Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (MitraClip)
Transcatheter mitral valve repair, often using a MitraClip, treats a leaking mitral valve (mitral regurgitation) through a thin catheter passed via a vein in the groin — with no open-heart surgery and without stopping the heart. A small clip brings the valve's leaflets together so it closes more effectively, easing breathlessness and protecting the heart.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
When the mitral valve does not close properly, blood leaks backward (mitral regurgitation), making the heart work harder and causing breathlessness and fatigue. Transcatheter repair treats this without opening the chest: a catheter is guided through a vein in the groin to the heart, and one or more clips are placed on the valve leaflets — under echo and X-ray guidance — so the valve closes more tightly. It is especially valuable for patients whose risk from open-heart surgery is high, and the decision is made by a dedicated structural-heart team.
International patients receive a remote review of their echo and scans, a heart-team recommendation and a transparent estimate before traveling.
Who is a candidate?
- Significant mitral regurgitation causing symptoms
- High or prohibitive risk for open-heart valve surgery
- Valve anatomy suitable for a clip repair
- Symptoms that persist despite medication
- A decision supported by the structural-heart team
What happens
- 1
Preparation
A detailed echocardiogram (including a transesophageal echo) and CT, plus heart-team assessment, confirm suitability and plan the repair.
- 2
During the procedure
Under general anesthesia, a catheter is passed through a groin vein to the heart and one or more clips are positioned on the mitral leaflets, guided by imaging, to reduce the leak.
- 3
Afterwards
You are monitored briefly, mobilize early, and have an echo to confirm the result before a short hospital stay ends, with follow-up arranged.
Benefits
- No open surgery or breastbone incision
- Shorter hospital stay and faster recovery
- An option for patients at high surgical risk
- Reduces the valve leak and eases symptoms
- Performed by a dedicated structural-heart team
Risks & considerations
- Residual or recurrent leak in some patients
- Clip or device-related issues
- Bleeding or bruising at the groin access site
- Rarely, injury to a blood vessel or the heart, and the usual anesthetic risks
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is delivered by our Heart Center.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (MitraClip) — frequently asked questions
It repairs the valve through a catheter in the groin rather than by opening the chest and stopping the heart, so recovery is faster — but it is not suitable for every valve, and surgery remains best for some patients.
It is mainly for significant mitral regurgitation with symptoms, especially when open surgery is high-risk and the valve anatomy is suitable. The heart team decides after reviewing your echo.
Most people stay one to three days and return to normal activity within one to two weeks.
Many patients have lasting symptom relief; some have a residual or recurrent leak and need further treatment, so follow-up echoes are important.
Yes — send your echocardiogram and reports for a remote heart-team second opinion.
You receive a transparent, itemized estimate after review of your imaging.
Related treatments
Considering transcatheter mitral valve repair (mitraclip)?
Share your reports for a medical second opinion and a transparent, itemized cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.