In its new draft guidance, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends an innovative cardiac procedure which could extend the lives of patients with faulty mitral valve. The minimally invasive procedure called 'percutaneous mitral valve leaflet repair' has been approved for use in the NHS for individuals unable to undergo conventional open heart surgery. Up to 400 patients annually could benefit from it.
Until now, open heart surgery was the only option for mitral valve repair and was not suitable for some older and frail patients. The approval of the new procedure reduces the need for a major surgery.
The procedure involves ultrasound-guided passage of a stainless-steel clip through a vein in the groin into the mitral valve inside the heart. The clip is then attached to the mitral valve flaps allowing it to close more completely, thereby improving symptoms and quality of life.
After implementation of the recommendations, only specialist centres with access to both cardiac and vascular surgical support will be allowed to perform percutaneous mitral valve leaflet repair. The procedure will be conducted only by physicians with specialist training and under the supervision of an expert for at least first 20 procedures.
