Percutaneous mitral valve repair with the MitraClip system recently emerged as a viable and less invasive therapeutic option in patients with severe mitral regurgitation deemed to be high-risk surgical candidates. Mitral valve morphology and geometry features are key elements for MitraClip eligibility. In the setting of functional mitral regurgitation, the presence of a leaflet coaptation gap due to advanced left ventricle remodeling can be a potential exclusion criterion for MitraClip therapy. In this article, the authors present a case of successful MitraClip implantation in a patient with severe functional mitral regurgitation and a significant coaptation gap. Periprocedural and intraoperative pharmacological and anesthesiological management were fundamental for successful grasping and procedural success.
Keywords: MitraClip; coaptation gap; functional mitral regurgitation; heart failure; transesophageal echocardiography.