Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center(PBGMC) is the first hospital in Palm Beach County to perform a procedure using the next-generation Abbott MitraClip™ G5 transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) system, the first-of-its-kind device to repair a leaky mitral valve (known as mitral regurgitation or MR). MitraClip G5 offers physicians easy handling, precise positioning and intuitive deployment that enhances both control and efficiency. Interventional cardiologist Dr. Augusto Villa performed the milestone procedure.

“Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center continues to invest in some of the latest medical technology to ensure our patients have the best chance at good outcome so they can get back to doing what they love,” said PBGMC CEO Erik Cazares. “This is another tool in our medical toolkit available to our cardiac team, as we tailor our care specific to each patient’s needs.”

MitraClip G5 is delivered to the heart via a catheter inserted through the femoral vein in the leg and works by clipping together a portion of the leaflets of the mitral valve to reduce the backflow of blood.

Mitral valve regurgitation is a condition in which the valve between the two left heart chambers (left ventricle and left atrium) don’t close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the left atrium of the heart. If left untreated, MR can lead to life-altering symptoms and severe complications and may ultimately lead to heart failure and death. Traditionally, people who were not eligible for the standard-of-care surgery to treat their MR could only manage their symptoms with medications that don't stop the progression of the disease. Abbott’s MitraClip G5 device provides a much-needed treatment option for certain people suffering from this condition.

About Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center

Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center (PBGMC), part of the Palm Beach Health Network, the largest health care network in Palm Beach County, is a 199-bed acute care hospital. It has served the Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast communities for over 50 years. The hospital was the first in Palm Beach County to perform open-heart surgery and has remained on the forefront as one of the area’s leaders in cardiac care. PBGMC also offers award winning stroke care, neurosurgery, urology, orthopedics, robot assisted and minimally invasive surgical techniques, bloodless medicine and a 24-hour emergency room. For more information, visit: www.palmbeachhealthnetwork.com.