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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Nonprofit shells out $5.7M for research on single ventricle heart defects

Palo Alto, Calif.-based nonprofit Additional Ventures announced Jan. 21 it would be awarding a total of $5.7 million to five institutions for research on single ventricle heart defects.

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How engineering could optimize the artificial heart valve

Redesigning the artificial heart valve could improve blood flow and potentially eliminate the need for blood thinners in patients with mechanical support, according to a new study.

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Minimalist TAVI: What it means and why it works

Taking a minimalist approach to transcatheter aortic valve implantation, which involves using conscious sedation in lieu of general anesthesia, could result in greater procedural efficiency and a comparable quality of life for patients.

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Successful TMVR hinges on operator experience

The odds of a successful and effective TMVR for the treatment of mitral regurgitation increase alongside an operator’s level of experience, a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has found.

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Abbott’s TriClip reduces severity of tricuspid regurgitation in 86% of patients

Abbott’s transcatheter tricuspid valve repair system is a safe and effective approach to treating tricuspid regurgitation in heart patients with few other options, according to data published in The Lancet.

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Is volume an accurate measure of success when it comes to mitral valve surgery?

Nearly 93% of the U.S. population lives in a hospital referral region with at least one medical center that performs 25 or more mitral valve repairs or replacements each year, according to work published in JAMA Cardiology—but MVRR centers continue to suffer from significant geographical and patient-level disparities.

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Anticoagulants ‘not useful at all’ in TAVR patients who don’t require them

Primary results from the GALILEO trial, presented at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting this November, suggest patients undergoing TAVR with no ongoing indication for oral anticoagulation benefit more from an antiplatelet-based treatment approach than a rivaroxaban-based approach.

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AHA, Edwards collaborate on new structural heart initiative

A new structural heart disease initiative from the American Heart Association and Edwards Lifesciences will aim to raise patient awareness of valve diseases while enriching patient education and engagement.