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.

World’s most populous country gains access to Medtronic’s newest TAVR valve
Medtronic developed the self-expanding Evolut FX+ TAVR system with improved coronary access in mind. The FDA-approved device has now officially launched in India.
New registry helps hospitals expand outpatient services for heart patients
The initiation of the ACC Ambulatory Surgical Center Registry comes at a time when hospitals are expanding their structural heart programs. The registry is providing valuable details about which patients should stay at the hospital and which can be treated in an outpatient setting.
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.

Video interview with Jaffar Khan, MD, St. Francis Heart Center, explaining tests using IVL in mitral annular calcification (MAC).

Can IVL help cardiologists treat mitral valve disease?

Jaffar Khan, MD, explained his team's work using intravascular lithotripsy balloons in a cadaver heart to break up mitral annular calcification.

FTC challenges ‘anticompetitive’ TAVR acquisition

The FTC is working to stop Edwards Lifesciences from completing its acquisition of JenaValve. Edwards, however, is not backing down.

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.

Structural Heart Disease

World’s most populous country gains access to Medtronic’s newest TAVR valve

New registry helps hospitals expand outpatient services for heart patients

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