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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VIDEO: Role of PFO closure in stroke prevention

John Carroll, MD, director of interventional cardiology and professor of medicine at the University of Colorado, explains the state of  transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) to prevent stroke.

New-onset AFib, linked to worse outcomes and higher healthcare costs, seen in 3.5% of TEER patients

Patients who developed new-onset AFib tended to be sicker than those who did not. 

A FEOPS image of a Watchman LAA occluder device being checked for virtual sizing in an anatomical model of the patient's left atrial appendage. Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MD, explains the role and technology of LAA closure devices in managing AFib patients.

VIDEO: The value of left atrial appendage occlusion in AFib patients

Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MD, executive medical director for the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute at HCA Midwest Health, explains recent trials in left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) and how the therapy helps atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients. 

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5 key predictors of heart failure hospitalizations after TAVR

Diabetes and atrial fibrillation are just some of the factors that can increase a patient's risk of being hospitalized for heart failure within one year of undergoing a successful TAVR procedure.

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Preventing AKI after TAVR may help lessen the impact of chronic kidney disease

If researchers can find ways to prevent AKI after TAVR, it could help decrease the risk of poor outcomes in more ways than one. 

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Underdiagnosed and undertreated: How cardiologists and primary care physicians are working together to identify patients with severe aortic stenosis

Sponsored by Medtronic

Aortic stenosis (AS) is one of the most common—and growing—cardiac conditions. In particular, the prevalence of severe AS rises markedly among elderly Americans, affecting an estimated 3.4% of Americans 75 and older.[1]

Q&A: What the impressive durability of self-expanding TAVR valves means for patient care, shared decision-making

Sponsored by Medtronic

Updates about transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are always big news, but the new five-year data from the CoreValve™ US Pivotal and SURTAVI trials came as a welcome surprise to many cardiologists. 

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

Earlier interventions may boost survival when TAVR patients experience a stroke

New research in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions suggests improved collaborations between cardiologists and neurologists could help TAVR patients live longer after a periprocedural stroke. 

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