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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‘An excellent outcome’: TAVR safe and effective for patients in their nineties

Bleeding and vascular complications were more common, but one-year outcomes confirmed patients in their nineties should still be considered for TAVR.

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Baseline TR linked to lower quality of life after TAVR, M-TEER—are more interventions the answer?

Patients presenting for TAVR or M-TEER with baseline moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation were associated with lower post-treatment KCCQ scores and a higher mortality rate. Perhaps treating more of these patients with tricuspid valve repair or replacement could make a difference, researchers noted. 

Pausing oral anticoagulation during TAVR reduces bleeding risk

The findings, based on data from more than 800 TAVR patients, suggest that skipping OAC medications for a small amount of time could make a big impact.

PCI interventional cardiology

PCI before TAVR a winning combination for many heart patients

“No clear recommendation currently exists in U.S. or European guidelines for performing PCI in addition to TAVR,” researchers wrote. The group hoped its study could provide some clarity. 

The SAPIEN 3 Ultra (S3U) transcatheter heart valve from Edwards Lifesciences is

TAVR outperforms SAVR when treating women, historic all-female trial confirms

The study, presented at ESC Congress 2024 in London, confirmed that TAVR was associated with significantly better outcomes than surgery when treating female patients. 

A TAVR procedure being performed at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. These structural heart procedures require a team approach.

TAVR complication rates keep falling, highlighting considerable progress

Complications are also down after SAVR, researchers noted, though the drop has been much more dramatic for TAVR patients. The new analysis was based on Medicare data from more than 210,000 patients.

ESC Congress 2023 in Amsterdam

AI for TAVR, robot-guided echo and more: Key research at ESC Congress 2024

ESC's annual meeting is always one of the world's largest gatherings of cardiologists and other cardiology professionals. This year's 4-day event will be no different. 

Renata Medical, a California-based healthcare technology company, has gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a new stent specifically designed for pediatric patients with congenital heart defects. The Minima Growth Stent was built to treat newborns, infants and young children, and then it continues to expand as the patient ages

FDA approves new expanding stent for young children

The new interventional device from Renata Medical is designed to expand as young patients age, providing long-term relief.