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.

TAVR’s next big challenge: Providing consistent relief for heart patients with aortic regurgitation
TAVR has already transformed care for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Will it make a similar impact on the treatment of aortic regurgitation?
Low-volume operators linked to worse outcomes after TAVR, M-TEER
Researchers tracked data from more than 400,00 patients, sharing their findings in JAMA Cardiology.
Haemonetics acquires Irish medtech company focused on vessel closure for up to $215M
The device at the heart of this transaction is the PerQseal Elite system, a fully bioabsorbable patch for percutaneous vessel closure. The technology has already gained key approvals in Europe.
Judge blocks Edwards’ JenaValve acquisition—FTC calls it a ‘major win’ for Trump administration
The FTC argued that the $945M deal, first announced in 2024, was "anticompetitive." A federal judge agreed.
TAVR, other interventional procedures may provide value for patients with carcinoid heart disease
These patients are typically treated with surgery, but those procedures carry their own risks that clinicians would prefer to avoid.

cardiologist patient heart compensation starting salary 2022 interventional cardiologist

TAVR’s next big challenge: Providing consistent relief for heart patients with aortic regurgitation

TAVR has already transformed care for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Will it make a similar impact on the treatment of aortic regurgitation?

Low-volume operators linked to worse outcomes after TAVR, M-TEER

Researchers tracked data from more than 400,00 patients, sharing their findings in JAMA Cardiology.

Haemonetics acquires Irish medtech company focused on vessel closure for up to $215M

The device at the heart of this transaction is the PerQseal Elite system, a fully bioabsorbable patch for percutaneous vessel closure. The technology has already gained key approvals in Europe.

court judge gavel business man bankruptcy lawsuit

Judge blocks Edwards’ JenaValve acquisition—FTC calls it a ‘major win’ for Trump administration

The FTC argued that the $945M deal, first announced in 2024, was "anticompetitive." A federal judge agreed.

TAVR, other interventional procedures may provide value for patients with carcinoid heart disease

These patients are typically treated with surgery, but those procedures carry their own risks that clinicians would prefer to avoid.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Cardiologists perform first procedure of its kind to prevent coronary obstruction after TAVR

A vulnerable heart patient required TAVR, but he faced an extremely high risk of coronary obstruction. Leaflet modification and snorkel stenting were not possible, so the group turned to a brand new treatment option: the VECTOR procedure.

TAVR remains a viable treatment strategy for cancer patients

Improvements in care have resulted in a growing number of patients who go on to be diagnosed with both cancer and severe aortic stenosis. TAVR appears to be an effective treatment option for those individuals, and it may help them go on to receive life-saving cancer therapies.

Nick West, MD, chief medical officer, Shockwave Medical, Johnson and Johnson Meditech, explains how the company is innovating intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) therapy devices and building clinical evidence from trials for its use in a variety of calcified lesions. There are several companies developing IVL therapy, but West says Shockwave will remain the market leader because of its nearly decade long head start in the market, strong clinical evidence and has about a 10% market penetration. #IVKL

Why Shockwave Medical is so excited about the future of intravascular lithotripsy

Nick West, MD, Shockwave Medical's chief medical officer, detailed how the company is continuing to push IVL technologies forward. "We are leading the space ... we have no intention of giving up that position," he said.