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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Sapien 3 Ultra Resilia TAVR valves

A victory for early treatment: FDA approves first TAVR valves for asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis

The FDA has approved the balloon-expandable Sapien 3 TAVR platform from Edwards Lifesciences for treating asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis. This is the first time the agency has approved any TAVR technology to be used in asymptomatic patients. 

Society of Thoracic Surgeons shares new risk calculator for aortic surgeries

Society of Thoracic Surgeons shares new risk calculator for complex aortic procedures

The new resource was built to help care teams plan for ascending aorta and aortic root surgeries.

robotic assisted robotic surgery robot

Robotic mitral valve repair linked to benefits for elderly patients

Robotic and traditional mitral valve repair surgeries are mostly associated with similar outcomes when treating elderly patients. In some ways, however, robotic procedures may be preferred. 

Alexander Kolomaya, MD, a cardiology resident at the University of Utah, presented a study on U.S. national trends in left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) volume and open payments from vendors to operators at the American Heart Association 2024 meeting.

Vendor payments not responsible for rising popularity of LAAO procedures

Consulting fees and other vendor payments do not appear to be directly influencing U.S. physicians to implant more Watchman devices. Researcher Alexander Kolomaya, MD, discussed his team's findings on this topic.

Michael J. Reardon, MD, the Allison Family Distinguished Chair in Cardiovascular Research and a professor of medicine at the DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, explains the late-breaking five-year results of the Evolut Low-Risk Trial presented at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2025 meeting. The data show positive results for the Evolut transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) system vs. surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

Self-expanding TAVR valves deliver outcomes and durability comparable to surgery after 5 years

Michael Reardon, MD, detailed five-year data out of ACC.25 that found Medtronic's Evolut TAVR platform performs as well as SAVR—and even better in some ways. 

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Underweight TAVR patients face higher mortality risk—obesity makes no significant impact

Reviewing data from more than 6,000 patients, researchers found little evidence of the "obesity paradox" observed elsewhere. Underweight TAVR patients, however, may face some significant long-term risks.

Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) President James B. Hermiller, Jr., MD, director of the transcatheter structural heart program at Ascension St. Vincent Heart Center in Indianapolis, explains SCAI's push for wider adoption of new, innovative cath lab radiation protection technology to reduce radiation exposure and the need for lead aprons that cause orthopedic injury.

SCAI pushes for better radiation protection in cath labs

Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions President James Hermiller, Jr., MD, explains SCAI's push for wider adoption of new, innovative cath lab radiation protection technology to reduce radiation exposure and the need for lead aprons.

Meril Life Sciences, an India-based medical device company founded in 2006, developed the Myval TAVR valve

Myval TAVR valve non-inferior to Sapien 3 after 1 year—pacemaker implants the biggest difference

India-based Meril Life Sciences has been manufacturing its Myval transcatheter heart valves for years, but the technology has not yet gained FDA approval. This latest head-to-head comparison included data from more than 1,000 TAVR patients.

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