Watch: in my words
Should I consider a MitraClip instead of surgery?
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Who it’s for
- Degenerative (primary) mitral regurgitation in patients whose surgical risk is high or prohibitive and whose anatomy is suitable. For everyone else, surgical repair remains the standard — guidelines note TEER results are inferior to surgical repair.
- Heart-failure-related (secondary) mitral regurgitation that persists despite optimal heart-failure medicines. In the COAPT trial, adding TEER reduced heart-failure hospitalizations by about half and lowered deaths.
Why a surgeon is part of the decision
The best choice between surgical repair, replacement and a clip depends on the valve’s anatomy and your overall risk. Our heart team — surgeon and interventional cardiologist together — reviews each patient so you get the option that fits, not just the one a single doctor happens to do.
Sources for this section: 2020 ACC/AHA Valve Guideline, key points: mitral (ACC) · EuroIntervention — review of mitral TEER
Common questions
How is the procedure done?
In the catheterization lab under general anesthesia. A small incision in the groin reaches the femoral vein, and the clip is guided up to the mitral valve. It usually takes two to three hours.
Source: UCSF Health — Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER)
How long will I be in the hospital?
Most patients stay one to two nights and are up walking within 24 hours. Before you go home we check the clip with an echocardiogram and other tests.
Source: UCSF Health — Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER)
Does it last as long as surgery?
Its results may not last as long as surgical repair, which is why guidelines reserve it for primary mitral regurgitation in patients who are poor candidates for surgery.
Source: Duke Health — Ask these questions before mitral valve surgery · 2020 ACC/AHA Valve Guideline, key points: mitral (ACC)
How do I find out if I’m a candidate?
The evaluation usually includes an echocardiogram, a coronary angiogram, a vascular ultrasound and blood tests. A heart team including a surgeon then reviews whether a clip, surgical repair or replacement is best.
Source: UCSF Health — Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER)
