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.

TAVR still a safe option for patients with nickel allergies
More research is still needed, as this study only included data from a small number of patients, but TAVR was not linked to any severe adverse events or allergic reactions.
Why patient selection is so important when performing M-TEER
As mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair continues to gain momentum in the United States, a new study of CMS data examines what happens to patient outcomes when the procedure fails.
Advances in electrosurgical techniques have helped thousands of transcatheter valve patients
Toby Rogers, MD, associate professor of medicine at Georgetown University and an interventional cardiologist at MedStar, explains how electrosurgical procedures for transcaval access have helped large numbers of patients receive transcatheter heart valves who otherwise would have been disqualified due to anatomical issues.
No sedation required: Local anesthesia enough for most TAVR patients
New data out of ESC Congress 2025 suggest care teams can take a more minimalist approach during a majority of TAVR cases and only treat patients with local anesthesia. In some cases, however, sedation will still be necessary.
Abbott receives expanded approval for Navitor TAVR system
Abbott's TAVR valve now has CE mark approval for treating low-, intermediate- and high-risk patients who present with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. The news comes as new data on the valve's safety and effectiveness were just published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

FDA says Watchman access systems may increase risk of air embolism—17 deaths reported

Because of this risk, which has been associated with 120 serious injuries, Boston Scientific is updating the instructions for use of several Watchman access systems.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

New LAAO guidelines: 6 key takeaways for interventional cardiologists and electrophysiologists

SCAI and HRS have collaborated on new guidelines designed to help clinicians make the safest, smartest treatment decisions possible.

Corcym’s Perceval Plus aortic heart valve

Heart surgeon performs first robotic aortic valve replacement of its kind

The minimally invasive operation, known as AVATAR, is performed through a small incision in the patient’s neck.

PASCAL Precision transcatheter valve repair system

Pascal system from Edwards Lifesciences linked to key benefits after M-TEER, T-TEER

The interventional device, designed to perform both M-TEER and T-TEER, is at the center of two new studies published in EuroIntervention.

Exploring the value of same-day permanent pacemaker implantation after TAVR

Temporary pacemakers are typically used for at least 24 hours before care teams consider implanting a permanent device. New research out of Canada suggests it may make sense in certain scenarios to go straight to the permanent pacemaker.

cardiologists heart doctors heart research heart data

Colchicine reduces risk of some TAVR complications

Giving colchicine to patients prior to TAVR may reduce the risk of certain conduction disturbances, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. It does not, however, improve survival.

Edwards Lifesciences loses TAVR leader to robotics firm, announces replacement

The change comes at a momentous time for the company's TAVR portfolio, which made history in May by receiving the very first FDA approval for treating asymptomatic severe AS.

cardiologist Jason H. Rogers, MD, a professor at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California

Q&A: What Medicare covering TriClip means for heart patients with leaky tricuspid valves

The tricuspid valve has been at the center of several key policy shifts in recent years. In fact, Medicare now covers both T-TEER and TTVR when performed with FDA-approved devices. We spoke to interventional cardiologist Jason H. Rogers, MD, to learn more about how this momentum has impacted patient care.

Structural Heart Disease

TAVR still a safe option for patients with nickel allergies

Why patient selection is so important when performing M-TEER

Advances in electrosurgical techniques have helped thousands of transcatheter valve patients

No sedation required: Local anesthesia enough for most TAVR patients

Abbott receives expanded approval for Navitor TAVR system