On June 7, 2023, Dr. Haresh Mehta, a Consultant-Interventional Cardiologist at SL Raheja Hospital, Mahim-Fortis Associate, and the team of specialists performed the first Mitra Clip procedure in Maharashtra on a 52-year-old patient. This minimally invasive interventional cardiology procedure involved placing a small device called a Mitra Clip in the patient's mitral valve to reduce leakage.
The patient, who had previously suffered a heart attack and undergone angioplasty in January 2023, experienced a decline in heart function by 20-25% during his post-recovery period. Further examination uncovered a severe leak in his mitral valve, which necessitated surgical intervention. However, the patient's low blood pressure and the need to avoid escalating health risks prevented an increase in medication dosage. Therefore, a different approach was necessary.
After consulting with Dr. Haresh Mehta and experts at SL Raheja Hospital, Mahim, they determined that the Mitra Clip procedure offered the most favorable outcome. Dr. Haresh Mehta stated -
“The Mitra Clip procedure reduces the risk of heart failure and obviates the need for a heart transplant in such cases. Surgical repair of the heart valve presents high risks for patients with weakened hearts. Mitra Clip has proved successful but requires precision and experience.”
Dr. Kunal Punamiya, the CEO of SL Raheja Hospital, Mahim-A Fortis Associate, expressed -
“We conducted the MitraClip procedure on the youngest patient in Maharashtra. Despite the complexities presented by the patient’s existing heart condition, we could provide expert care and offer a second chance at life. Our commitment to delivering care ensures improved outcomes for all our patients.”
The IT professional, who had experienced significant emotional and physical strain in recent months, is expected to experience an improvement in his quality of life after the repair of his mitral valve leak. Encouraged by his wife and family, he maintained optimism and complied with all the surgery requirements.
The patient’s wife said -
“My husband was devastated when he lost his vocal cords during his first surgery. Despite being a non-smoker, he battled hypertension and diabetes for 15 years. When we consulted Dr Mehta at SL Raheja Hospital, Mahim, they determined that the Mitra Clip procedure was necessary.”
After the procedure, the medical team monitored the patient's recovery in the ICU until they could reduce his medications and successfully wean him off the ventilator. As a precautionary measure, they implanted an ICD pacemaker to prevent sudden cardiac death caused by fast heart rates (ventricular arrhythmias). With the patient's discharge, it is expected that his ongoing recovery will continue to progress favorably during future follow-up appointments.
