Mitral valve repair
Sunnybrook’s Schulich Heart Program uses advanced valve repair and replacement technology and innovative thinking to provide patients with new ways to get their lives back, even when the most challenging valves fail.
Your heart has four valves that act like one-way doors: they let blood flow in and out of different sections of your heart. The mitral valve is between the upper left chamber (left atrium) and the lower left chamber (left ventricle) of your heart. If the valve doesn’t close tightly, blood can leak backward into the left atrium. This is called mitral regurgitation.
Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair is a procedure that repairs your mitral valve without open heart surgery. Sunnybrook was the first in Toronto to perform the procedure in 2011.
How it works
In the minimally-invasive procedure, a specialized clip called a MitraClip is guided by a catheter through a vein in the upper leg to the right side of the heart and then to the left atrium. Using imaging technology, the clip is positioned and secured to the mitral valve where it is leaking. One or more clips may be used to fix the backwards blood flow. The catheter is removed and pressure is applied to the puncture site. The procedure works immediately.
How we’re making a difference
Marilyn's story: Minimally invasive mitral valve repair ring offers option for inoperable patients
For many with valve disorders, the options are let your malfunctioning heart continue to deteriorate or face high-risk surgery. That's changing. Read more »
Patient and family education
Visit our online centre for resources and information about heart and vascular disease, including tips on healthy living, treatments and procedures, and videos.
Refer a patient
Send us an eReferral or search for us on the Ocean Healthmap.
Referral Information for health-care providers »Contact and Location
Structural Heart Clinic
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
2075 Bayview Avenue,
A-Wing, 2nd floor, room A224
Toronto, ON M4N 3M5
Phone: 416-480-6100 ext. 62605
Fax: 416-480-5092
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
