Mitral Transcatheter Edge-To-Edge Repair

M-TEER (Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair)

M-TEER (Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair) is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat mitral regurgitation, a condition in which the mitral valve does not close properly, causing blood to flow backward into the left atrium instead of forward to the body.

This condition may lead to symptoms such as:

Fatigue
Shortness of breath (especially during activity or when lying down)
Swelling in the legs or abdomen
Palpitations
Reduced ability to perform physical activities

M-TEER allows physicians to reduce the valve leak without open-heart surgery. It is particularly suitable for symptomatic patients who are at high risk for conventional surgery.

How the procedure is performed

The procedure takes place in a hospital, in a catheterization laboratory or hybrid operating room, guided by advanced imaging (transesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscopy).

General anesthesia is used to maximize comfort and precision.
The cardiologist inserts a catheter through the femoral vein (in the groin).
The catheter is advanced to the heart and guided from the right atrium into the left atrium through a controlled puncture of the interatrial septum (trans-septal puncture).
A clip device (e.g., MitraClip or similar systems) is then deployed to grasp and approximate the mitral valve leaflets, reducing the backward blood flow.
If needed, one or more clips may be implanted to achieve the best possible result.

Duration of the procedure: 60–120 minutes.

After the procedure

Patients are monitored in the hospital, often in a cardiology ward or step-down unit
Average hospital stay is 2–4 days
Many patients experience symptom improvement in the following weeks
Regular follow-up visits and echocardiograms are scheduled to monitor valve function

Benefits of M-TEER

-No surgical opening of the chest
-Less invasive and safer than traditional heart surgery
-Faster recovery
-Improvement in symptoms and quality of life
-Reduced risk of hospitalization for heart failure in many patients

Who is a suitable candidate?

M-TEER is recommended for patients with:

Moderate-to-severe or severe mitral regurgitation
Persistent symptoms despite optimal medical therapy
High or prohibitive surgical risk
Suitable valve anatomy, evaluated by detailed echocardiography

The procedure is planned and approved by a specialized Heart Team, including cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, and imaging specialists.