UW treats 100th patient with MitraClip

The preferred treatment for patients with a “leaky” mitral valve is surgical repair of their native valve. However, there are a growing number of patients who are too sick for open heart surgical repair of their mitral valve. 

MitraClip Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair therapy works by “clipping together” a small area of the mitral valve, often in the center of the valve. This brings the leaflets closer together, reduces the leak in the valve and allows blood to flow forward on both sides of the clip. 

"MitraClip therapy offers a significant treatment advance using a less-invasive and catheter-based approach to repair the mitral valve. 

We have been very impressed with the results and have seen remarkable improvements in the quality of life of our patients."

-Dr. Mark Reisman

Leveraging a collaborative effort across cardiology, cardiac anesthesia and CT surgery has enabled the University of Washington to become one of the top five sites providing this unique therapy in the U.S. 

The UW multidisciplinary team includes Dr. Mark Reisman and Elizabeth Perpetua in the Department of Medicine (Cardiology), Dr. Thomas Jones (Department of Pediatrics), and Dr. Burkhard Mackensen (Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine).

MitraClip is manufactured by Abbott Vascular and received FDA approval on October 24, 2013.