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.

A TAVR procedure being performed at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. These structural heart procedures require a team approach.

TAVR or TAVI? Cardiologists want a single acronym for the popular heart procedure

Clinicians are asking the world's medical societies to come together and agree on one acronym for TAVR/TAVI to avoid unnecessary confusion going forward.

doctor Egypt Africa stethoscope

TAVR in Africa linked to high success rate, but above-average risks

TAVR adoption in Africa has been relatively slow, but cardiologists throughout the continent have made considerable progress. New data does show that there is some work to be done before outcomes will rival what is seen in many other parts of the world.

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TAVR linked to stronger valve performance than SAVR in new 5-year study

TAVR is associated with a significantly lower risk of bioprosthetic valve dysfunction than SAVR, according to new data presented at CRT 2025 and simultaneously published in JACC

Medtronic's Evolut FX TAVR valve, designed with 3 golden markers that improve alignment

Self-expanding TAVR valves still linked to superior durability in patients with small annuli after 2 years

Researchers presented new two-year data from the SMART trial at CRT 2025 in Washington, D.C. Overall, self-expanding TAVR valves continue to show superior valve performance compared to balloon-expandable valves, and clinical outcomes remain comparable.

cardiologists heart doctors

Cardiologists agree: Early TAVR or SAVR for asymptomatic severe AS limits strokes, hospitalizations

Two separate groups have published new research comparing early AVR with clinical surveillance for the treatment of asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Overall, the two groups found, early treatment was associated with multiple benefits—and no added risk of harm.

SCAI President James Hermiller, MD, discusses the need for more better radiation protection in the cath lab#SCAI #CathLab, #RadiationExposure #cardiology

SCAI leaders 'on a mission' to improve cath lab protection from radiation, orthopedic injury

SCAI President James Hermiller, Jr., MD, explains the need for more innovative radiation protection systems in the cath lab.

pediatric pacemaker

‘A new alternative’: Tiny pacemakers for infants show early promise

A team of pediatric specialists worked closely with representative from Medtronic to develop the new pacemakers. Overall, the tiny devices—approximately one-quarter the size of a traditional pacemaker—were found to be both safe and effective. They are still under development.

Capstan Medical robotic transcatheter mitral valve replacement

Cardiologists make history, complete world’s first robotic transcatheter mitral valve replacements

One of the cardiologists involved in the procedures said they represent "a significant leap forward in structural heart intervention."

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