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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TAVR, SAVR both linked to low reintervention rates after five years

While most TAVR-related reinterventions occurred in the first year after treatment, most SAVR-related reinterventions occurred in years two through five. The team's full analysis is available in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

ACC.24: TAVR linked to lower 1-year mortality, stroke rates than SAVR in low-risk patients

TAVR is noninferior to SAVR when treating low-risk patients, according to new data presented at ACC.24. In fact, it is associated with multiple benefits over surgery.

ACC.24 late-breaking clinical trials

ACC.24: Self-expanding Evolut valves offer superior performance for TAVR patients with small annuli

The SMART trial included one-year data from TAVR patients randomized to receive either a self-expanding Evolut valve or a balloon-expandable Sapien 3 valve. All patients presented with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis and a small aortic annulus. A whopping 87% of participants were women. 

Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) with Medtronic’s self-expanding Harmony valve is both safe and effective after more than a year, according to new real-world data published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.[1]

TPVR with self-expanding Harmony valve associated with ‘excellent’ real-world outcomes

Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement is still linked to certain risks, researchers noted, but new data confirm it is a safe, effective treatment option for patients with severe PR. 

Osso VR, a San Francisco-based virtual reality (VR) company, has developed a new VR training simulation focused on left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedures. The simulation is designed to offer clinicians a new way to practice LAAO procedures in a “repeatable, risk-free virtual environment.”

Cardiologist-approved VR for interventional procedures headed to ACC.24

San Francisco-based Osso VR and the American College of Cardiology have collaborated on advanced LAAO simulations. The two groups first started working together back in 2022. 

Abbott has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its TriClip transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) system designed to treat tricuspid regurgitation (TR).

FDA approves Abbott’s TriClip TEER device for tricuspid regurgitation

Less than two months after an FDA advisory panel voted in favor of approval, the transcatheter edge-to-edge repair system can now be sold and marketed in the United States.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Moderate prosthesis-patient mismatch after SAVR linked to worse long-term outcomes

The long-term impact of moderate PPM remains unclear. To learn more, researchers explored dozens of different studies from over the years, sharing their work in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

New risk score helps cardiologists predict when TAVR patients may require dialysis

Patients who need renal replacement therapy after TAVR are much less likely to survive. Researchers hope their new risk score can help care teams prepare ahead of time for this rare, but potentially fatal complication. 

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