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.

Cardiologists are first in world to use new leaflet-splitting technique during TAVR
Performing TAVR on a patient with bicuspid AS can be challenging. Transcatheter aortic root tricuspidization may represent a new treatment strategy for these patients, according to a new first-in-human trial.
Is TAVR too common among younger patients? New data prompt a ‘call to action’
Experts agree that most patients younger than 65 should be treated with surgery instead of TAVR. According to a new real-world analysis, however, more and more of these patients are undergoing TAVR.
FDA clears high-pressure balloon catheter for BAV procedures
The new device from Arizona-based Corvention was built to withstand the extreme pressures associated with treating severely calcified valves.
How expert guidelines have influenced TAVR vs. SAVR decisions
As popular as TAVR is today, SAVR continues to play a significant role in the management of patients with valvular disease.
Upfront costs of robotic heart surgery are high—but it may be a smart investment
Makoto Hashimoto, MD, PhD, said robotic procedures are associated with a faster recovery time and many other potential benefits.

Transaxillary TAVR emerges as top alternative to femoral access

Transsubclavian or transaxillary (TAx) access has become the preferred route for balloon-expandable TAVR when femoral access isn’t feasible, a new analysis found. Outcomes were generally favorable with TAx TAVR compared to other alternative access techniques, with the exception of higher stroke rates, researchers reported in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Registry analysis finds link between TAVR volume, mortality

With CMS just months away from an updated national coverage determination for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a new analysis in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests the relationship between procedural volume and TAVR outcomes remains important in the United States.

Babies more likely to have congenital heart defects when fathers smoke

When pregnant women inhale secondhand smoke—including from prospective fathers—it may be even more dangerous to their offspring than if the women smoke themselves, according to a meta-analysis published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

SCAI publishes consensus document on PFO closure

An expert consensus statement published by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) offers guidance for the safe and effective use of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure devices to prevent recurrent stroke.

Early AVR bests ‘watchful waiting’ in asymptomatic patients

Patients with severe but asymptomatic aortic stenosis have better survival two and three years later if an aortic valve replacement (AVR) is initially recommended instead of a “watchful waiting” approach, according to a single-center study published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

COAPT substudy: MitraClip gives lasting boost to quality of life

NEW ORLEANS — Patients who received the MitraClip device to treat heart failure with secondary mitral regurgitation showed significant and lasting improvements on a quality-of-life assessment compared to people treated with optimal medical therapy alone, according to a substudy of the COAPT trial presented at the American College of Cardiology’s scientific sessions.

‘Really not close’: TAVR trumps SAVR in two trials of low-risk patients

NEW ORLEANS — Two trials evaluating transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in low-risk patients haven’t just shifted the TAVR versus surgical AVR discussion. They’ve completely flipped it, said experts here at the American College of Cardiology’s scientific sessions.

Should cardiologists operate sooner for chronic aortic regurgitation?

Patients who received aortic valve repair or replacement (AVR) based on Class II indications fared better than those who underwent surgery for Class I triggers in a single-center study, suggesting earlier intervention may be warranted in asymptomatic individuals with chronic aortic regurgitation.

Structural Heart Disease

Cardiologists are first in world to use new leaflet-splitting technique during TAVR

Is TAVR too common among younger patients? New data prompt a ‘call to action’

FDA clears high-pressure balloon catheter for BAV procedures

How expert guidelines have influenced TAVR vs. SAVR decisions

Upfront costs of robotic heart surgery are high—but it may be a smart investment