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.

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heart surgery surgeons

When valves fail: Surgeons share advice for treating high-risk patients with TAVR explant and SAVR

When a patient’s TAVR valve fails, redo TAVR is not always a feasible option. TAVR explantation and SAVR are typically the answer in these cases, but that approach is associated with certain risks. 

TAVR and SAVR deliver similar outcomes for patients with low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis

Paravalvular leak was more common after TAVR, as one may expect, but that was the only notable difference between the two aortic valve replacement strategies. The study's authors did highlight the importance of additional research, including larger studies with longer follow-up periods.

Intravascular lithotripsy IVL carotid artery TAVR

A new use for IVL: helping cardiologists secure transcarotid access for TAVR

IVL can do more than help prep patients for PCI. In fact, one heart team used Shockwave Medical's IVL technology to secure access for a high-risk TAVR patient.

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]

Answering key follow-up questions after the FDA approved TAVR in asymptomatic patients

The approval of certain TAVR valves to be used in asymptomatic patients is expected to make a significant impact on patient care going forward. 

artificial intelligence heart AI

AI predicts LBBB risk in TAVR patients prior to treatment

The authors tested out a variety of machine learning techniques, including large language models and more traditional algorithms. They focused on data that can be gathered prior to treatment, ensuring cardiologists know as much as possible before the procedure.

BATMAN LVOT

A super alternative: BATMAN helps cardiologists limit complications during TMVR

The BATMAN technique is a safe, effective way to prevent LVOT obstruction during high-risk transcatheter mitral valve replacement, according to new data presented at SCAI 2025.

cardiologists heart doctors

Cardiologists share late-breaking TAVR data on first day of SCAI 2025

New TAVR data on SAPT vs. DAPT and prosthesis-patient mismatch among women were some of the many highlights of the conference's opening day.

Philippe Genereux, MD, director of the structural heart program at Morristown Medical Center, principal investigator of the late-breaking EARLY TAVR trial, presented new data at ACC 2025 showing intervening earlier on patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis leads to better outcomes.

Latest EARLY TAVR data suggest it is time to update industry guidelines

Philippe Genereux, MD, principal investigator of EARLY TAVR, presented new data at ACC.25 showing intervening early on crossover patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis led to better outcomes and a reduced stroke rate. 

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