A new clip-like device closes together partially opened doors of a leaky heart valves without the need for open-heart surgery. According to a new study, the clip works almost as well as the surgery and is much safer.

The clip is used for a leaky valve condition known as mitral valve condition. When the mitral valves fails to close properly, blood cannot flow into the main heart chamber. The blood then flows backwards and the heart begins to pump blood inefficiently. Over time, the heart weakens and may lead to heart failure.

Over 250,000 Americans are diagnosed with mitral valve condition every year.  About 100,000 Americans a year have the open-heart surgery to fix the valve. Open-heart surgery is hard on people, especially the elderly and those with other health problems. So the clip is a great alternative to surgery.

Ted Feldman, MD, of NorthShore University Health System is the head of the study. His findings were very positive. 10% of clip patients experienced major complication compared to the 57% of the open-heart surgery patients. However, some experts still do not trust the clip.

Still being a new treatment, many doctors question its durability. How would the clip hold up in 3 year, 5 years? More studies are being demanded, but Feldman says even if the clip fails surgery is still an option. So it makes sense to try the less severe procedure over the harsh operation.

The MitraClip is still waiting FDA approval, but already on the market in Europe.

When you have aortic valve regurgitation, the aortic valve does not close as it should. With each heartbeat, some of the blood leaks back (regurgitates) through the aortic valve into the left ventricle. The body does not get enough blood, so the heart has to work harder to make up for it.

NorthShore University HealthSystem states:

In most cases, it takes many years for symptoms to start. This is called chronic aortic valve regurgitation. The heart makes up for reduced blood flow by getting bigger so that it can pump out more blood. But if the valve problem is not fixed and the leaking gets worse, symptoms start. At this point, valve replacement surgery is often needed to prevent abnormal heartbeats, heart failure, and permanent damage to the heart.

Symptoms can include:

• Fatigue or weakness.
• Shortness of breath, most often when you are active.
• A fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat (arrhythmia).
• A feeling that your heart is pounding, racing, or beating unevenly (palpitations).
• Chest pain (angina), often brought on by exercise, when the heart has to work harder.
• Fainting.

For more information on aortic valve regurgitation, visit NorthShore University HealthSystem’s Cardiology department