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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Pea-sized PDA occluder approved for premature babies in US

The FDA has approved the Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder as a minimally invasive treatment option for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in newborns weighing as little as two pounds. According to its manufacturer, Abbott, it is the first such device in the world to be approved for babies so small.

Study: Continued anticoagulation OK during TAVR for AFib patients

Patients with atrial fibrillation can safely continue oral anticoagulation (OAC) while undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), suggests a retrospective study published Jan. 7 in the American Journal of Cardiology.

Surgery tops drug therapy in boosting CHD patients’ quality of life

Adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) report better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) when treated with surgical or catheter interventions rather than drug therapy or surveillance, according to research published Jan. 8 in the American Journal of Cardiology.

Surgical strategies, genetics affect tetralogy of Fallot survival

Almost 95 percent of patients survived 25 years after discharge for surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot without requiring a transplant, according to a U.S. registry study published in JAMA Cardiology. While this statistic highlights the “excellent” outcomes for this congenital heart condition, the report’s authors also identified areas for further improvement.

How climbing TAVR wait times affect patient outcomes

Developing an effective triage process for patients on the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) waitlist could be critical to those patients’ postprocedural outcomes as the intervention continues to gain traction and popularity, researchers reported Jan. 5 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

SCCT shares updated guidance on CT use during TAVI, TAVR procedures

The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) has issued an updated guidance for the use of CT in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures. The full document can be read in the Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

TAVR system designed to treat aortic regurgitation used in 1st US patient

The first United States patient has been treated with the J-Valve TF system designed to address one of the holes in the rapidly evolving TAVR field: the lack of devices specifically targeting pure aortic regurgitation.

The Way to Women’s Heart Health

Ramping up the battle against cardiovascular disease in women represents a golden opportunity to move the needle on mortality.

Structural Heart Disease

How to minimize bleeding risks after TAVR

Key takeaways for interventional cardiology from TCT 2025

Patient sues Abbott after early heart valve replacement

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

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