Structural Heart Disease

Structural heart diseases include any issues preventing normal cardiovascular function due to damage or alteration to the anatomical components of the heart. This is caused by aging, advanced atherosclerosis, calcification, tissue degeneration, congenital heart defects and heart failure. The most commonly treated areas are the heart valves, in particular the mitral and aortic valves. These can be replaced through open heart surgery or using cath lab-based transcatheter valves or repairs to eliminate regurgitation due to faulty valve leaflets. This includes transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Other common procedures include left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion and closing congenital holes in the heart, such as PFO and ASD. A growing area includes transcatheter mitral repair or replacement and transcatheter tricuspid valve repair and replacement.

FDA clears new AI software for mitral valve repair
Philips worked closely with Edwards Lifesciences to develop the new software.
When heart patients can’t wait: Urgent TAVR with self-expanding vs. balloon-expandable valves
The high-risk patients who require urgent or emergent TAVR are often excluded from major clinical trials. To learn more about this population, researchers explored data from nearly 600 patients treated at high-volume facilities.
Cleveland Clinic launches partnership focused on AI-powered TAVR planning
Cleveland Clinic, one of the world’s top heart hospitals, has launched a new two-part partnership with Ohio-based DASI Simulations.
FDA-approved surgical aortic valve implanted for first time in US
The next-generation valve from Corcym features a sutureless frame as well as laser-cut leaflets and thread holes.
Acute kidney injury after TAVR: Key risk factors every cardiologist should know
Multiple studies have linked acute kidney injury after TAVR to a heightened risk of short- and long-term mortality.

Philips has secured U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for EchoNavigator R5.0 with DeviceGuide, the company’s artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled software for mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER).

FDA clears new AI software for mitral valve repair

Philips worked closely with Edwards Lifesciences to develop the new software.

When heart patients can’t wait: Urgent TAVR with self-expanding vs. balloon-expandable valves

The high-risk patients who require urgent or emergent TAVR are often excluded from major clinical trials. To learn more about this population, researchers explored data from nearly 600 patients treated at high-volume facilities.

Cleveland Clinic launches partnership focused on AI-powered TAVR planning

Cleveland Clinic, one of the world’s top heart hospitals, has launched a new two-part partnership with Ohio-based DASI Simulations.

FDA-approved surgical aortic valve implanted for first time in US

The next-generation valve from Corcym features a sutureless frame as well as laser-cut leaflets and thread holes.

Acute kidney injury after TAVR: Key risk factors every cardiologist should know

Multiple studies have linked acute kidney injury after TAVR to a heightened risk of short- and long-term mortality.

FDA approves JenaValve TAVR system for aortic regurgitation

The Trilogy Transcatheter Heart Valve System is the first TAVR device approved by the FDA to treat severe aortic regurgitation. Until now, interventional cardiologists have had to settle for the off-label use of TAVR valves built for treating aortic stenosis.

Several interventional cardiology late-breaking studies were presented at the Cardiovascular Research Technologies (CRT) 2026 meeting March 7-10, and experts from the Society of Society highlighted what they felt was most impactful to clinical practice. Photo by Dave Fornell.

CRT 2026: Key takeaways for interventional cardiologists

CRT studies shed new light on many topics, including long-term TAVR outcomes, radiation protection and advanced interventional techniques.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Moderate valve oversizing during TAVR boosts survival—too much may be less beneficial

Oversizing transcatheter heart valves can improve TAVR outcomes. There is still a reason to be cautious, however, especially when patients are receiving a balloon-expandable valve.