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Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVr)

Through a little vein in the groin, we can now apply something that is a bit like a clothing peg to clip exactly where the valve leaflets don’t meet. This keyhole procedure, called MitraClipTM, reduces the mitral valve leak significantly, but is associated with much less risk than conventional surgery

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVr)

What is MitraClip Implantation?

MitraClip is a simple procedure to fix your mitral valve. It is a minimally invasive procedure that does not require opening of the chest. The mitral valve is accessed with a catheter (thin tube) that is guided in through a vein in your leg to reach your heart.

The small clip is attached to your mitral valve exactly where the valve leaflets don’t meet. The device assists in restoration of normal blood flow to your heart.

Post operation

On average, the procedure takes 1-3 hours. Most patients are able to go home within 1-3 days.1

1.Lim DS et al. Contemporary Outcomes with MitraClip (NTRXTR) System In Primary Mitral Regurgitation Results From The Global EXPAND, ACC 2020.

MitraClip's innovation

The MitraClip innovation is a world-leading minimally invasive transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) device. This treatment is a revolutionary option for people living with mitral regurgitation (MR). It is especially transformative for geriatric patients who are unable to withstand the invasion of  traditional open-heart surgery.

MBS funding for TMVr with the MitraClip device

On 1 July 2021, the Australian government has provided funding through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for TMVr with the MitraClip device to be undertaken by TMVr accredited clinicians in accredited hospitals. The MBS supported indications for TMVr include high surgical risk patients with:

  1. Moderate-to-severe or severe symptomatic degenerative (primary) mitral regurgitation; or
  2. Moderate-to-severe or severe symptomatic functional (secondary) mitral regurgitation

This national funding is a significant step forward in providing greater access for MR patients to TMVr in appropriately credentialed Structural Heart Programs such as Macquarie University Hospital (MUH) and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH).

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Since 2009, the Sydney Heart Team has been successfully treating some of the country’s most challenging heart patients, returning them to an excellent quality of life.

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