Structural heart · UK
MitraClip - transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral repair, without opening the chest.
A percutaneous clip to reduce a leaking mitral valve - for primary MR at high surgical risk and functional MR on optimal medical therapy. Reviewed by a structural heart MDT before anyone commits.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A structural heart MDT, not a single opinion
Every MitraClip case is discussed by a structural cardiologist, cardiac surgeon, imaging lead and heart-failure consultant - before anyone commits to a clip.
- 02
Surgery on the table, not off it
For younger, fit patients with degenerative MR, surgical mitral repair is still the gold standard. We say so before you agree to a clip.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no hospital, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a MitraClip (TEER) costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner structural heart centres. NHS-funded pathways for patients meeting NICE TA678 or TA890 criteria cost nothing.
In short
A single-clip MitraClip in our network: £30,000–£38,000, home in 48 hours.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| MitraClip TEER - self-pay, single clip | £30,000–£38,000 | 90–180 min | 1–2 night stay |
| MitraClip TEER - self-pay, two clips | £36,000–£45,000 | 2–3 hours | 1–2 night stay |
| Pre-procedure TOE + CT workup | £1,800–£3,200 | Half-day | 48 hours |
| Structural heart MDT opinion | £450–£850 | 30 min | 1 week |
| 30-day TOE + clinic review | £850–£1,400 | 45 min | Same visit |
| NHS-funded (NICE TA678 / TA890 criteria met) | No charge | As above | Referral pathway |
Prices vary by centre, by the structural cardiologist, by the number of clips required and by device choice (MitraClip G4 versus PASCAL). We come back with a firm quote once the imaging is reviewed.
The problem
The right patient, the right device, the right decision.
MitraClip works - but only in the right patient. COAPT and MITRA-FR showed the same device delivering different outcomes because selection differed. Getting selection right is what a structural heart MDT does.
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Not sure surgery is off the table?
For younger, fit patients with primary MR, surgical repair is still the gold standard. We say so before you agree to a clip.
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Not sure you meet the criteria?
NICE TA678 and TA890 set clear thresholds - EROA, LV ejection fraction, OMT duration. We check your echo against the numbers.
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Want a proper second opinion?
A structural cardiologist, cardiac surgeon, imaging lead and heart-failure consultant, in one room, before any commitment.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery - what happens, in order.
One point of contact from first message to 30-day echo - including the MDT and the imaging workup.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
MDT, imaging, workup
Phase 2 · On the day
GA, TEER, one to two nights in hospital
Phase 3 · After
DAPT, rehab, 30-day TOE
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Symptoms, echo findings, ejection fraction, medications, previous cardiac surgery.
- 02
Before
Structural heart MDT review
Within one working week: a structural cardiologist, surgeon, imaging lead and heart-failure consultant review your case together and confirm whether TEER is the right step.
- 03
Before
Imaging workup
Transoesophageal echo (TOE) to map leaflet anatomy and MR mechanism, plus CT for femoral access and left-atrial anatomy.
- 04
On the day
Admission and general anaesthetic
Admission the morning of the procedure. General anaesthetic with TOE guidance throughout.
- 05
On the day
The procedure itself
90 to 180 minutes in a hybrid theatre. Femoral vein access, transseptal puncture into the left atrium, clip delivery, leaflet grasp, MR reassessed on TOE before release.
- 06
On the day
Overnight on the cardiac unit
One to two nights in hospital - most patients home within 48 hours. Discharge echo before you leave.
- 07
After
Recovery, rehab and follow-up
Dual antiplatelet therapy for three to six months, TOE at 30 days, cardiac rehab, ongoing heart-failure optimisation with your cardiologist.
Typical end-to-end: 3–4 weeks from enquiry to procedure. Follow-up TOE at 30 days.
When it helps
When MitraClip is the right step.
The clinical situations that meet NICE TA678 (primary MR) or TA890 (secondary MR) - plus the one red flag that means the emergency team, not the clinic.
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Primary (degenerative) MR - high surgical risk
Mitral valve prolapse or a flail leaflet, symptomatic, EROA >0.4 cm², where open surgery carries an unacceptable risk.
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Secondary (functional) MR - heart failure
MR ≥3+ driven by LV dysfunction or dilated cardiomyopathy, on optimal medical therapy for three months or more (COAPT criteria).
