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.

At a crossroads: Surgical heart valve innovation slows as transcatheter treatments keep evolving
Has the success of TAVR and other interventional techniques had a negative impact on surgical valve innovation? Two surgeons shared their concerns in a new commentary.
Polymer heart valve, the first of its kind to gain commercial approval, linked to positive 1-year data
The new-look mitral valve is built using LifePolymer, a proprietary material that does not include any animal tissue. Both the frame and its leaflets are robotically generated to match each patient’s anatomy.
Effective, but not worth the cost: CEPD use during TAVR fails to make a significant difference
Cerebral embolic protection devices are proven to work. However, according to one cardiologist, they are still not consistently reducing stroke rates.
TTVR with Evoque system linked to positive real-world outcomes after 30 days
According to early real-world data, the FDA-approved Evoque TTVR device is associated with positive outcomes when used to treat severe tricuspid regurgitation.
A closer look at world’s first TAVR patient treated with new cerebral embolic protection device
The device covers three vessels at once and can be deployed through the patient's TAVR access site. Researchers shared their first-in-human experience in JACC: Case Reports.

Tricuspid valve annuloplasty during mitral valve surgery offers key benefits

The new analysis focused on 98 patients who presented with primary mitral regurgitation.

Seeking Out Severe Aortic Stenosis: The Low Down on Low Flow-Low Gradient

Sponsored by Medtronic

It’s not uncommon for severe aortic stenosis to go unrecognized, and thus untreated. When the data points to the existence of low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis, a diagnosis can be even more challenging.

Same-day discharge after LAAO is safe, cost-effective and ‘could become the new standard’

Same-day discharge was associated with a 15% reduction in healthcare costs.

Time of day does not affect TAVR or SAVR outcomes

One previous study had suggested outcomes may improve in the afternoon, but researchers did not find that to be the case.

TAVR is safe and effective among asymptomatic patients, new research confirms

TAVR was associated with a consistently low risk of all-cause mortality or disabling stroke.

Both younger and elderly heart failure patients benefit from TEER

Researchers used data from the COAPT trial to examine TEER's impact on patients from different age groups.

Sapien 3 Ultra THV outperforms its predecessor, reducing PVL after TAVR procedures

The risk of all-cause mortality, stroke, major bleeding events or permanent pacemaker implantation was similar between the two valves.

Performing TAVR and TMVR during the same hospitalization may provide value

Patients undergoing both procedures at once tended to be sicker, but their risk of poor outcomes did not significantly increase.

Structural Heart Disease

At a crossroads: Surgical heart valve innovation slows as transcatheter treatments keep evolving

Polymer heart valve, the first of its kind to gain commercial approval, linked to positive 1-year data

Effective, but not worth the cost: CEPD use during TAVR fails to make a significant difference

TTVR with Evoque system linked to positive real-world outcomes after 30 days

A closer look at world’s first TAVR patient treated with new cerebral embolic protection device