Mitral Transcatheter Edge to Edge Repair (mTEER)
About mTEER
1. What is the Mitral Valve
The mitral valve is one of the main heart valves that controls the flow of blood through the heart by separating the left upper from the left lower chamber of the heart (Figure 1). It consists of two parts called leaflets which open to allow forward flow and close to prevent backward flow. When these two leaflets do not close properly it causes the mitral valve to become leaky and forces the heart to work harder and less efficiently (a condition commonly called heart failure). Consequently, patients may feel breathless, tired, and develop swelling of their ankles.
See Figure 1. below The mitral valve
1. What is the Mitral Valve
The mitral valve is one of the main heart valves that controls the flow of blood through the heart by separating the left upper from the left lower chamber of the heart (Figure 1). It consists of two parts called leaflets which open to allow forward flow and close to prevent backward flow. When these two leaflets do not close properly it causes the mitral valve to become leaky and forces the heart to work harder and less efficiently (a condition commonly called heart failure). Consequently, patients may feel breathless, tired, and develop swelling of their ankles.
See Figure 1. below The mitral valve
2. Repairing a Leaking Mitral Valve
Until recently, leaking mitral valves were repaired through open heart surgery. Open heart surgery involves a general anaesthesia, opening the chest wall, placing the body through a heart and Lung machine, and then repairing or replacing a mitral valve. This is a major operation, and a significant number of patients are not fit enough to go through and recover from the operation safely. Over the past 10 years, a new technique has been developed called transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) whereby a clip is placed between the two leaflets of the mitral valve to reduce the degree of leakage and make patients feels better by making them feel less breathless, less tired, and reduce their risk of being admitted to hospital because of heart failure. We are now able to offer this service under the auspices of Wessex Cardiology LLP.
Professor Mahmoudi and Dr Wilkinson do this procedure, which was commissioned at UHS on the NHS in 2022. We have now done more than 60 cases and this is now a well-established NHS service, which is rapidly growing in demand. Professor Mahmoudi is the service lead for this at UHS. We have recently expanded this service for limited numbers of patients with similar Tricuspid valve problems. For private appointments please contact us here.
Until recently, leaking mitral valves were repaired through open heart surgery. Open heart surgery involves a general anaesthesia, opening the chest wall, placing the body through a heart and Lung machine, and then repairing or replacing a mitral valve. This is a major operation, and a significant number of patients are not fit enough to go through and recover from the operation safely. Over the past 10 years, a new technique has been developed called transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) whereby a clip is placed between the two leaflets of the mitral valve to reduce the degree of leakage and make patients feels better by making them feel less breathless, less tired, and reduce their risk of being admitted to hospital because of heart failure. We are now able to offer this service under the auspices of Wessex Cardiology LLP.
Professor Mahmoudi and Dr Wilkinson do this procedure, which was commissioned at UHS on the NHS in 2022. We have now done more than 60 cases and this is now a well-established NHS service, which is rapidly growing in demand. Professor Mahmoudi is the service lead for this at UHS. We have recently expanded this service for limited numbers of patients with similar Tricuspid valve problems. For private appointments please contact us here.
