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.

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.
TTVR with Evoque system linked to positive real-world outcomes after 30 days
According to early real-world data, the FDA-approved Evoque TTVR device is associated with positive outcomes when used to treat severe tricuspid regurgitation.
A closer look at world’s first TAVR patient treated with new cerebral embolic protection device
The device covers three vessels at once and can be deployed through the patient's TAVR access site. Researchers shared their first-in-human experience in JACC: Case Reports.

Valve durability after 5 years: Sapien 3 TAVR outcomes comparable to SAVR

The Sapien 3 prosthesis continues to impress, though researchers must continue to monitor its performance as time goes on.

TAVR safe for low-risk patients with bicuspid aortic valve disease

More research on long-term outcomes is still needed before TAVR can be recommended for such patients across the board.

Some high-risk patients died during the delay, the research team reported.

New study highlights the benefits of treating aortic stenosis, CAD with TAVR instead of surgery

Patients who received TAVR and PCI experienced lower rates of mortality and fewer major bleeding events than those treated with SAVR and CABG.

TAVR outcomes after 1 year much worse for patients with valvular AFib

The study focused on more than 1,400 TAVR patients treated from August 2007 to June 2018.

Bicuspid aortic valve repair leads to 'excellent' long-term outcomes

Overall, the team behind the study noted a survival rate of 82.1% after 15 years.

The unlikely relationship between TAVR and chronic kidney disease

“The findings of this study will influence shared decision-making between chronic kidney disease patients and the heart team,” one specialist observed.

FDA grants breakthrough device designation to Medtronic TTVR system, approves early feasibility study

According to Medtronic, its Intrepid TTVR system helps meet a “large, unmet clinical need.”

Structural Heart Disease

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

TTVR with Evoque system linked to positive real-world outcomes after 30 days

A closer look at world’s first TAVR patient treated with new cerebral embolic protection device