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.

Firas Zahr, MD, Oregon Health and Science University, discusses the one-year outcomes for transfemoral transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) in the Medtronic Intrepid Early Feasibility Study presented at TCT 2023.

Intrepid transfemoral transcatheter mitral valve shows favorable results after 1 year

Firas Zahr, MD, spoke to Cardiovascular Business about early data on the Medtronic TMVR device. His team's study is designed to follow patients for a total of five years.

November 10, 2023
Doctor patient

TAVR utilization skyrocketed over 5-year period, improving survival for older AS patients

The study focused on patients 65 years old and older who underwent treatment in one of 21 high-income countries. 

November 10, 2023
older patient with a doctor at their house

Ross procedure still linked to ‘excellent’ outcomes as patients enter third decade after surgery

Researchers focused on more than 100 patients who underwent the Ross procedure from 1994 to 2001, sharing their findings in JAMA Cardiology.

November 9, 2023
Medtronic Onyx Frontier DES stent with an enlarged 3D print of the stent used in bifurcation stenting. Photo by Dave Fornell

PHOTO GALLERY: Interventional cardiology technologies at TCT 2023

Browse through some of the many highlights from TCT 2023 in San Francisco.

November 9, 2023
While a vast majority of heart transplants in the United States are successful, unplanned hospitalizations after the procedures are still incredibly common. Top 10 reasons for readmission after heart transplant.

Surgeons warn it is too early to recommend a TAVR-first strategy for low-risk patients

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery say more information is still required before any conclusions can be made about the long-term benefits of TAVR in low-risk patients.

November 6, 2023
Video of Kendra Grubb discussing transcatheter tricuspid and mitral advancements at TCT 2023.

Key trends in transcatheter tricuspid and mitral valve technologies

The mitral valve has been an especially challenging target for transcatheter interventions, but there are reasons to think key breakthroughs are on the horizon. We talked to Kendra Grubb, MD, about this and other ongoing trends at TCT 2023. 

November 6, 2023
Kendra Grubb discusses TAVR vs SAVR and the most recent data to explain choices with patients.

TAVR or SAVR? Where things stand now, from a surgeon's perspective

Kendra Grubb, MD, one of the country's leading experts on cardiac surgery, discussed what she tells her patients when they ask if TAVR is better than SAVR for treating severe aortic stenosis. 

November 3, 2023
Samir Kapadia, MD, Cleveland Clinic, explains the WATCH TAVR study results that combined LAAO with transcatheter aortic valve replacement at TCT 2023. #TCT2023 #TAVR #Watchman #LAAO

TAVR and LAAO at the same time? Samir Kapadia breaks down the WATCH-TAVR trial

Could this late-breaking clinical trial from TCT 2023 be a sign of things to come in the years ahead? Samir Kapadia, MD, explored the topic in a new interview. 

November 2, 2023

Around the web

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Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

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