CHI Memorial and The Chattanooga Heart Institute were the first in the Chattanooga region to offer MitraClip®–a breakthrough technology for people who suffer from mitral valve regurgitation but are too high risk for surgical valve repair or replacement. MitraClip® therapy is the world’s first transcatheter mitral valve repair - meaning no surgical incisions are needed to deliver this life changing therapy.
Lifesaving treatment – without open heart surgery
CHI Memorial is the leading provider of cardiac care, and our physicians exceed national standards for education, training and skill. That’s why we’re the first to offer this exclusive treatment for mitral regurgitation - we’re always working to provide a higher level of care for you.
Treatment for mitral regurgitation depends on the severity of your condition and if your symptoms are getting worse. If your doctor determines that open heart surgery isn’t an option for you - because of your age, advanced heart failure or other serious medical conditions - you may be eligible for the minimally invasive transcatheter mitral valve repair called MitraClip®. MitraClip® can improve your heart’s function, minimize symptoms, and help you enjoy a longer and higher quality of life.
The MitraClip® device is a small clip about the size of a dime that’s attached to your mitral valve to stop the backward leaking of blood. It treats mitral regurgitation by letting your mitral valve close more completely, helping to reestablish normal blood flow.
The CHI Memorial MitraClip® team accesses the mitral valve using a thin, flexible tube called a catheter. After the catheter is in place, the clip is guided through a vein in the leg to reach your heart. The MitraClip® is positioned over the leaky valve until it’s in the desired position. The arms of the clip are extended, and it’s passed down below the mitral valve before being pulled back up again into place. The clip grasps the mitral leaflets and then is closed. The doctors use advanced imaging systems to ensure there’s a reduction in your mitral regurgitation, and then the delivery system is removed.
Unlike surgery, MitraClip® doesn’t require opening the chest or stopping your heart. Most people who receive MitraClip® spend one night in the hospital and are released to home the next day. Although you may feel better immediately after the procedure, doctors recommend taking it easy for five to seven days to allow the site where the catheter was inserted to heal properly.
The CHI Memorial MitraClip® team accesses the mitral valve using a thin, flexible tube called a catheter. After the catheter is in place, the clip is guided through a vein in the leg to reach your heart. The MitraClip® is positioned over the leaky valve until it’s in the desired position. The arms of the clip are extended, and it’s passed down below the mitral valve before being pulled back up again into place. The clip grasps the mitral leaflets and then is closed. The doctors use advanced imaging systems to ensure there’s a reduction in your mitral regurgitation, and then the delivery system is removed.
Unlike surgery, MitraClip® doesn’t require opening the chest or stopping your heart. Most people who receive MitraClip® spend one night in the hospital and are released to home the next day. Although you may feel better immediately after the procedure, doctors recommend taking it easy for five to seven days to allow the site where the catheter was inserted to heal properly.
