Aspirus | Aspire | Spring 2018

4 aspire Spring 2018 access the mitral valve with a thin tube that is guided through a vein in your leg to reach your heart.” Aspirus Heart & Vascular has one of the best teams of surgeons, cardiologists and research specialists to help a patient make the best decision when it comes to mitral heart disease. EXPLOREYOUROPTIONS To learn more about MitraClip therapy or other treatment options, go online to valvedisease.org . delivers a therapeutic option. It is a well- established therapy with a growing body of clinical and real-world experience. HowdoesMitraCliphelp? w w The procedure is less invasive than traditional open-heart surgery. w w Patients are usually released from the hospital within two to three days. w w A patient should experience improvement in symptoms and quality of life soon after the procedure. “Unlike surgery, the MitraClip procedure doesn’t require opening the chest and temporarily stopping the heart,” said German Larrain, MD, cardiologist and co-director of the Aspirus Valve Center. “Instead, doctors Enrolling in clinical trials New life-changing treatments for heart disease are constantly being developed. Before they become available to the public, however, these breakthroughs must first make it through a clinical trial. At Aspirus Research Institute, clinical trials examine newways THE good news for people with mild heart valve problems is that many live long, full lives and never require treatment. However, once a heart valve begins to affect the heart’s ability to pump blood, it is likely to require a repair or replacement. There’s more good news for individuals who require mitral valve repair. Until recently, mitral valve surgery has been the only option for treating mitral regulation. Aspirus Heart & Vascular now offers a less-invasive treatment option. Minimallyinvasivevalverepair MitraClip therapy is the world’s first transcatheter mitral valve repair that German Larrain, MD What is themitral valve? Themitral valve is one of the twomain valves on the left side of your heart. Normally, themitral valve has two flaps, or leaflets, that open and close, allowing blood to flow fromyour left atrium to your left ventricle. This prevents blood from flowing backward into the left atriumand lungs. Mitral valve disease occurs when themitral valve doesn’t work properly. to prevent, detect or treat heart disease. These investigations might be for new drugs or combinations of drugs, new surgical procedures or devices, or different ways to use existing treatments. If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial or would likemore information, go online to aspirus.org/research or call 715.847.2611 . MITRACLIP Minimally invasive options for heart disease