LLUMC-Murrieta now offering new minimally invasive mitral valve treatment

In late February, Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta (LLUMC-Murrieta) became the first hospital in the region to complete a minimally invasive mitral valve replacement. As one of the few centers nationwide selected to launch this new technology, this marks a significant milestone for LLUMC-Murrieta's cardiology team and community.

The mitral valve is one of the heart's four valves and is responsible for keeping blood flowing in the right direction. When it doesn't function properly, patients can develop:

• Mitral regurgitation: the valve becomes leaky as its leaflets bulge backward

• Mitral stenosis: the valve becomes stiff and narrow, limiting blood flow

• Mixed mitral disease: a combination of leakage and narrowing

According to Niraj Parekh, MD, medical director of the Heart and Vascular Center and the Structural Heart Program at LLUMC-Murrieta, patients with these conditions may experience symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, or chest pain. "Over time, it can lead to life-threatening problems like arrhythmia, heart failure, and stroke," Parekh says.

This new minimally invasive mitral valve replacement is one of the first FDA-approved devices that can be implanted directly into the native mitral valve using a fully transcatheter approach. It is designed for patients with severe mitral regurgitation, mitral stenosis, or mixed mitral disease.

"Until now, replacing a mitral valve through a minimally invasive approach wasn't possible because the valve's structure is extremely complicated," Parekh explains. "That meant many patients didn't have a safe or reliable treatment option."

Traditionally, patients needing mitral valve replacement relied on open-heart surgery or edge-to-edge repair. However, many were not candidates for these treatments due to the complexity of their anatomy. As a result, one-year mortality rates were high in this group due to recurrent heart failure, syncope, and cardiac arrest.

Now, patients who were not candidates for traditional treatments have another chance at life. This new option is entirely transcatheter and performed through the skin.

"Recovery is incredibly quick - most patients spend one night in the hospital and are home the following day," Parekh says.

"It's rewarding to see how quickly people return to their daily lives, and even more meaningful to see the improvement in their quality of life."

If you or a loved one is at high risk for open-heart surgery or has worsening mitral valve symptoms, consult your cardiologist about seeing a structural heart specialist. For more information, visit the Structural Heart Disease website.