MitraClip | King's Daughters Health System

MitraClip for patients with advanced heart failure

MitraClip^TM is a significant step forward in the treatment of advanced heart failure patients with mitral valve disease, offering a better quality of life, reduction in symptoms, and the potential to enjoy longer lives.

MitraClip was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2013 to treat the primary, degenerative mitral valve regurgitation. In 2019, the FDA approved the device to treat secondary mitral valve regurgitation, which often affects patients with heart failure. Structural heart specialist Sandeep Krishnan, M.D., performed King's Daughters first MitraClip procedure in March 2020. Dr. Krishnan has treated hundreds of patients with MitraClip and has taught other physicians on its use. Worldwide, more than 100,000 people have benefited from MitraClip therapy.

Secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) occurs when the left chamber of the heart becomes enlarged, preventing the leaflets from closing properly, creating what some call a “leaky heart.” MR allows blood to leak backward, preventing blood from flowing through the heart efficiently. Symptoms include feeling tired our out of breath, and heart arrhythmias. Untreated mitral valve regurgitation can cause – or worsen – heart failure.

Mitral regurgitation is difficult to manage, is associated with a poor prognosis, and can lead to reduced quality of life, recurrent hospitalizations and decreased survival. Patients with MR are often not eligible for surgery because of advanced age, frailty, multiple comorbidities or other complicating factors.

Because MitraClip placement is performed using minimally invasive technques, it offers these patients new hope for a better quality of life. During the procedure, the cardiologist threads a special delivery device over a guidewire, through a vein in the leg and into the left atrium of the heart. Once in place, MitraClip is deployed, securing the two leaflets of the mitral valve. The delivery device is removed and, after a two- to three-day recovery period, the patient is able to return home. Most patients experience immediate relief of symptoms following the procedure.