Surgeon Q&A: What Happens When a MitraClip Fails?

What happens when a MitraClip begins to fail and mitral valve leakage returns? Can the clip be removed and the valve repaired again, or is mitral valve replacement necessary? In this educational video, Dr. Marc Gerdisch, Director of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery at Indiana University Health, answers a patient question about recurrent mitral valve regurgitation five years after a MitraClip procedure. Dr. Gerdisch explains the challenges of removing a previously implanted MitraClip, including scar tissue that can develop around the device and surrounding valve leaflets. He reveals why surgeons can successfully remove the clip and re-repair the mitral valve in approximately 40% to 50% of the surgical cases he discusses, while other patients may require valve replacement.

Dr. Gerdisch also discusses how cardiac surgeons determine when another heart valve procedure is necessary and why some patients with moderate mitral regurgitation may not need immediate treatment. He explains the importance of evaluating heart function, the severity of valve leakage, and complications such as atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension, and changes in ventricular size. Watch as Dr. Gerdisch shares important insights about minimally invasive mitral valve surgery, repeat valve repair, and the treatment options available to patients experiencing mitral valve leakage after a MitraClip procedure. (Video posted on October 8, 2026)