New Hope for High-Risk Heart Patients
When your heart’s mitral valve isn’t working as it should, blood can flow backward. This regurgitation makes your heart work too hard and, over time, can cause heart failure if left untreated.
For many years, open-heart surgery was the only way to repair the mitral valve, which was a problem for patients who weren’t good candidates for invasive surgery. But thanks to an innovative new approach called advanced MitraClip™, we can now effectively treat mitral regurgitation for high-risk patients, too.
With the largest MitraClip program in the state, we ensure you get the expert, whole-person care you need when you need it.
We’re here to help you find the right physician or a location that’s convenient for you.
Frequent Questions About Mitral Valve Repair
The AdventHealth Heart, Lung, and Vascular Institute is home to the largest program offering MitraClip™ in the state of Florida. As we’ve grown, we’ve seen an increasing number of cardiac patients benefit from this groundbreaking procedure.
Read more to learn about mitral regurgitation and transcatheter mitral valve repair using MitraClip.
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Q:Question: What is mitral regurgitation?
A:Answer:The mitral valve works like a door to separate the upper left heart chamber (left atrium) from the lower left heart chamber (left ventricle). If you have mitral regurgitation disease, your mitral valve isn’t completely sealing the opening between heartbeats, allowing oxygenated blood to flow in the wrong direction through your heart. Over time, this puts strain on your heart and can lead to congestive heart failure if left untreated.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerA heart murmur is often the first sign of a diseased valve.
But other common symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Irregular heartbeat
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling in your hands, feet, legs or abdomen
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Q:Question: What are some treatment options for mitral regurgitation?
A:Answer:Treatment options for mitral regurgitation depend on the severity of your symptoms and your overall health. While medication may reduce symptoms like fluid buildup in the lungs, no medication can fix a diseased mitral valve.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerHowever, there are surgical options for curing mitral regurgitation disease: traditional surgery to repair or replace the damaged cardiac valve, and transcatheter mitral valve repair with devices like the MitraClip.
Unfortunately, some patients aren’t good candidates for open-heart surgery due to age, advanced heart failure or other medical conditions. The MitraClip offers them new hope for a healthier future.
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Q:Question: What is MitraClip?
A:Answer:The MitraClip procedure is a minimally invasive surgery to treat mitral valve regurgitation. During the procedure, the device is implanted in your heart and connected to the areas of your mitral valve. Once in place, it significantly reduces blood backflow and decreases your risk of heart failure.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerYour surgeon positions and repositions the device in real time to ensure you get the proper fit in just one procedure.
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Q:Question: Are you a candidate for MitraClip?
A:Answer:If you’re at high risk for complications during traditional open-heart surgery, MitraClip transcatheter mitral valve repair may be a good option for you. The MitraClip procedure is less risky for patients with serious medical conditions because it doesn’t require surgical opening of your chest or stopping of your heart. Minimally invasive procedures also often result in quicker recovery, less blood loss and fewer complications.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerMitraClip may not be appropriate for people who:
- Can’t take medications that thin the blood or prevent clotting
- Have an infected or inflamed mitral valve
- Have mitral valve disease as a result of rheumatic fever
- Have a blood clot in the heart or vessels that carry blood from the lower body to the heart
Learn What to Expect Before Your MitraClip Procedure
Once it’s confirmed that the MitraClip procedure is a good option for you, our care coordinator will contact you to gather your medical history and insurance authorization and schedule a pre-op appointment. This appointment may include testing like a carotid ultrasound, heart catheterization or a pulmonary function test.
We’ll schedule an initial assessment for you to meet with one of our MitraClip physicians. This visit is a great opportunity to ask questions, review your test results and discuss your options.
Once all testing is complete, our team of experts from cardiology, surgery, anesthesiology and other cardiac care specialty areas will create a personalized treatment plan. The care coordinator will contact you to review the plan and schedule the procedure and other appointments.
If you have any questions during this process, contact us at Call813-554-3278, ext. 1.
During the procedure, we’ll access your mitral valve through a vein in your leg that leads directly to your heart.
Then, we’ll attach the clip, ensuring your cardiac valve closes properly for a tight seal between each heartbeat.
The MitraClip is put in place while your heart is beating, so there’s less complication risk than traditional open-heart surgery. Implanting the device is a minimally invasive procedure, so you’ll likely just need to spend a few days in the hospital.
MitraClip procedures take place in the hybrid operating room at our AdventHealth Pepin Heart Institute. They usually last two to four hours and are typically performed under general anesthesia.
The transcatheter procedure doesn’t require the surgical opening of your chest, so most people enjoy a faster recovery — often up and walking within a day or two.
While you recover at home, we may recommend following a special diet, exercise regimen and medicine routine. A blood thinner may be prescribed by your doctor, who will continue to monitor your care following the procedure.
Our AdventHealth Pepin Heart Institute team will coordinate several follow-up visits over the next year. At your 30-day post-op visit, you’ll undergo testing like bloodwork, an echocardiogram and an ECG. Your doctor may also recommend cardiovascular rehab.
To help prevent infection, we suggest that you take antibiotics before any medical or dental procedures, including dental cleanings, tooth extractions and colonoscopies.
After the procedure, we’ll give you an implant identification card. Keep this card with you at all times. Show it when you visit a new doctor, an emergency department or have any dental work or medical procedure.
Cardiovascular Care You Can Count On
Our AdventHealth Heart, Lung, and Vascular Institute experts offer MitraClip and other innovative, advanced treatments to get you back to living a wholehearted life. If you have symptoms of cardiac disease or heart failure, like shortness of breath, swelling or heart palpitations, contact us today.