We are one of few U.S. hospitals offering transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) with the FDA-approved MitraClip™. MitraClip™ provides a minimally invasive option for people who can’t undergo open heart surgery to repair mitral valve regurgitation.
What Is Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair?
The TMVr procedure treats mitral valve disease. It repairs the faulty valve without open heart surgery.
The heart’s valves control blood flow in and out of the heart. This flow is like a highway. When blood goes against the flow of traffic, it can lead to heart failure. Mitral valve regurgitation is when the mitral valve doesn’t close tightly enough, causing blood to leak backwards.
TMVr clips the mitral valve with a special device so it can close properly. This small metal and polyester device is called the MitraClip™.
TMVr: The Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Advantage
When you come to us for TMVr, you benefit from the collective expertise of nationally recognized heart specialists. Cardiologists from The Heart Group of Lancaster General Health and surgeons from Lancaster General Health Physicians Cardiothoracic Surgery perform the MitraClip™ procedure together. Our hybrid operating room (OR)—one of only a few available in the Lancaster region—makes this possible.
But their teamwork doesn’t stop there. Before your procedure, these specialists, along with heart imaging experts, meet to review your records and imaging studies. They each share their perspective as they plan the best treatment for you.
With heart disease, it’s all about the details. By working together, we make sure nothing is missed in your unique situation.
TMVr: What to Expect
We repair the mitral valve using the least invasive methods possible. During a transcatheter mitral valve repair procedure, we:
- Thread a long, thin tube called a catheter up to your faulty mitral valve via an artery in the groin area
- Guide the MitraClip™ up to the valve through the catheter using sophisticated imaging technology like cardiac CT
- Clip the valve’s two flaps, or leaflets, with the MitraClip™
During this process, we’re careful to preserve your own valve tissue as much as possible. This strategy helps the repair last longer and gives better results than cutting it.
Benefits of MitraClip™
In traditional open-chest mitral valve repair surgery, surgeons access the heart through a large incision in the breastbone. Minimally invasive TMVr procedures avoid this by accessing the heart through tiny incisions, which leads to less scarring and pain. Other benefits of MitraClip™ procedures include:
- No heart-lung bypass (machine that doctors use to pump blood when they stop your heart during traditional valve replacement surgery)
- Lower risk of complications
- Faster, easier recoveries
Make an Appointment
To schedule a TMVr consultation, call 717-544-8300.