CIS Performs First MitraClip® Procedure at Baton Rouge General

On June 25, the Structural Heart Team at Cardiovascular Institute of the South was the first to perform mitral valve repair using the MitraClip® procedure at Baton Rouge General Medical Center.

CIS interventional cardiologists Drs. Peter Fail and Darrell Solet performed the procedure along with cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. V. Antoine Keller. The is a minimally-invasive treatment option for those with a severe leak in the mitral valve who are too high-risk for traditional open heart surgery. The condition, called mitral regurgitation (MR), is the most common heart valve disease.

The MitraClip® procedure has changed the paradigm in caring for patients with mitral regurgitation. “CIS is proud to expand the Structural Heart portfolio at Baton Rouge General and give patients more options for valvular heart disease,” said Fail.

“Our BRG Structural Heart Program is committed to providing our community with the very latest technology that will allow patients to have shorter recovery times with less discomfort,” said Keller.  

A leak in the mitral valve occurs when the flaps do not close completely, causing blood to flow back into the heart as it pumps. As a result, the heart has to work harder to keep blood flowing—raising the risk for life-threatening stroke and heart failure. When MR becomes severe, it can profoundly affect quality of life by causing shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, and other debilitating symptoms.

For patients who are too high-risk for surgery, the MitraClip® offers a safe alternative treatment option. During the procedure, the small MitraClip® is guided into place using a thin catheter through a small incision in a leg vein. The clip is then attached to the flaps of the mitral valve to help it close more completely, restoring normal blood flow. This minimally-invasive procedure typically results in a shorter hospital stay and improved heart function almost immediately.

07/02/2020