Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair Program

UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester is one of only a few hospitals in Massachusetts offering Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (TMVR). This minimally invasive procedure is offered for patients with symptoms of mitral regurgitation who are too sick for open heart surgery. Mitral valve regurgitation occurs when the mitral valve flaps don’t close all the way causing blood to flow backward inside your heart.

TMVR decreases the back flow of blood and helps blood flow normally in your heart. Our team carefully evaluates each patient to determine if TMVR is the best treatment approach.

Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Treatment in Central Massachusetts

TMVR, using the FDA-approved MitraClip device, is unlike surgery in that it doesn’t require opening the chest and temporarily stopping the heart. Instead, doctors access your heart through a vein in your leg. A catheter (a hollow tube) is inserted up through the vein in the groin. Using ultrasound guidance, the doctor can clip the valve flaps together reducing the amount of regurgitation.

Many patients experience a significant reduction in mitral regurgitation following TMVR, which results in fewer hospitalizations, and improvement in symptoms and quality of life. It’s important to discuss your treatment options with your cardiologist. Your physician will determine if this therapy is an option for you.