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.

Illustration showing four innovative heart failure technologies: The V-Wave interaterial shunt to relieve pressures between the left and right sides of the heart; the Carillon Transcatheter mitral valve annuloplasty system; the Revivent TC system and the AccuCinch device. Interventional cardiology heart failure cleveland clinic

4 promising heart failure therapies interventional cardiologists should keep an eye on

The devices, currently being investigated by teams of heart specialists, could make a big impact in the years ahead. 

May 3, 2022
Illustration of a left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedure using a Watchman device. Image courtesy of Johns Hopkins Medicine. #LAA #LAAO

Same-day discharge after LAAO associated with strong outcomes, significant cost savings

A new analysis found that 30-day outcomes do not significantly change when LAAO patients go home the same day as their procedure. 

April 28, 2022
The Medtronic Harmony transcatheter pulmonary valve on display at ACC 2022. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that Medtronic is recalling the delivery catheter from its Harmony transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) system due to a risk of the piece breaking during use.

Medtronic recalls Harmony transcatheter pulmonary valve's delivery catheter after multiple complaints, 1 injury

Customers have been asked to return all unused devices and pause any new clinical trials involving the Harmony TPV. 

April 27, 2022
Patient

TAVR outcomes unaffected when women require a smaller valve prosthesis

Women with severe aortic stenosis and a small aortic annulus have been known to face worse outcomes after SAVR. After TAVR, however, that does not appear to be the case. 

April 21, 2022
TricValve Transcatheter Bicaval Valves System Cleveland Clinic. Image courtesy of P + F Products + Features GmbH.

Interventional cardiologists complete first heart procedure of its kind in North America

While the system used during the procedure has not yet gained full FDA approval, this patient was treated under a compassionate-use clearance from the agency.

April 19, 2022
A view showing the close relationship between the mitral and aortic valves and how the overhang of a longer TAVR valve in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) may cause friction near the mitral valve. Image from a mitral echo assessment using Siemens eSie Valves software at ACC22.

The latest data on mitral valve infective endocarditis after TAVR

Self-expanding heart valves and the presence of significant PVL were both linked to a heightened risk of mitral valve infective endocarditis after TAVR. 

April 14, 2022
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) annual meeting ACC.22 is the premier source for the latest cardiac science. #ACC22 Here are links to all the late breaking studies, trials and late-breaker science at the annual meeting conference. #ACC2022 #ACC

Links to the ACC.22 late-breaking clinical trials

Learn more about the late-breaking studies presented at ACC.22 in Washington, D.C. 

April 13, 2022
In a late-breaking long-term analysis presented at ACC 2022, the Medtronic CoreValve TAVR valve outperformed the surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in terms of durability.

VIDEO: TAVR durability outperforms surgical valves

Michael J. Reardon, MD, professor of cardiothoracic surgery and Allison Family Distinguished chair of cardiovascular research at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, presented pooled data at ACC.22 from the CoreValve SURTAVI trials that found transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was more durable than surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) devices.

April 13, 2022

Around the web

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

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."

Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup