A less invasive option for restoring mitral valve function
At Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano, we give hope and options to cardiovascular patients who have been turned away by other healthcare providers. We perform MitraClip® insertion, a type of transcatheter heart valve repair that serves as a viable alternative for those who have been told that they were not good candidates for surgery.
Traditionally, mitral valve repair is performed through open-heart surgery. Though safe and effective, this method of heart valve surgery is invasive and requires a longer recovery period. However, less-invasive catheter-based mitral valve replacements are now available near you.
How does mitral valve repair work?
During a MitraClip® insertion procedure, a physician inserts a catheter through a small needle puncture in the vein in the groin to deliver a small clip that is then attached to the leaflets of the mitral valve. The clip helps the valve by improving closure and reducing blood flow back through the valve, known as regurgitation.
Because this kind of mitral valve repair procedure results in smaller incisions, there is less risk of bleeding, less pain, shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times.