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.

New TAVR valve from MiRus linked to positive early outcomes
The Siegel TAVR valve includes no nickel or cobalt. In fact, its frame was built using special alloys specifically developed by MiRus.
Cusp overlap technique improves TAVR outcomes, new meta-analysis confirms
The new study, based on 14 different clinical trials, highlights why so many care teams have already adopted the cusp overlap technique when implanting self-expanding TAVR valves.
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.

Next-day discharge after TMVR is on the rise

By 2018, nearly half of all TMVR patients were going home the very next day. Outcomes for these patients have been consistently positive.

‘Making good, better’: Next-gen TAVR techniques and protocols optimize patient care, boost efficiency

Sponsored by Medtronic

Innovation in the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) space has upped the ante once again.

Tricuspid valve repair outperforms replacement, new meta-analysis confirms

The study's authors examined outcomes data from more than 8,500 tricuspid valve repairs and nearly 9,000 tricuspid valve replacements.

AI model evaluates ECG data as well as cardiologists

The team's convolutional neural network was trained on data that is readily available at most facilities.

3 risk factors associated with endocarditis after TPVR

Researchers tracked data from nearly 2,500 patients from 15 different facilities, sharing their findings in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

TEER shows potential to boost outcomes for cardiogenic shock patients

Cardiogenic shock has been linked to a heightened risk of morbidity and mortality. TEER, it seems, may be able to help provide patients with some relief.

How diabetes impacts TEER outcomes

The new analysis, published in JACC: Heart Failure, focused on patient data from the renowned COAPT trial.

Confirmed: Watchman FLX LAAC device safe for nonvalvular AFib patients

New two-year findings, presented at TVT 2021, suggest that the Watchman FLX device is a safe alternative to long-term oral anticoagulation therapy.

Structural Heart Disease

New TAVR valve from MiRus linked to positive early outcomes

Cusp overlap technique improves TAVR outcomes, new meta-analysis confirms

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