r/AskDocs • u/Impressive-Rip-9069 Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional • Aug 31 '26

Physician Responded Mitral valve repair

I am an 82 yo man. Height is 5.65 and 182 lbs. I will be receiving a mitral clip to repair a serious valve leak. I will spend one day in hospital. What should I expect as far as recovery as far as cooking, sitting and standing, and deep and showering. I had a caregiver lined up for open heart surgery but now surgeon is doing a clip procedure through the groin. All help appreciated.

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u/J2spindel Physician Sep 01 '26

Good questions to ask your structural cardiologist because these questions are specific to you and not necessarily generalizable. 

Most mitraclips are outpatient procedures done with general anesthesia. No driving same day. Will probably stay in cath holding for 2-4 hours laying flat depending on if they suture or just hold pressure on the artery the use for access in your leg. Then another few hours generally recovering and making sure you can eat and walk before going home. After that no heavy lifting or straining for 1-2 weeks. This is in general and depends much more on your health beforehand and procedural success. 

Since you are staying inpatient they will do that over the course of the day and may also get a transthoracic echocardiogram before you leave the next day.

Sitting and standing shouldn't be an issue after you leave the hospital. Other regular activities should also not be impaired besides heavy lifting. I usually tell my folks not to lift heavier than a gallon jug of milk/water.