of dizziness, shortness of breath, swelling of the legs and feet called edema, and fatigue. If left untreated, mitral regurgitation can lead to an irregular heartbeat, chest pain, and even heart failure.
The mitral valve clip procedure is now widely considered a first-line treatment for patients who are too high risk for surgery. Some of the benefits are:
If you are undergoing the mitral valve clip procedure you must report all the medications that you are taking to avoid serious complications or drug-drug interactions. Your healthcare provider may also ask you to take certain heart tests like an echocardiogram, EKG, and X-ray to assess your heart’s functioning prior to performing the procedure.
Most mitral valve clip procedures happen in the cath lab in a hospital or in an ambulatory or outpatient setting under general anesthesia. Higher risk patients usually require an overnight stay in the hospital where the procedure is performed. Bringing a change of clothes is suggested for those who are required to stay overnight.
An overnight stay is usually to monitor for complications since the procedure is relatively short and painless. Prior to your surgery, your healthcare provider may ask you to hold off on taking certain medications like aspirin and anticoagulants that may interfere with surgery.
Most people experience immediate relief of their mitral regurgitation symptoms after the procedure. Some patients can go home after a few hours of monitoring while others may have to stay a day or two based on their condition. Most patients will be discharged with medication instructions.
After being discharged from the hospital, it is important that you:
If there are no complications and your work does not require strenuous activity, you can usually return within 72 hours of surgery. You may be asked to follow-up with your cardiologist or a primary care professional a week after surgery, but if your mitral regurgitation symptoms return before then, or at any point, notify a healthcare professional immediately.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stewart MH, Jenkins JS.The evolving role of percutaneous mitral valve repair.Ochsner J. 2016;16(3):270-276.Abbott Laboratories.MitraClip (R) NT Clip delivery system.Gheorghe L, Ielasi A, Rensing BJWM, et al.Complications following percutaneous mitral valve repair.Front Cardiovasc Med. 2019;6:146. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2019.00146Tay EL, Lim DS, Yip J.Redo MitraClip mitral valve repair after a late single leaflet detachment. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2014 Jul 1;84(1):160-3. doi:10.1002/ccd.25337
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stewart MH, Jenkins JS.The evolving role of percutaneous mitral valve repair.Ochsner J. 2016;16(3):270-276.Abbott Laboratories.MitraClip (R) NT Clip delivery system.Gheorghe L, Ielasi A, Rensing BJWM, et al.Complications following percutaneous mitral valve repair.Front Cardiovasc Med. 2019;6:146. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2019.00146Tay EL, Lim DS, Yip J.Redo MitraClip mitral valve repair after a late single leaflet detachment. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2014 Jul 1;84(1):160-3. doi:10.1002/ccd.25337
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Stewart MH, Jenkins JS.The evolving role of percutaneous mitral valve repair.Ochsner J. 2016;16(3):270-276.Abbott Laboratories.MitraClip (R) NT Clip delivery system.Gheorghe L, Ielasi A, Rensing BJWM, et al.Complications following percutaneous mitral valve repair.Front Cardiovasc Med. 2019;6:146. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2019.00146Tay EL, Lim DS, Yip J.Redo MitraClip mitral valve repair after a late single leaflet detachment. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2014 Jul 1;84(1):160-3. doi:10.1002/ccd.25337
Stewart MH, Jenkins JS.The evolving role of percutaneous mitral valve repair.Ochsner J. 2016;16(3):270-276.
Abbott Laboratories.MitraClip (R) NT Clip delivery system.
Gheorghe L, Ielasi A, Rensing BJWM, et al.Complications following percutaneous mitral valve repair.Front Cardiovasc Med. 2019;6:146. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2019.00146
Tay EL, Lim DS, Yip J.Redo MitraClip mitral valve repair after a late single leaflet detachment. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2014 Jul 1;84(1):160-3. doi:10.1002/ccd.25337
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