May 11, 2018
LAFAYETTE- On Thursday, May 3, the cardiology team at Cardiovascular Institute of the South was the first in Acadiana to perform mitral valve repair using the innovative MitraClip® procedure in the Hybrid Operating Room at Lafayette General Medical Center.
CIS cardiologists Drs. Peter Fail, Louis Salvaggio and Darrell Solet performed the procedure, which 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.
“CIS is proud to offer the latest treatment options for our patients in Acadiana,” said Dr. Peter Fail. “We plan to expand the technology available in Acadiana, particularly for our patients with structural heart diseases, allowing them to receive the care they need in their own community.”
Pictured from left to right are Frankie Lafleur, Shannon Hebert, Dr. Darrell Solet, Josh Taylor, Monique Gremillion, Dr. Peter Fail, Danielle Webster, Diane Thibeaux, Cindy Langley, Lori Corkin, Noel Cormier, Chad Robertson and David Landreneau.
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® NT offers a safe alternative treatment option. During the procedure, the small MitraClip® NT 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.
Click here more information on the MitraClip procedure.