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.

Same-day discharge after LAAO associated with strong outcomes, significant cost savings

A new analysis found that 30-day outcomes do not significantly change when LAAO patients go home the same day as their procedure. 

Harmony transcatheter pulmonary valve

Medtronic recalls Harmony transcatheter pulmonary valve's delivery catheter after multiple complaints, 1 injury

Customers have been asked to return all unused devices and pause any new clinical trials involving the Harmony TPV. 

TAVR outcomes unaffected when women require a smaller valve prosthesis

Women with severe aortic stenosis and a small aortic annulus have been known to face worse outcomes after SAVR. After TAVR, however, that does not appear to be the case. 

TricValve Transcatheter Bicaval Valves System Cleveland Clinic

Interventional cardiologists complete first heart procedure of its kind in North America

While the system used during the procedure has not yet gained full FDA approval, this patient was treated under a compassionate-use clearance from the agency.

A view showing the close relationship between the mitral and aortic valves and how the overhang of a longer TAVR valve can interfere with the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). Image from a mitral echo assessment using Siemens eSie Valves software at ACC22.

The latest data on mitral valve infective endocarditis after TAVR

Self-expanding heart valves and the presence of significant PVL were both linked to a heightened risk of mitral valve infective endocarditis after TAVR. 

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) annual meeting is the premier source for the latest cardiac science. #ACC22

Links to the ACC.22 late-breaking clinical trials

Learn more about the late-breaking studies presented at ACC.22 in Washington, D.C. 

VIDEO: TAVR durability outperforms surgical valves

Michael J. Reardon, MD, professor of cardiothoracic surgery and Allison Family Distinguished chair of cardiovascular research at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, presented pooled data at ACC.22 from the CoreValve SURTAVI trials that found transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was more durable than surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) devices.

How the continued rise of TAVR has impacted SAVR outcomes

Did SAVR outcomes suffer due to the rapid rise of TAVR? A team of researchers aimed to find out with a brand new analysis.