Mitral Valve Repair or Replacement for Regurgitation

Leaky Mitral Valve Treatments

If symptoms of mitral regurgitation are severe, you might need treatment. We’ll work with you to determine if you need a repair or replacement, with or without surgery, in St. Cloud.

Surgery

Your heart surgeon will first divide your breastbone to gain access to your heart. You’ll likely be on a heart-lung machine, which pumps your blood during open heart surgery. The surgeon will then tighten the ring around the valve.

Mitral Valve Clips

In this nonsurgical procedure, a tiny clip helps your valve’s flaps fully close. Your doctor will:

1. Place a catheter (thin, soft tube) in a blood vessel
2. Use the tube to carry the clip up to your heart
3. Attach the clip to your valve
4. Withdraw the catheter

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR)

TMVR is another nonsurgical option currently being studied at CentraCare through the ENCIRCLE Trial. The doctor inserts a catheter into a blood vessel through a tiny incision. The tube carries an artificial valve up to your heart. Then the doctor pushes aside the flaps of the old valve and inserts the new valve, allowing blood to flow freely through the heart.

If you need a repeat valve replacement, options can be limited. Thankfully, CentraCare has experience with “valve-in-valve" TMVRs, meaning our doctors can insert new valves within older ones.

Your Recovery

We’ll schedule follow-up visits to check on your health. Afterward, you may:

• Be less likely to need hospital care for heart failure
• Feel better than you did before
• Live longer than you would have without treatment

Research Studies

You can access new heart drugs and technology at CentraCare Heart & Vascular, one of the few sites in Minnesota with a heart research program. This research continues to improve valve procedures for leaky valves, including TMVR.

Resources

• MitraClip
• PASCAL Precision System – Edwards