Transcatheter Mitral Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER)

Transcatheter mitral edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is a minimally invasive procedure that treats mitral valve regurgitation, a condition in which the leaflets of the heart’s mitral valve don’t close properly, allowing blood to leak backward. Mitral valve regurgitation forces the heart to work harder than normal. The condition can increase pressure in the lungs, causing fatigue and shortness of breath. Without treatment, the disease can worsen over time, leading to new or more severe symptoms.

Who Is a Candidate for TEER?

TEER is recommended for patients with severe symptoms of mitral regurgitation, typically shortness of breath, who are at increased risk for open heart surgery as a result of age, previous heart surgery or other significant medical problems, such as liver or lung disease. This is also the recommended treatment for people with secondary mitral regurgitation.

Benefits of TEER

A minimally invasive surgery, TEER offers benefits including:

• Faster recovery than open heart surgery, with patients typically going home 24 to 48 hours after the procedure.
• Less post-procedure pain than open heart surgery.
• Significant relief of shortness of breath and other congestive heart failure symptoms associated with mitral regurgitation.

Risks of TEER

TEER is performed in patients with secondary mitral regurgitation when the valve disease is due to weak heart muscle. It is also performed in patients who are considered high risk for open surgery. Potential complications of TEER may include bleeding, acute kidney failure, vascular complications, lung complications, arrhythmias, infection or bleeding at the incision site, and stroke.