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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DOACs an effective substitute for VKAs after AFib patients undergo bioprosthetic valve replacement

Direct oral anticoagulants are noninferior to vitamin K antagonists when treating this important patient population, researchers reported. 

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Ross procedure outperforms bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement among younger patients

Researchers highlighted the low risk of reintervention after the Ross procedure, though they did say additional studies were still needed. 

Life after heart surgery: Tracking the long-term performance of several bioprosthetic aortic valves

The study's authors examined data from multiple bioprosthetic aortic valves — and one popular solution consistently came out on top. 

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Congenital heart disease increases risk of poor COVID-19 outcomes, including death

Researchers examined data from more than 235,000 hospitalized patients treated in the United States.

Q&A U.S. and European Valvular Heart Disease Guidelines: Lessons from Across the Pond

Sponsored by Medtronic

“Good harmony” is the way John P. Erwin III, MD, describes the synergy of the 2021 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease (VHD) released in August along with the ACC/AHA guidelines that rolled in December 2020.

When infective endocarditis after TAVR is most likely to be fatal

Researchers reviewed data from more than 900 patients, sharing their research in the American Journal of Cardiology.

How modified bioprosthetic heart valves could limit calcification, reduce need for TAVR

Bioprosthetic heart valves often express foreign sugars that trigger a response from the body's immune system. This immune response appears to be associated with calcification. 

The Edwards Lifesciences Sapien transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device in a heart model used to show patients how the device works.

TAVR associated with lower healthcare costs than surgery

Researchers examined Medicare data from 2016 to 2018, presenting their findings in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions. 

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