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.

Radial secondary access during TAVR limits complications
Radial access is already the primary choice for many cardiologists performing PCI due to a lower risk of complications. The same appears to be true for secondary access during TAVR.
Medtronic’s Harmony TPVR system gains CE mark approval
The FDA-approved Harmony TPVR system is now available to patients across the EU. Nina Goodheart, president of Medtronic’s structural heart and aortic business, described the news as a "significant milestone."
The primary reason Boston Scientific’s TAVR valve fell short in clinical trial
Michael Reardon, MD, co-principal investigator of the ACURATE IDE trial, discussed updated data on what may have impacted that study's findings.
‘A victory for TAVR’: How treatment impacts elderly patients in their last year of life
New research out of Denmark explored how undergoing TAVR may or may not influence the final year of a patient's life.
Top cardiology video interviews in 2024
A list of the most popular video interviews on Cardiovascular Business in 2024 based on reader analytics.

Transcatheter PVL closure linked to lower 30-day mortality than surgery

Long-term mortality, meanwhile, is similar between the two treatment options.

May 27, 2022

Left bundle branch block after TAVR hurts outcomes, even when no permanent pacemaker is required

Researchers tracked data from more than 2,000 TAVR patients, focusing on cardiovascular mortality and hospitalizations for heart failure.

May 23, 2022

TPV valves, CTO PCI and more: SCAI 2022 updates for interventional cardiologists

The first two days of SCAI 2022 were jam-packed with innovative technologies and late-breaking research.

May 20, 2022

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patients continue to benefit from an optimized pre- and post-procedural treatment strategy that utilizes the cusp overlap technique, according to new findings presented at EuroPCR 2022 in Paris.

Cusp overlap technique, optimized treatment strategy tied to significant improvements for TAVR patients

The research, presented at EuroPCR 2022 in Paris, represented an updated look at the Optimize PRO study, an ongoing analysis of patients treated with Medtronic’s self-expanding Evolut Pro and Pro+ TAVR systems.

May 20, 2022

New guidelines detail PFO management, including when to consider closure

The new guidance document was designed to provide helpful information on a topic "surrounded by controversy."

May 20, 2022

New data on cardiac damage before and after AVR suggests earlier treatment may be beneficial

Patients with higher levels of extravalvular cardiac damage prior to TAVR or SAVR face a higher risk of dying within two years, according to new findings presented at EuroPCR 2022 in Paris.

May 19, 2022