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.

Rapid deployment surgical valves linked to higher rates of stroke, pacemaker implantation

Sutureless valves have recently been developed to streamline surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) procedures, with the hope that shorter operations lead to better outcomes. But a new study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests quicker is not always better.

March 30, 2018

30% of bioprosthetic SAVR patients show valve degeneration within a decade

Bioprosthetic heart valves used in surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) procedures in the early 2000s demonstrated “satisfactory” durability, according to a single-center study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

March 28, 2018

Meta-analysis: High-dose ibuprofen best bet for closing PDA in preterm infants

A high dose of oral ibuprofen appeared to be the best option for closing patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in a meta-analysis of 4,802 preterm infants, researchers reported in JAMA.

March 28, 2018

Edwards notches win over Boston Sci in latest TAVR patent review

Edwards Lifesciences notched a victory in its ongoing dispute with Boston Scientific concerning transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patents.

March 27, 2018
Chakana Weave

Cardiac devices woven by indigenous women lead to excellent clinical outcomes

Occluder devices to combat congenital structural heart defects designed by the indigenous Aymara women suggest “excellent” clinical outcomes and have been approved by regulatory agencies in Canada, South America and the European Union.

March 22, 2018

Edwards Completes Enrollment In PARTNER 3 Low-Risk CT Sub-Study, Updates Timeline For SAPIEN 3 Ultra System Launch In Europe

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation today announced that enrollment is complete in the computed tomography (CT) imaging sub-study within the PARTNER 3 trial of the SAPIEN 3 valve.

March 22, 2018

May the heart be with you: Transplant hopeful receives good news from Star Wars' Chewbacca

Avid Star Wars fan Austin Eggleston, a 15-year-old heart transplant hopeful, finally received the news he was going to receive a new heart from Chewbacca, the big, furry character from a galaxy far, far away. 

March 21, 2018

Abbott's MitraClip Therapy Receives National Reimbursement in Japan to Treat Patients with Mitral Regurgitation

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., March 19, 2018 — Abbott today announced that the Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan granted national reimbursement for the company's MitraClip therapy to treat people with mitral regurgitation, a serious, progressive heart disease in which the mitral valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the heart.

March 19, 2018