According to the National Library of Medicine, mitral valve regurgitation occurs in 10% of the population. As a cardiologist, I can attest to this as I frequently encounter patients struggling with this condition. For many, a MitraClip offers a minimally invasive solution that can significantly improve the quality of life and life expectancy for patients dealing with mitral valve regurgitation.
Here, I’ll walk you through the condition, how we treat it, and the process for receiving the Mitral Clip.
Mitral valve regurgitation is a condition in which the mitral valve does not close properly. This causes blood to leak back into the heart which if severe, can lead to shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling of legs, and chest pain. If left untreated, it can also cause heart failure.
The MitraClip is a small clip that is placed on the mitral valve leaflets to help them close more effectively, reducing the regurgitation and alleviating symptoms associated with this condition.
Not every patient with mitral regurgitation is a proper candidate for the MitraClip. We further evaluate your valve to see if you are a candidate with imaging called a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). The clip is also a good option for people who open-heart surgery poses a risk, such as older individuals or those with other medical conditions.
As you probably already understand, the MitraClip has several benefits, including the following:
– The Mitral Clip is a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure, which means less trauma and less recovery time.
– Many patients are discharged the day after the procedure and can return to normal activities within a short time.
– The procedure has been shown to significantly alleviate symptoms, including shortness of breath, pain, fatigue, and more, and prolong the life of people with severe mitral regurgitation.
Step 1: Pre-Procedure Assessment – Before the procedure, I will assess the severity of your condition and the anatomy of your mitral valve using a transesophageal echocardiogram, and heart catheterization where we look at the arteries of your heart and measure pressures in your heart.
Step 2: Procedure Day – The procedure will take place at the hospital and you will be placed under sedation.
Step 3: Clip Placement – Using a catheter inserted through a vein in your leg, I will guide the MitraClip to the mitral valve in the heart. Under real-time imaging with the transesophageal echocardiogram, the clip is positioned on the mitral valve leaflets and deployed to improve closure. The MitraClip can be repositioned as needed, before deployment to ensure the best results possible. More than 1 MitraClip can be placed at the same time if needed.
After the procedure, you’ll be monitored for a short time in a recovery area, and then be admitted to the hospital overnight. The next morning you will have a transthoracic echocardiogram (ultrasound of your heart from the chest wall), and you will walk with cardiac rehab. If you are not on a blood thinner already, you will be started on anti-platelet medications for a few months to avoid a clot forming on the device while the heart grows tissue over it. Before being released from the hospital, we will give you post-procedure care instructions and will schedule a follow-up appointment. You will be seen in clinic in 1 week with the nurse practitioner, and then in 1 month with a transthoracic echocardiogram, where I can again assess the effectiveness of the clip.
For more information about the MitraClip, mitral valve regurgitation, or to schedule an appointment, please give our office a call at 251-433-4700.
ABOUT DR. BAYER
Dr. Danielle Bayer is a highly trained cardiologist with a passion for providing exceptional care to her patients. She completed her medical degree at the Medical College of Georgia at Regents University, going on to complete her internship and residency in the Tinsley Harrison Internal Medicine Residency Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Dr. Bayer completed fellowships in both Interventional and Structural Cardiology and Cardiovascular Disease at UAB. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Echocardiography. A member of several prestigious organizations, including the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, Dr. Bayer is committed to advancing the field of cardiology while delivering personalized care to her patients.