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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Ross procedure boosts survival for younger valve replacement candidates

Despite its relative rarity in clinical practice, the Ross procedure provides a survival benefit over mechanical aortic valve replacement in young and middle-aged patients, suggests a meta-analysis published in JAMA Cardiology and presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Munich.

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Article highlights achievements of pediatric cardiology pioneer Helen Taussig

Investor’s Business Daily published a profile of Johns Hopkins physician Helen Brooke Taussig, MD, who overcame an initial rejection to medical school due to gender discrimination and went on to create the field of pediatric cardiology.

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Better guidelines, care needed for rising ACHD-related heart failure hospitalizations

Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD)-related heart failure (HF) hospitalizations have increased in recent years and are associated with disproportionately higher costs, procedural burden and health resource use, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Study: PBMV holds up over long term follow-up

More than three-fourths of patients who received percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) at a center in Brazil maintained procedural benefit over a median follow-up of 8.3 years, researchers reported in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

CMS advisory panel divided on TAVR volume thresholds

CMS’s advisory committee appears to be split on whether procedural volume requirements should be required for centers to begin and maintain transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) programs.

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Harvard researchers develop 3D model of human ventricle

Harvard University bioengineers have created a 3D model of a human’s left ventricle that they believe could be used to test drugs and study diseases.

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Researchers: More evidence needed for TAVR in young patients

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine in New York are worried the extension of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to younger, intermediate-risk patients is outpacing clinical evidence.

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Study calls for earlier intervention on mitral valves

Mitral valve operations are the fastest-growing type of heart procedure, according to an analysis of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons’ Adult Cardiac Surgery database—but researchers believe interventions at earlier stages could further improve outcomes.