What to Expect

Follow along with our step-by-step guide to the MitraClip™ procedure for mitral valve repair.

Procedure Overview

The MitraClip Procedure

MitraClip Therapy requires a minimally invasive procedure

The MitraClip procedure is performed in a hospital by a specialized care team. The healthcare professional repairs the mitral valve through a small puncture in your groin, rather than an open-chest incision. 

The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and typically lasts 1 to 3 hours. People typically return home after 1 day in the hospital. 

The following steps provide a general overview of the MitraClip procedure—your experience may be different. The healthcare professional can explain the procedure to you, provide specific details, and answer questions you may have.

Here’s what happens:

Access through a vein

The healthcare professional makes a small puncture in the groin to access a vein and inserts a catheter to reach the heart.

Placing the MitraClip implant

The implant is guided to the heart and placed in the mitral valve. One or more implants may be used.

Finishing the procedure

The catheter is removed and the MitraClip implant becomes a permanent part of the heart. This will allow the valve to close more tightly and reduces leaking.

Recovery

The path to healing and feeling better

You may spend 1 to 2 days in the hospital. But before you leave, the healthcare professional will discuss next steps with you. 

They will give you specific instructions to help you with your recovery. It is important to carefully follow the healthcare professional’s directions, especially if you need to take any medications.

Clinical data from patients who underwent the MitraClip procedure demonstrate an immediate reduction of mitral regurgitation. It’s normal to need a bit of rest as your body heals. You should be back to your baseline activity after 1 to 2 weeks.

Important recovery tips:

  • Keep your access site dry for the first 24 hours
  • You are likely able to take a shower, but avoid soaking the access site
  • Avoid perfumes, lotions, etc near the access site
  • If bruising around the access site suddenly gets bigger or harder, call your doctor immediately
  • If any bleeding occurs, or if symptoms worsen, you may need to go to the emergency department
Following Up

Checking in as your heart heals

Regular check-ups with your doctor are very important. You will be released to the care of your cardiologist or family doctor, and you may be asked to return for follow-up visits per your doctor’s directions. It’s important that you reach out to your doctor whenever you have questions or concerns about your health.

Your Abbott Implant Card

As you leave the hospital, you will receive an implant card with information about your MitraClip Therapy. Please share your implant card with your healthcare team and before any medical, dental, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures.

Is MitraClip Therapy for me?

Use our quick self-assessment to see if this minimally invasive heart procedure could be right for you.

Start Assessment

Ready to discuss with your doctor?

If your mitral regurgitation symptoms are interrupting your daily life, download this discussion guide to prepare for your next doctor’s appointment.

Download Discussion Guide

Find a cardiologist near me

Meet with a specialized care team experienced with the MitraClip™ procedure.
Important Safety Information
Important Safety Information

What is MitraClip™ Therapy approved for?

Available by prescription only.

MitraClip therapy is a minimally invasive procedure approved for treating patients with clinically significant mitral regurgitation due to either (a) a deteriorated mitral valve in patients who are deemed to be at prohibitive risk for surgery, or (b) mitral valve in patients who have heart failure and reduced pumping function who remain symptomatic despite maximally tolerated medications to treat their heart failure.
Patients should work with their doctor and a multidisciplinary heart team, which may include a heart surgeon and cardiologist with experience treating heart failure, to confirm their surgical risk and to ensure that they are on the optimal medications. The heart team will determine if transcatheter edge-to-edge valve repair is clinically appropriate, and if the patient meets the indications for the MitraClip procedure.

Who should not have the MitraClip Procedure?

Patients that have any of the following conditions should not have the MitraClip Procedure: inability to tolerate or are allergic or hypersensitive to anti-coagulants, anti-platelet therapies, nickel, titanium, cobalt, chromium, polyester, or contrast dye; have inflammation or rheumatic disease of the valve; have blood clots inside the heart or blood vessels (inferior vena cava, femoral vein), or active endocarditis or other active infection of the valve or have mitral or tricuspid valve anatomy which is deemed not suitable for repair with MitraClip.

What are the possible complications associated with the MitraClip Procedure?

As with any medical procedure, there is a possibility of complications. The most serious complications of the MitraClip procedure includes, but are not limited to: death, stroke (a condition in which decreased blood flow to the brain can result in brain damage and may cause severe disability), transient ischemic attack (stroke symptoms that last only a few minutes), major vascular complications (damage to a major blood vessel that may require emergency surgery or urgent cardiac surgery), life threatening bleeding event (a major bleeding event that requires a blood transfusion). For additional potential risks and complications, please consult with your physician or heart team.

Talk to your doctor to learn more about the risks associated with MitraClip Therapy and ask for the detailed Important Safety Information if you’d like to review the full list of complications.

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References: 1. Stone GW. et al. Five-Year Follow-up after Transcatheter Repair of Secondary Mitral Regurgitation. N Engl J Med. March 5, 2023. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMOA2300213 2. Arnold SV et al. Health status after transcatheter mitral valve repair in heart failure and secondary mitral regurgitation. JACC Mar 2019, 25951; DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.02.010 3. Mayo Clinic. Mitral valve regurgitation. Accessed June 16, 2025. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mitral-valve-regurgitation/symptoms-causes/syc-20350178 4. Cleveland Clinic. Can a Cough Be Related to Heart Issues? May 5, 2022. Accessed June 16, 2025. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/persistent-cough-it-may-be-a-sign-of-heart-failure 5. Phoenix Heart | Vein | Vascular. 6 Symptoms of Mitral Regurgitation. October 6, 2022. Accessed June 16, 2025. https://phoenixheart.com/6-symptoms-of-mitral-regurgitation/ 6. Cioffi G, Tarantini L, De Feo S, et al. Functional mitral regurgitation predicts 1-year mortality in elderly patients with systolic chronic heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail. 2005;7(7):1112-1117.  7. von Bardeleben, R. et. al. Real-World Outcomes of Fourth-Generation Mitral Transcatheter Repair 30-Day Results From EXPAND G4. JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, 2023. Vol. 16. No. 12. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcin.2023.05.013