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.

A majority of medical devices involved in Class I recalls were never required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to undergo premarket or postmarket clinical testing, according to new research published in Annals of Internal Medicine.[1]

How to minimize bleeding risks after TAVR

Bleeding events remain a serious complication after TAVR. By identifying high-risk patients early and planning ahead, however, care teams can keep them to a minimum.

Hadley Wilson, MD, MACC, executive vice chair of Atrium Health Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute, and a clinical professor of medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, shares what he felt were the most important clinical trials presented at the TCT 2025.

Key takeaways for interventional cardiology from TCT 2025

B. Hadley Wilson, MD, talked to Cardiovascular Business about several standout late-breaking clinical trials presented at TCT 2025. Topics of those trials included drug-coated balloons, TAVR valve durability, pulmonary embolism treatments and much more.

statue justice legal verdict malpractice case lawsuit scale

Patient sues Abbott after early heart valve replacement

The patient's Trifecta GT heart valve had to be replaced after just six years, an experience he says resulted in "permanent injuries." Abbott pulled the devices off the U.S. market in 2023 due to a known risk of structural valve deterioration. 

Edwards Evoque transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement TTVR

Evoque TTVR system linked to favorable outcomes in new real-world analysis

Researchers tracked data from more than 1,000 real-world patients, focusing on 30-day safety and efficacy outcomes. The group shared its findings at TCT 2025 in San Francisco.

Michael J. Mack, MD, discusses his team's seven-year update to the PARTNER 3 trial at TCT 2025 in San Francisco.

PARTNER 3 update: TAVR still comparable to SAVR in low-risk patients after 7 years

PARTNER 3 has been one of the most closely watched clinical trials in cardiology for many years now. Michael J. Mack, MD, presented a seven-year update during a packed session at TCT 2025. 

Medtronic Stedi Extra Support guidewire

Medtronic launches FDA-cleared guidewire compatible with multiple TAVR systems

The guidewire was built specifically with Medtronic's own Evolut platform in mind. However, it is also compatible with all other commercially available TAVR systems.

Ancora Heart AccuCinch Ventricular Restoration System heart failure FDA

Transcatheter heart failure implant from Ancora Heart linked to positive 2-year data

The flexible device is attached to the inner wall of the left ventricle during a minimally invasive procedure. It was designed to reduce the size of the left ventricle over time.

biodegradable PFO closure device

New biodegradable PFO closure device shows early potential

Researchers tracked patients for two years, using echocardiography to confirm the devices had completely vanished. Additional studies will still be required.