Cardiology · Structural Heart
Mitral TEER (Edge-to-Edge Repair)
Repairing a leaking mitral valve through a vein
Medically reviewed by Dr Kunal Ajay Patankar, DrNB (Cardiology)
What it is
Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER) treats severe mitral regurgitation — a leaking mitral valve — by clipping the valve's two leaflets together at the site of the leak, using a device delivered through a leg vein.
For patients too high-risk for open surgery, or with heart-failure-related (functional) leaks, TEER reduces the leak, relieves breathlessness and reduces heart failure hospitalisations — without a single incision on the chest.
Who needs it
- Severe mitral regurgitation with breathlessness or fatigue
- High or prohibitive surgical risk
- Heart failure patients whose leak persists despite optimal medication
- Selected patients with degenerative (structural) valve leaks
How it happens, step by step
1
Imaging workup
A transoesophageal echo (TEE) maps the leak's exact mechanism and confirms the anatomy suits clip repair.
2
Venous access
Under general anaesthesia, the device travels up a leg vein to the heart, crossing to the left side through a small, controlled septal puncture.
3
Leaflet grasp
Guided continuously by 3D echo, the clip grasps both leaflets exactly at the leak and closes them — creating a double-orifice valve that seals the regurgitation.
4
Assessment & release
The leak is re-measured on the table; additional clips are placed if needed before the system is withdrawn.
Recovery, honestly
- Usually 2–3 days in hospital
- No sternal wound — activity resumes quickly
- Breathlessness often improves within days to weeks
- Continued heart failure medications and echo follow-up
Common questions
Is TEER as good as surgery?
In high-surgical-risk patients, TEER offers meaningful symptom relief with far lower procedural risk. For low-risk patients with degenerative leaks, surgery remains the benchmark — every case goes through heart-team review.
Will the clip need replacing?
No. The clip is permanent and becomes covered by the heart's own tissue within months.
What if one clip isn't enough?
Additional clips can be placed in the same sitting — the device is only released once the leak reduction is satisfactory.
Wondering if Mitral TEER is right for you?
Every heart is different. Bring your reports and questions — we'll map your options together.