Current surgical management of mitral regurgitation

MitraClip catheter-based mitral valve repair system

The ongoing evolution of transcatheter valve technology is impressive. Mitral valve regurgitation is the most common type of heart valve insufficiency and mitral valve surgery is, next to aortic valve surgery, the second leading valvular surgical procedure in the western world. However, there is a large patient population suffering from mitral valve regurgitation that is currently not treated with heart surgery because of significant morbidity and mortality risks. This large underserved patient population could benefit from a less invasive treatment. The MitraClip system (Abbott Vascular, Menlo Park, CA, USA) is the first commercially available medical technology providing a catheter-based nonsurgical repair alternative for patients suffering from mitral valve regurgitation and has the greatest clinical experience compared with other alternative devices. The device is currently in late-stage clinical trials in the USA and has received the CE mark.