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.

CMS proposes Medicare coverage for T-TEER
CMS has proposed covering tricuspid TEER for patients who present with symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation despite optimal medical therapy. The agency still has questions about the available data, however, and is seeking public comments as it makes its final decision.
Key takeaways from ACC.25: Advances in cardiovascular science
Former American College of Cardiology president Hadley Wilson, MD, executive vice chair of Atrium Health Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute, explains his main takeaway messages from the ACC 2025 late-breaking trials.
New TAVR research explores adverse outcomes, disease progression in patients with asymptomatic severe AS
Two separate studies at ACC.25 explored data from the EARLY TAVR trial. One analysis included stroke findings that surprised researchers.
Dapagliflozin improves outcomes for elderly TAVR patients with heart failure
The positive data were presented as part of a late-breaking clinical trial at ACC.25 in Chicago. One cardiologist on stage for the presentation said these findings will impact the way he manages certain TAVR patients.
Bringing state-of-the-art healthcare to Florida heart patients
Naples Comprehensive Health is building up what it hopes will be a nationally recognized cardiology program. Robert Cubeddu, MD, and Dee Dee Wang, MD, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about the journey so far.

alternative approaches for transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures

Alternative TAVR techniques: How to proceed when transfemoral access is not recommended

A team of researchers from the United States and Sweden explored data from nearly 12,000 TAVR patients for a new systematic review and meta-analysis.

Relaxed fasting instructions prior to TAVR, other heart procedures do not affect outcomes

Fasting before major operations has been common in healthcare for nearly 80 years, but that has started to change since the turn of the century.

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Surgeon sues hospital after being fired for discussing TAVR concerns with media

The vascular surgeon was fired after telling the media about a cardiologist who allegedly performed transcatheter aortic valve replacement without the proper credentials. He is now suing the hospital for wrongful termination and defamation.

Anjali Owens, MD, medical director, Center for Inherited Cardiac Disease, associate professor of medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, discusses the need for standardization in HCM care. #ASE #ASE23 #ASE2023 #HCM

More consistency, standardization still needed when treating HCM

Anjali Owens, MD, discussed the past, present and future of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy care in the United States. "What we are aiming to do is develop a minimum standard for assessments of patients with HCM so they are getting properly diagnosed and managed," she explained.

The 25 best U.S. cardiology hospitals ranked

U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings of heart hospitals named Cleveland Clinic No. 1, once again, but there were many changes among the other top 25 hospitals.

The team that implanted the first TaurusTrio TAVR valve at Beijing An Zhen Hospital, Capital Medical University in July 2023.

Chinese made version of JenaValve TAVR device implanted in first patient

The first patient was enrolled in a multicenter clinical trial for the TaurusTrio transcatheter aortic valve replacement system, used for aortic regurgitation.

Abbott pulled the Trifecta GTaortic surgical valve off market in July 2023 after it was determined it had early structural valve deterioration (SVD) before 5 years.

Abbott pulls Trifecta heart valves off the market due to early deterioration

The FDA sent notice today that Abbott is pulling the Trifecta aortic surgical heart valve off the U.S. market due to the risk of early structural valve deterioration in less than 5 years.

How depression, cognitive dysfunction impact long-term TAVR outcomes

Both conditions are fairly common in patients who undergo TAVR. Is this something cardiologists should be keeping in mind?

Structural Heart Disease

CMS proposes Medicare coverage for T-TEER

Key takeaways from ACC.25: Advances in cardiovascular science

New TAVR research explores adverse outcomes, disease progression in patients with asymptomatic severe AS

Dapagliflozin improves outcomes for elderly TAVR patients with heart failure

Bringing state-of-the-art healthcare to Florida heart patients