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.

Medtronic has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its Evolut FX+ transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) system for the treatment of symptomatic severe aortic stenosis.

FDA approves Medtronic’s next-generation TAVR system with new frame design

The Evolut FX+ TAVR system includes an updated diamond-shaped frame, which was made four times larger than previous models to offer improved coronary access. It was also designed to provide more space for operators to guide and maneuver the catheter during procedures.

March 28, 2024
American Heart Association and Joint Commission launch new Comprehensive Heart Attack Center certification.

Heart attacks after TAVR: New AMI data ‘reassuring’ at first glance, but questions remain

Hoping to gain a better understanding of how TAVR may impact a patient’s long-term cardiovascular health, researchers explored data from more than 200,000 patients and shared their findings in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

March 28, 2024
doctor comparing the costs of different medical treatments

TAVR is often more cost-effective than SAVR—but not always

Average lengths of stay and common complications are just some of the factors care teams should consider when evaluating the costs of aortic valve replacement. 

March 26, 2024
Virtual reality (VR) can help cardiologists plan for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures and predict the presence and severity of post-TAVR paravalvular leak (PVL), according to new research published in the Journal of Invasive Cardiology.[1]

VR before TAVR predicts paravalvular leak in high-risk patients

Performing virtual reality simulations before TAVR may help cardiologists anticipate when PVL could be an issue in patients with severe BAV AS.

March 25, 2024
Hoping to improve care for these patients, Hermann et al. turned to the ŌNŌ retrieval system, a catheter-delivered device cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2022. The device was developed by Ōnōcor, a U.S. healthcare startup with roots in the Penn Center for Innovation.

Cardiologists are first in world to remove unstable Watchman devices with FDA-cleared retrieval system

A team of specialists in Houston made history, using the new-look device to treat three patients over the age of 80. The group shared its experience in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.

March 19, 2024
Sapien 3 Ultra Resilia TAVR valves

Edwards, Abbott share updated TAVR data at CRT 2024

Some of the world’s biggest names in interventional cardiology and structural heart disease gathered in Washington, D.C., for the four-day event. 

March 15, 2024
With a growing shortage of cardiologists in the U.S., there is growing interest recruiting more clinicians from overseas. But there are barriers to this, approach explained Abdel Almanfi, MD, FACC, FSCAI, a structural heart interventional cardiologist at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center in Houston, Texas. He spoke with Cardiovascular Business and shared his journey from Libya to the United States, shedding light on the challenges foreign doctors face in realizing their dreams of practicing in America.

Cardiologist shares his long journey from Libya to United States

Abdel Almanfi, MD, went through years of training in Libya, but then he had to start over once he landed in the United States. 

March 15, 2024
Medtronic's Evolut Pro TAVR valve is designed to treat aortic stenosis.

TAVR vs. SAVR: Medtronic’s Evolut platform linked to cost savings, key benefits for low-risk patients

Two new studies evaluated the long-term impact of choosing TAVR when low-risk patients present with severe aortic stenosis. 

March 12, 2024

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