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.

CMS proposes Medicare coverage for T-TEER
CMS has proposed covering tricuspid TEER for patients who present with symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation despite optimal medical therapy. The agency still has questions about the available data, however, and is seeking public comments as it makes its final decision.
Key takeaways from ACC.25: Advances in cardiovascular science
Former American College of Cardiology president Hadley Wilson, MD, executive vice chair of Atrium Health Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute, explains his main takeaway messages from the ACC 2025 late-breaking trials.
New TAVR research explores adverse outcomes, disease progression in patients with asymptomatic severe AS
Two separate studies at ACC.25 explored data from the EARLY TAVR trial. One analysis included stroke findings that surprised researchers.
Dapagliflozin improves outcomes for elderly TAVR patients with heart failure
The positive data were presented as part of a late-breaking clinical trial at ACC.25 in Chicago. One cardiologist on stage for the presentation said these findings will impact the way he manages certain TAVR patients.
Bringing state-of-the-art healthcare to Florida heart patients
Naples Comprehensive Health is building up what it hopes will be a nationally recognized cardiology program. Robert Cubeddu, MD, and Dee Dee Wang, MD, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about the journey so far.

A milestone for Medtronic: Low-risk TAVR patients treated with Evolut ‘doing exceptionally well’ after 2 years

The two-year rates of all-cause mortality or disabling stroke were 4.3% for TAVR patients and 6.3% for SAVR patients.

Abbott’s new self-expanding TAVR system gains CE mark approval

The solution has still only been approved in the United States for investigational use.

Significant MR after TAVR linked to higher mortality rates—but staged interventions may help

Percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair was associated with improved outcomes among TAVR patients with persistent mitral regurgitation.

BASILICIA before TAVR is safe and effective, new data confirms

Researchers found that the procedure was associated with a high success rate and low mortality and stroke rates after 30 days.

AI model helps clinicians predict post-TAVR infective endocarditis

To build and validate their advanced AI model, researchers explored data from nearly 78,000 TAVR hospitalizations.

quality imaging appropriateness clinical decision support CAS AUC

11% of TAVR sites deliver below-average care, suggesting a ‘meaningful performance gap’

The study’s authors developed and validated a new performance measure for TAVR care using data from more than 52,000 patients. They shared their full analysis ahead of print in Circulation.

1 in 10 patients with post-TAVR infective endocarditis have a stroke, increasing risk of death by 90%

When patients with post-TAVR infective endocarditis have a stroke, their risk of in-hospital mortality and all-cause mortality after one year both skyrocket.

How valve type and anesthesia strategy affect 1-year TAVR outcomes

Researchers in Germany explored data from more than 400 TAVR patients, sharing their findings in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Structural Heart Disease

CMS proposes Medicare coverage for T-TEER

Key takeaways from ACC.25: Advances in cardiovascular science

New TAVR research explores adverse outcomes, disease progression in patients with asymptomatic severe AS

Dapagliflozin improves outcomes for elderly TAVR patients with heart failure

Bringing state-of-the-art healthcare to Florida heart patients