Effect of Operator Experience on Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair Outcomes

Transcatheter mitral valve repair with MitraClip is a novel, intricate therapy for mitral regurgitation that improves survival and quality of life. Similar to other medical procedures, there is a relationship between procedural experience and clinical outcomes. MitraClip results and the efficiency and safety of the procedure all improved with increasing experience at both the institutional and operator level in two large studies from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry. Patient selection was also found to have a significant role in procedure success. The old adage of "See one, do one, teach one" does not necessarily apply to complex interventions, such as MitraClip, given that the learning curve does not appear to plateau even as operators approach a 150-case experience.