New technique offers life expectancy to heart patients with high surgical risk

May 2022. –  Clinica Ricardo Palma performed the first implant in Peru using MitraClip to treat acute mitral regurgitation without the need to open the chest. Thanks to this new minimally invasive percutaneous technique, heart patients with high surgical risk can reduce the degree of mitral valve involvement and improve their quality of life.

Dr. Luis Bracamonte, thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon at Clinica Ricardo Palma, the doctor who led the procedure, together with the Clinic’s Heart Team made up of cardiologists, intensivists and specialists in hemodynamics, nursing, technologists and the rest of the support team, indicate that the MitraClip is ideal for critical patients, with high surgical risk, and who, until recently were considered inoperable.

“Today people live longer and heart valves, such as the mitral, wear out naturally or due to chronic diseases, this condition causes a defective closure of the mitral valve of the heart, which generates a leak of blood in each heartbeat . Before these patients did not have any major treatment available, with this technique they can improve their living conditions. They no longer have to travel abroad to seek help,” he points out.

To insert the MitraClip, a puncture is made through the right femoral vein, which holds the two mitral leaflets, thus reducing valve insufficiency. Mitral valve repair with this implant (MitraClip) poses a low risk of complications compared to surgery in critically ill patients, is safer, and significantly reduces the number of hospitalizations for heart failure patients.

It should be noted that doctors Akira Tsuha, Hernán Aste and Jenny Sandoval also participated in this procedure; highly trained specialists in Peru and abroad for this type of procedure.

Like this, Clinica Ricardo Palma makes this new technique available to its patients, which allows them to treat the defective closure of the mitral valve.