Mitra Clip Specialist

What is MitraClip?

MitraClip transcatheter mitral valve repair is a minimally invasive procedure that the Levine Heart & Wellness team uses to treat a heart condition called mitral regurgitation.

The MitraClip is a small clip that attaches to your mitral valve. Rather than having to make a large incision in your chest to access your heart, your provider performs mitral valve repair using a catheter.

A catheter is a thin piece of medical tubing that goes into a vein (usually in your leg) and passes up the blood vessel to your heart. Your provider delivers the MitraClip to your mitral valve via the catheter, where it helps the valve close more securely.

What is mitral regurgitation?

Mitral regurgitation occurs if there’s a fault in your mitral valve, which is between the two left chambers of your heart. The mitral valve stops blood from flowing the wrong way with its leaflets — two flaps of tissue that form a one-way seal.

With mitral regurgitation, the valve doesn’t seal properly, allowing blood to leak backward. There are two types of mitral regurgitation:

Primary or degenerative mitral regurgitation

The primary form of mitral regurgitation might be present at birth, develop with age, or indicate underlying heart disease.

Secondary or functional mitral regurgitation

Secondary mitral regurgitation is due to heart disease causing an enlarged left ventricle in your heart.

Mitral regurgitation puts a strain on your heart and lungs that can lead to an enlarged heart. Without treatment, the condition can cause heart failure.

When might I need a MitraClip?

You might need to consider the MitraClip procedure if you have mitral regurgitation and the Levine Heart & Wellness team has concerns about your ability to endure open surgery.

Symptoms of mitral regurgitation include:

• Fatigue
• Inability to exercise
• Shortness of breath
• Decrease in appetite
• Fainting
• Edema (fluid buildup in your feet and ankles or lungs)

You might also have a dry, hacking cough that gets worse when you’re lying down.

If you have these symptoms, you should visit Levine Heart & Wellness for diagnosis and assessment. Your provider can then discuss potential treatment options with you, including MitraClip valve repair.

What are the advantages of MitraClip valve repair?

MitraClip resolves the problem of mitral regurgitation without the need for higher-risk surgical procedures that require the operating room team to stop your heart temporarily. 

Before MitraClip, patients who couldn’t undergo open-heart surgery had no alternative treatments available to them.

Recovery rates vary between patients, but in most cases, you only need to stay in the hospital for 2-3 days. Your mitral regurgitation symptoms should improve soon after undergoing MitraClip valve repair.

To find out more or arrange a consultation, call Levine Heart & Wellness today or book an appointment online.