MitraClip | Mitral Valve Repair | MedStar Health

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Advanced treatment for blood that leaks backward through the heart’s mitral valve

MitraClip is a device our doctors use to treat mitral regurgitation, also known as mitral insufficiency. This heart disorder occurs when the mitral valve doesn’t close properly, which lets blood flow backward into the lungs.

MitraClip is one of many advanced procedures available through our Structural Heart and Valvular Disease program. Our Structural Heart team meets every day to discuss all patients who are screened for potential procedures, sharing their knowledge and experience to give patients the best outcomes.

What to expect from the MitraClip procedure

On the day of the procedure, we’ll give you general anesthesia to make you sleep. Your physician will make a small incision in your groin and will insert a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a vein. The physician will thread the catheter up to your heart’s mitral valve.

Once the catheter is inserted, the physician will put the MitraClip device in place. The MitraClip will grasp the mitral valve’s leaflets, which control blood flow through the valve. The device will pull the leaflets together, allowing the mitral valve to close more tightly.

You’ll need to stay in the hospital for a few days after the procedure. We’ll monitor your heart function and run tests to make sure the device is working properly. You should be able to resume your normal activities in a couple of weeks.

Conditions

Mitral valve disease is a condition in which the mitral valve, which controls blood flow between the upper and lower left chambers of the heart, doesn't work properly. 
Mitral Valve Disease

Tests

There are a number of test your physicians may perform in order to assess and diagnose your condition:

Cardiac Catheterization 

Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and vascular conditions by guiding thin, flexible tubes called catheters through blood vessels to problem areas.

Chest X-ray

Chest X-rays use a small dose of radiation to create pictures of the structures inside the chest, including the lungs, heart, and chest wall.

Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan

The cardiac computed tomography scan, or cardiac CT, uses X-rays to create three-dimensional images of your heart and blood vessels.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging, better known as cardiac MRI, is a combination of radio waves, magnets, and computer technology used to create images of your heart and blood vessels.

Stress Tests

Stress tests are used to assess how your heart works during physical activity. There are several types of stress tests, including treadmill or bike stress tests, nuclear stress tests, stress echocardiograms, and chemically induced stress tests.

Our providers

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Structural Heart Disease Cardiology

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Our locations

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MedStar Union Memorial Hospital

201 E. University Pkwy.
Baltimore, MD 21218

MedStar Washington Hospital Center

110 Irving St. NW
Washington, DC 20010

Additional information

Manage your healthcare

Make appointments, review your test results and exchange secure messages with your doctor in the myMedStar portal.

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Related services

Emergency Medicine


Heart and Vascular


Mitral Regurgitation


Pharmacy


Primary Care


Ask MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute

Have general questions for our heart and vascular program? Email us at AskMHVI@medstar.net. If you have clinically-specific questions, please contact your physician’s office.