MitraClip® Procedure - Mitral Valve Repair

MitraClip® Procedure - Cottage Heart & Vascular Center

Expect the most sophisticated medical approaches—as well as the latest in advanced technology—when you select the Heart and Vascular Center at Cottage Health on California’s Central Coast.

The MitraClip® procedure is a less-invasive treatment option for patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation who are too sick for traditional open-heart mitral valve surgery.

What is Mitral Regurgitation?

Mitral regurgitation is a condition that prevents the mitral valve, located between the heart’s two left chambers, from closing completely. This causes blood to leak backwards back inside the heart.

Mitral regurgitation places an extra burden on your heart and lungs. Over time, some people may develop an enlarged heart because it has to work harder to pump blood through the body.

If left untreated, mitral regurgitation can cause other, more serious problems to your heart, such as heart failure, a condition that occurs when your heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the needs of your body.

Symptoms of Mitral Regurgitation

Mitral regurgitation symptoms are often mild and progress slowly so you may not experience any symptoms for many years. When they do occur, they may include:

• Cough
• Lightheadedness
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Shortness of breath that increases with activity or when lying down
• Heart palpitations or the feeling of a rapid heartbeat
• Swelling in legs

Types of Mitral Regurgitation

There are two types of mitral regurgitation (MR): degenerative MR and functional MR. If you have been diagnosed with having degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR) that is moderate to severe, and you have symptoms of congestive heart failure or other related heart conditions, you may benefit from repair or replacement of your mitral valve. DMR can be related to the normal aging process, a valve abnormality at birth, heart disease, coronary artery disease or a history of rheumatic fever.

If you have been diagnosed with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR), your mitral valve may be structurally normal, but it leaks because the heart is enlarged or damage to the heart muscle has occurred from coronary heart disease or a heart attack. You may also benefit from mitral valve repair or replacement if you have FMR.