MitraClip Readies For Mitral Regurgitation Study

We dont know what to do now after reading this artical on Mitraclip. I am suppose to have surgery on Friday the 31st of Oct. Now I want to wait and have it done this way…is there any reason I shouldnt be doing this? I was told it could not be done robotically since there were two leaflets invloved, would it matter with the clips? Does anyone know?? Please respond ASAP.

Thanks!!

Jon

Hi Jon,

It’s Adam. You raise a good question.

However, you should that the Mitra Clip is not readily available for most patients. As of now, there is a very limited study to test this non-invasive technique for mitral valve repair in the United States.

That said, it could be years before the Mitra Clip is fully approved by the FDA and accepted by the heart valve surgery medical community.

I hope that helps. You can bring this up with your surgeon… But, my gut tells me you should proceed as planned.

Keep on tickin!

Adam

Dear Adam,
I am interested in the study involving the mitraclip. I have grade 3 on the echocardiagram. I have 2 leaky valves. My PCP has is providing care for me until something comes along whereby I can get treatment. I am a single mom and low income so, heart surgery is out of the question since I can not afford insurance and it would be a pre-existing condition. I have been on many medical Web sites but, have not received any solutions. I found the article on the mitraclip as an alternative for open heart surgery. I know it is not yet approved by the FDA but, isn’t that what are studies are for? I also found the study on the catheter. I would also be interested in this study. Please let me know if it is possible to qualify for a study of the above types.
Thanks,
Vicki McFarland

Hi Adam,
I will have a Mitral valv repair surgery in London. I dont mind travelling to the US if its possible to have the MitraClip.

Please inform me if its possible.

Regards
Abdullah Azam

I am going to meet with a surgeon today about this Mitraclip surgery. My cardiologist recommended a mini sternodomy open heart mitral valve repair. I have been told this mitraclip is not FDA approved so my insurance will not pay for this but, the surgeon’s office told me if I want it done, come in and let’s try to submit it to the insurance company. Sooner or later they will pay for it or repeated submitting of this to them will hopefully get them to pay for it. Why get open heart surgery when they can repair it with this clip through one vein?

I’m late getting back to everybody but, here it is. University of Virginia is where I went to talk to the mitraclip surgeon. He told me “even though I am the surgeon and I think I will do a great job, with you not having any real symptoms, I wouldn’t jump into anything any time soon”. I said “what about my heart racing back in December”. He said “that was what…15 minutes? It needs to be a lot longer than that before worrying about it. I said what about an hour or so. He said no, a couple of days. I told him if my heart was racing for more than a day it would scare me to death. Anyway, I’ve decided to hold off for now and wait until the mitraclip is FDA approved. Unless I start feeling bad or have worsening symptoms.

Can you tell me if this has been approved yet by the FDA? I have a friend who is supposed to have this procedure done in February.

I had a mitraclip installed on January 6, 2010. Just yesterday 7/8/2010, I had my 6 month check-up. I have experienced tremendous improvement. If you qualify for the procedure, my advice is “don’t hesitate”.

My dad is 81 and has been approved for the Mitraclip but the procedure is not covered by Blue Cross. He lives in California and has medicare. He is in open enrollment for the next week – does anyone know which insurance companies cover this procedure???

My Dad needs and qualifies for a mitraclip. Any ideas on where to go to get one? Europe?