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.

Key takeaways from ACC.25: Advances in cardiovascular science
Former American College of Cardiology president Hadley Wilson, MD, executive vice chair of Atrium Health Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute, explains his main takeaway messages from the ACC 2025 late-breaking trials.
New TAVR research explores adverse outcomes, disease progression in patients with asymptomatic severe AS
Two separate studies at ACC.25 explored data from the EARLY TAVR trial. One analysis included stroke findings that surprised researchers.
Dapagliflozin improves outcomes for elderly TAVR patients with heart failure
The positive data were presented as part of a late-breaking clinical trial at ACC.25 in Chicago. One cardiologist on stage for the presentation said these findings will impact the way he manages certain TAVR patients.
Bringing state-of-the-art healthcare to Florida heart patients
Naples Comprehensive Health is building up what it hopes will be a nationally recognized cardiology program. Robert Cubeddu, MD, and Dee Dee Wang, MD, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about the journey so far.
Cardiologists make case against routine interventions for asymptomatic severe AS
Aortic valve replacement is likely inevitable for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Immediately performing TAVR or SAVR, however, may not always be the answer.

Immediate Past President of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Hadley Wilson, MD, FACC, executive vice chair of Atrium Health Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute and a clinical professor of medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, details the top late-breaking studies at AHA 2024. #AHA24 #AHA2024

9 key takeaways from AHA 2024 in Chicago

Hadley Wilson, MD, spoke to Cardiovascular Business at the three-day event to discuss key late-breaking studies and trends. Topics included new drug treatments, AI and much more.

Redo TAVR: A 26-mm Sapien 3 device (Edwards Lifesciences) implanted within a 29-mm CoreValve device (Medtronic). Image courtesy of EuroIntervention.

Redo TAVR: The impact of implanting balloon-expandable valves in failed self-expanding valves

Researchers took a closer look at the effectiveness of redo TAVR, implanting Sapien 3 valves into a variety of explanted CoreValve and Evolut valves.

Edoxaban could limit blood clots, ‘make life easier’ for heart valve surgery patients

The popular DOAC was linked to more bleeding events than warfarin, but fewer reports of intracardiac thrombi and other adverse outcomes. Researchers presented their findings at the AHA's Scientific Sessions 2024 conference in Chicago.

Treating younger patients with TAVR increases risk of death

Treating patients younger than 65 with TAVR is associated with certain risks for heart teams to consider. Fortunately, researchers found, care teams appear to be choosing patients wisely.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Cardiologist demand is on the rise—can hospitals keep up?

Demand for inpatient and outpatient cardiology services is expected to increase significantly in the next decade, putting hospitals and health systems in a position where they need to plan ahead or risk falling behind.

Self-expanding vs. balloon-expandable TAVR valves: How they compare after 5 years

SOLVE-TAVI focused on the long-term impact of selecting different second-generation transcatheter heart valves and anesthesia strategies for transfemoral TAVR procedures.

Philippe Genereux explains how EARLY TAVR will help raise awareness for undertreatment of TAVR.

New data put a spotlight on troubling TAVR trends

Philippe Genereux, MD, principal investigator of the EARLY TAVR trial, noted that many patients with severe AS still go untreated.

robotic-assisted mitral valve repair compared to conventional surgery

How robotic-assisted mitral valve repair compares to conventional surgery

Costs remain a concern, especially for low-volume centers, but robotic-assisted MV repair is associated with short-term outcomes comparable to more conventional techniques.

Structural Heart Disease

Key takeaways from ACC.25: Advances in cardiovascular science

New TAVR research explores adverse outcomes, disease progression in patients with asymptomatic severe AS

Dapagliflozin improves outcomes for elderly TAVR patients with heart failure

Bringing state-of-the-art healthcare to Florida heart patients

Cardiologists make case against routine interventions for asymptomatic severe AS