MitraClip: Repair for leaky heart valves
If you have a leaky mitral valve, also called mitral regurgitation, it’s important to know your treatment options. One of this is MitraClip™.
Understanding a leaky mitral valve
The mitral valve opens and closes to control the direction of blood flow in the heart. Controlling the direction your blood flows is vital in getting blood to the rest of the body. When the mitral valve is weak, it can’t close all the way, allowing blood to flow backward – making it a “leaky valve.” Because the heart has to work harder to keep blood moving, a leaky valve can lead to irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) and heart failure.
About MitraClip™ procedure at Beacon
The MitraClip™ helps the mitral valve close more completely, eliminating back flow of blood. This minimally invasive procedure, performed by Beacon’s cardiology and vascular experts, can repair your heart and restore your quality of life faster and with less pain. Some details about MitraClip:
- First introduced in 2013, the MitraClip has improved the lives of over 100,000 mitral regurgitation patients.
- The MitraClip is shaped like a miniature clothespin and is smaller than a dime.
- It is implanted in the heart via a thin tube, called a catheter.
- It is clipped onto the valve to help the valve close more completely, minimize the leak, and restore normal blood flow. This intervention can help alleviate symptoms of heart failure and increase quality of life shortly after the procedure takes place.
Frequently Asked Questions about MitraClip
What does the MitraClip look like?
This small metal MitraClip is covered with a polyester fabric. The size of the clip depends on your heart, but there are four sizes the surgeon will work from.
What should I do if I think I have a leaky valve?
If you experience symptoms and/or have been diagnosed with mitral regurgitation, but you aren’t a candidate for mitral valve surgery, ask your provider if MitraClip™ is right for you. They’ll connect you to an interventional cardiologist and clinical cardiologist who will discuss the next steps for repairing your mitral valve.
Will I need surgery?
There are many causes of mitral valve regurgitation, and cases range from mild (requiring no procedure) to severe. In severe cases, signs of heart failure related to the leaky valve can include:
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Dry, hacking cough
- Frequent urination
- Fainting
- Swollen ankles and feet
What will I experience during surgery?
As a minimally invasive procedure, you will likely experience shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery.
- Procedure takes 1-3 hours.
- Most patients go home within 1-3 days
- People experience less risk of mortality, have fewer hospitalizations, and feel better than if they had only used medication.
Will I feel the clip?
No, the implant will not be felt. It will be visible on an echocardiogram of your heart.
About our team
Here are some reasons to choose Beacon for your MitraClip procedure:
- Only program in Michiana to do MitraClip procedure (at Elkhart General Hospital).
- Program is close to you, so you do not need to travel for minimally invasive mitral and aortic surgery.
