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.

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Q&A U.S. and European Valvular Heart Disease Guidelines: Lessons from Across the Pond

Sponsored by Medtronic

“Good harmony” is the way John P. Erwin III, MD, describes the synergy of the 2021 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease (VHD) released in August along with the ACC/AHA guidelines that rolled in December 2020.

March 3, 2022
IVUS guidance during DES implantation boosts long-term outcomes in new study

When infective endocarditis after TAVR is most likely to be fatal

Researchers reviewed data from more than 900 patients, sharing their research in the American Journal of Cardiology.

March 3, 2022
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How modified bioprosthetic heart valves could limit calcification, reduce need for TAVR

Bioprosthetic heart valves often express foreign sugars that trigger a response from the body's immune system. This immune response appears to be associated with calcification. 

March 1, 2022
The Edwards Lifesciences Sapien transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device in a heart model used to show patients how the device works.

TAVR associated with lower healthcare costs than surgery

Researchers examined Medicare data from 2016 to 2018, presenting their findings in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions

February 25, 2022
The Abbott MitraClip is the primary structural heart device used in transcatheter edge-to-edge repairs (TEER) of the mitral valve leaflets. The results of the COAPT trial dropped like a thunderclap Sunday at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) annual meeting, with several cardiologists predicting the MitraClip device will have a swift and lasting impact on the treatment of heart failure patients.

Recurrent MR after TEER: Tracking data from nearly 700 MitraClip patients

The new analysis focused on both primary and secondary MR 12 months after TEER. 

February 24, 2022
A team of researchers at Gladstone, including Bárbara González Terán shown here seated, developed a novel algorithm method for identifying genetic variants that are likely to play important roles in congenital heart disease. This opens up opportunities to accelerate research into this serious condition. Photo by Michael Short/Gladstone Institutes

Algorithm helps sort genetic data to improve our understanding of congenital heart disease

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes developed a new algorithm method for identifying genetic variant combinations that are likely to play important roles in congenital heart disease.

February 23, 2022

Amyloidosis patients can safely undergo TAVR

Researchers focused on 30-day outcomes, sharing their findings in the American Journal of Cardiology.

February 23, 2022
Same-day discharge after TAVR is safe for low-risk patients, leads to considerable cost savings

New risk score predicts mortality after TEER

Researchers developed the new algorithm by identifying eight key factors associated with mortality among TEER patients. 

February 14, 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."

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