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NYHA II–IV symptoms despite OMT
Breathlessness or heart-failure hospitalisations that persist despite maximum tolerated medical therapy.
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LV ejection fraction 20–50%
The functional-MR window where COAPT showed benefit - outside this range patient selection needs careful MDT review.
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Prior sternotomy or severe comorbidity
Previous cardiac surgery, frailty, severe lung or renal disease - situations where a percutaneous approach is safer than reoperation.
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Alternative to surgical mitral repair
For selected patients where surgical repair is feasible but the risk-benefit balance favours a catheter approach.
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Recurrent MR after prior mitral surgery
Persistent or recurrent regurgitation after a previous surgical repair - TEER can avoid a redo sternotomy.
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Red flag: acute decompensated heart failure
Sudden severe breathlessness, oxygen requirement or new pulmonary oedema is an emergency - A&E, not a clinic booking.
Procedure options
MitraClip is not the only option.
Every route on the table - surgical repair, surgical replacement, alternative TEER devices and medical therapy - and which fits which patient.
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MitraClip G4 (Abbott)
The current-generation clip, with four sizes and independent leaflet grasping. The device used in the majority of UK TEER procedures.
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PASCAL system (Edwards)
An emerging alternative TEER device with a central spacer and independent paddles. Used in selected anatomies where MitraClip is less well suited.
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Single-clip TEER
A single clip placed at the site of the regurgitant jet - sufficient in many degenerative and some functional cases.
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Two-clip TEER
A second clip added if TOE shows residual MR after the first - common in broad or eccentric jets.
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Surgical mitral repair
The gold standard for younger, fit patients with primary MR and a repairable valve - see our mitral valve surgery page for detail.
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Surgical mitral replacement
Mechanical or bioprosthetic valve replacement where repair is not feasible. Reserved for anatomies unsuitable for TEER or repair.
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Optimal medical therapy alone
For functional MR that does not meet COAPT criteria, or where the MDT judges a procedure will not add benefit.
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Structural heart MDT opinion only
An honest second opinion on whether MitraClip, surgery or medical therapy fits your case - no obligation.
Our vetted UK network
High-volume structural heart centres, we picked them.
TAVI-capable centres with dedicated structural heart teams, cardiac surgical cover on site, and a proper MDT - the standard NICE TA678 and TA890 assume.
Selection criteria
How we choose every centre in our network.
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Consultant structural cardiologists at high-volume TAVI-capable centres
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Cardiac surgical cover on site for every case
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Dedicated cardiac imaging lead for TOE guidance throughout
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Structural heart MDT review before every clip is offered
Safety and recovery
What can go wrong, and what usually does not.
MitraClip is a safer alternative to open surgery in the right patient - but it is still a structural heart intervention. The numbers below are the honest ones, drawn from NICE and registry data.
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General anaesthetic, one to two nights
Every TEER case is done under GA with TOE guidance. Most patients are home within 48 hours with a discharge echo in hand.
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Procedural stroke - around 1 to 2 per cent
The main serious risk. Meticulous transseptal technique, anticoagulation and TOE guidance keep this low, but it is the number that matters most.
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Cardiac tamponade - uncommon
A small collection of blood around the heart from the transseptal puncture. Rare, recognised on TOE, drained percutaneously if it occurs.
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Vascular access complications
Femoral haematoma or pseudoaneurysm at the groin puncture site - common enough to mention, rarely serious, usually settles with pressure or a small procedure.
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Single-leaflet device attachment (SLDA)
The clip detaches from one leaflet in a small proportion of cases. Usually managed with a second clip; occasionally needs surgery.
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Iatrogenic mitral stenosis
Placing too many clips can narrow the valve. TOE monitors the mean gradient during the procedure to avoid this.
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Residual or recurrent MR
Some regurgitation returning over months or years is not unusual - occasionally a repeat clip or surgery is needed.
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Peri-procedural mortality - around 1 to 2 per cent
Death within 30 days is uncommon but real, and higher in the sickest patients. The MDT will give you your personalised number.
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Red flags after discharge
Sudden worsening breathlessness, chest pain, groin swelling, fever or a rapid heart rate mean the same-day emergency team, not the next clinic.
