Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair Traditionally, mitral
regurgitation (leakage of blood across the mitral valve back to
the lungs) has only been treated by open heart surgery to either
replace ... Traditionally, mitral regurgitation (leakage of
blood across the mitral valve back to the lungs) has only been
treated by open heart surgery to either replace or repair the
mitral valve. Recently, cardiologists and surgeons at UVA have
been testing a new device called the MitraClip in a clinical
trial. The MitraClip is a tiny metal device that is inserted
using a catheter introduced from a small incision on the blood
vessel in the leg and threaded up to the heart. One or two
MitraClips are then placed on the leaking portions of the mitral
valve, effectively creating a repair of the mitral regurgitation
without the patient undergoing open heart surgery. Who Is
Eligible? Currently in the United States, the MitraClip is still
under investigation by the FDA. Doctors at UVA are involved in a
clinical research trial with p