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 transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement
Edwards Lifesciences sent a formal request to CMS in February after its Evoque TTVR device gained FDA approval. The agency is now accepting public comments for 30 days.
Hydra TAVR valve gains key approval as global reach continues to grow
The self-expanding device is now available in more than 20 countries and received CE mark approval back in 2020. However, it has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States.
SAVR outperforms TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valves
BAV patients are often excluded from TAVR trials, creating uncertainty about the best way to treat that population when aortic valve replacement is required. To learn more, researchers tracked CMS data from 2018 to 2022, presenting their findings in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Treating AFib patients with TAVR still linked to elevated risks
While the technology and techniques associated with TAVR have advanced over the years, treating patients who present with baseline atrial fibrillation is still associated with certain risks.
Heart surgeons detail world’s first robotic heart procedure of its kind
The care team behind the very first robotic aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass surgery has written about the experience in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. The group discussed the development of the technique, how the patient was chosen for treatment and other key details.

CKD linked to development of aortic stenosis, even at milder stages

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), even in its moderate stages, is associated with an increased risk of aortic stenosis, according to research published ahead of print in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

January 22, 2019

The Cephea transcatheter mitral valve in development has been acquired by Medtronic.

Abbott acquires another TMVR device through purchase of Cephea

Abbott plans to acquire Cephea Valve Technologies, a company developing a transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) device, the Chicago-area healthcare giant announced Jan. 16.

January 16, 2019

Florida college launches country’s 1st open heart surgery program for dogs

The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine has partnered with veterinary cardiologist Masami Uechi, DVM, PhD, to launch the country’s first open heart surgery program for dogs later this year.

January 14, 2019

Pea-sized PDA occluder approved for premature babies in US

The FDA has approved the Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder as a minimally invasive treatment option for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in newborns weighing as little as two pounds. According to its manufacturer, Abbott, it is the first such device in the world to be approved for babies so small.

January 14, 2019

Study: Continued anticoagulation OK during TAVR for AFib patients

Patients with atrial fibrillation can safely continue oral anticoagulation (OAC) while undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), suggests a retrospective study published Jan. 7 in the American Journal of Cardiology.

January 14, 2019

Surgery tops drug therapy in boosting CHD patients’ quality of life

Adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) report better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) when treated with surgical or catheter interventions rather than drug therapy or surveillance, according to research published Jan. 8 in the American Journal of Cardiology.

January 14, 2019

Surgical strategies, genetics affect tetralogy of Fallot survival

Almost 95 percent of patients survived 25 years after discharge for surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot without requiring a transplant, according to a U.S. registry study published in JAMA Cardiology. While this statistic highlights the “excellent” outcomes for this congenital heart condition, the report’s authors also identified areas for further improvement.

January 10, 2019

How climbing TAVR wait times affect patient outcomes

Developing an effective triage process for patients on the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) waitlist could be critical to those patients’ postprocedural outcomes as the intervention continues to gain traction and popularity, researchers reported Jan. 5 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

January 10, 2019

Structural Heart Disease

CMS proposes Medicare coverage for transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement

Hydra TAVR valve gains key approval as global reach continues to grow

SAVR outperforms TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valves

Treating AFib patients with TAVR still linked to elevated risks

Heart surgeons detail world’s first robotic heart procedure of its kind