Reading your procedure note
Your MitraClip note in four parts. Read the last one first.
However many clips were placed and whichever device was used, the note the structural cardiologist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Structural heart language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your 30-day review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication, MR mechanism, MDT decision
Whether the MR was primary or secondary, the leaflet mechanism on TOE, and what the structural heart MDT recommended.
- 02 Technique
Access, transseptal, clip choice
Femoral vein used, transseptal site, device (MitraClip G4 size, or PASCAL), number of clips deployed, TOE guidance notes.
- 03 Findings
MR grade before and after, mean gradient
MR reduction achieved (target ≤2+), mean transmitral gradient (kept low to avoid stenosis), any residual jets and their location.
- 04 Impression
Recovery, DAPT, echo follow-up
Read this first: dual antiplatelet plan (3–6 months), 30-day TOE date, cardiac rehab referral, heart-failure clinic follow-up.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for MitraClip varies by insurer and by indication - usually funded when NICE TA678 or TA890 criteria are met, occasionally requiring case-by-case authorisation. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about MitraClip.
Quick answers on cost, eligibility, surgical alternatives and what recovery actually looks like.
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What is MitraClip and how does TEER work?
MitraClip is a small clip delivered through a vein in the groin that grasps both leaflets of the mitral valve, creating a double-orifice valve that leaks less. The technique is called transcatheter edge-to-edge repair, or TEER. It is done under general anaesthetic with TOE guidance, and most patients go home within 48 hours.
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Am I eligible for MitraClip on the NHS?
NHS funding follows NICE TA678 (primary MR at high surgical risk) and TA890 (secondary MR, updated 2023). Broadly: symptomatic MR ≥3+, EROA thresholds met, optimal medical therapy for three months for functional MR, LV ejection fraction 20–50%, and confirmed by a structural heart MDT. We check your case against the criteria and route you accordingly.
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How much does MitraClip cost privately in the UK?
A single-clip case is typically £30,000–£38,000, and a two-clip case £36,000–£45,000. Pre-procedure imaging (TOE and CT) is £1,800–£3,200, and 30-day TOE follow-up £850–£1,400. NHS-funded pathways cost nothing if you meet NICE criteria.
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How is MitraClip different from surgical mitral valve repair?
Surgical repair opens the chest, arrests the heart on bypass and repairs the valve directly - it is the gold standard for younger, fit patients with primary MR and remains the most durable option. MitraClip is percutaneous, avoids sternotomy, and is preferred for high-risk patients, functional MR meeting COAPT criteria, and reoperations. See our mitral valve surgery page for the surgical option in detail.
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What are the main risks of MitraClip?
Procedural stroke around 1–2 per cent, cardiac tamponade from the transseptal puncture (rare), vascular access complications at the groin, single-leaflet device attachment (the clip detaches from one leaflet), iatrogenic mitral stenosis if too many clips are placed, residual or recurrent MR, and peri-procedural mortality around 1–2 per cent - higher in the sickest patients.
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Will MitraClip make me feel better?
For most patients yes. Trial data (COAPT and follow-up registries) show significant improvement in NYHA class and six-minute walk distance, reduced heart-failure hospitalisations, and - in COAPT - reduced all-cause mortality in carefully selected functional-MR patients. In degenerative MR, 85–90 per cent achieve MR ≤2+ at 30 days.
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How long is the recovery?
Most patients are out of bed the same evening, home within 48 hours, and back to light activity within a week. Dual antiplatelet therapy runs for three to six months. A TOE at 30 days confirms the clip position and residual MR, then cardiac rehab and ongoing heart-failure optimisation.
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What if the clip does not work or MR comes back?
Options include a second clip at the same session (common), a repeat TEER procedure later, or surgical mitral repair or replacement if the anatomy allows. The MDT plans a Plan B before your first procedure so nothing is a surprise.
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When should I go to A&E after MitraClip?
Sudden severe breathlessness, chest pain, a fast or irregular heartbeat, spreading redness or swelling at the groin puncture site, or fever within the first two weeks all warrant same-day emergency assessment rather than waiting for your clinic review.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Mitral valve surgery
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Smaller incisions, faster recovery, for suitable valve and coronary cases.
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All tests and procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
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