Lucknow, May 14 -- A 70-year-old man suffering from critical heart ailments and several comorbidities underwent a minimally invasive heart valve procedure called MitraClip at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), doctors said, adding this was the first time that such a procedure was performed in Uttar Pradesh. SGPGIMS doctors Roopali Khanna and Satyendra Tiwari said the patient, who was said to be recovering sans complications, was suffering from mitral regurgitation-a condition in which the mitral valve does not close properly, leading to backward blood flow in the heart. Left untreated, it can result in heart failure and a significantly reduced quality of life. As such, the cardiology team at SGPGIMS opted for the MitraClip procedure, a catheter-based, minimally invasive technique that repairs the mitral valve without open surgery. The successful procedure was performed on April 22. Post-procedure, the patient recovered without any complications and was discharged within a few days. A two-week follow-up has shown marked improvement in his symptoms and cardiac performance. "This is the first time this advanced valve therapy has been performed in the state," said Prof Satyendra Tewari. "It opens up new treatment pathways for patients with high surgical risks, especially the elderly or those with multiple health conditions."...