Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER)

Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is an innovative treatment for mitral valve regurgitation. This condition happens when the mitral valve doesn’t close properly, causing blood to flow the wrong direction in the heart. This can develop as a result of genetic syndromes, chronic high blood pressure, infections and other reasons.

TEER is a procedure to treat this condition using a device called a mitral valve clip, which helps the valve close properly and keep blood flowing the right direction. At Overlake Medical Center & Clinics, our expert and compassionate team will work with you to help you understand your mitral valve treatment options and select the best treatment for you.

What is Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER) with a Mitral Valve Clip?

TEER is a minimally invasive procedure to treat mitral valve regurgitation. Doctors feed a long, thin tube called a catheter through a vein in your leg and up to your heart. Then, they use the catheter to place a tiny clip that’s made of metal and smaller than a dime.

Whether you are a candidate for a mitral valve clip will depend on your age, other health conditions you may have, the severity of your mitral valve regurgitation and other factors. Our cardiologists will help you understand your treatment options and create a custom care plan to reduce your symptoms and support your long-term heart health. 

What are the benefits of Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER) with a Mitral Valve Clip?

TEER with a mitral valve clip helps people feel better, improve their quality of life and relieve symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue. It also includes several advantages compared to open heart surgery including:

• Shorter procedure (one to three hours total)
• Less time in the hospital (typically one to three days)
• Faster recovery
• Fewer complications
• Less pain

What to expect before, during and after Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER) with a Mitral Valve Clip?

Your doctor will help you prepare for the procedure and know what to expect. The process will start with an evaluation of your medical history. You will have imaging tests that take detailed pictures of your heart so doctors can examine your mitral valve regurgitation and determine the best treatment option for you.

If TEER is selected as your treatment, your doctor will ask you about any medications you are taking, if you have any allergies and provide any instructions for the days leading up to the procedure.

On the day of your procedure, you will have anesthesia that puts you in a sleep-like state so you don’t feel any pain and are not awake during the procedure. Then, the doctors will insert a long, thin tube called a catheter into a vein in your groin, and use the catheter to install the mitral valve clip in your heart. The procedure generally takes between two and three hours.

Patients will generally stay in the hospital for one to three days after the procedure. Many people are up and walking the next day and start to feel immediate relief from symptoms. In general, patients are back to their usual activities within one to four weeks of their procedure.  

TEER is typically a permanent procedure. A small number of patients may need evaluation for further treatment if their disease progresses. Our care team will continue to monitor and support you in the months and years after your procedure to help you maintain your best heart health.

What questions should I ask my provider about Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER) with a mitral valve clip?

• How many of these procedures have you done?
• What are the long-term outcomes for this procedure?
• How can I prepare for this procedure?
• Can my family come with me to my appointments?
• What medication do I need to stop taking to have this procedure?
• Do I need to take any new medications after the procedure?
• What is recovery like after the procedure?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a candidate for a mitral valve clip?

Whether you are a candidate will depend on your age, other medical conditions you have, the severity of your mitral valve regurgitation and other factors. When deciding the right procedure for you, our care team considers whether a mitral valve clip can reduce your symptoms in the short term and keep your heart healthy in the long term. Your doctor may decide this is not the right procedure for you if you:

• Have an infection or inflammation of the mitral valve
• Cannot take blood-thinning medications
• Have heart problems as a result of rheumatic fever
• Have a blood clot in or around your heart

Do mitral valve clips work as well as open heart surgery?

Many patients who have had TEER feel better right away and experience long-term symptom relief. This procedure also offers faster recovery and shorter hospital stays than open heart surgery. Still, open heart surgery may be the better treatment option for some patients with severe mitral valve regurgitation, structural differences in their heart, or other factors. The best treatment will depend on your personal health. Your care team will help you evaluate your options and choose the right procedure. 

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