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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Class of ADHD medication linked to increased risk of congenital heart defects

Women who take a class of stimulants used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during pregnancy are 28 percent more likely to have a baby with cardiac malformations, according to a study in JAMA Psychiatry.

Baby survives after being born with heart outside her body

A baby born Nov. 22 in Leicester, England, has a chance to beat the odds and survive after a rare congenital condition caused her to be delivered a month early with her heart beating outside her chest cavity.

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Diabetic pregnancies linked to increased risk of congenital heart disease

Children born to diabetic mothers are up to five times more likely to be diagnosed with congenital heart disease, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) researchers reported this week in a novel study linking diabetic pregnancies and fetal heart conditions.

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Researchers must better evaluate surgical options for congenital heart disease

A recent article in Cardiovascular Business summarized the lack of quality research on surgeries for children with congenital heart disease. Finding participants isn't the problem; study design and execution are at fault.

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New TAVR devices linked to improved outcomes in patients with aortic regurgitation

New-generation devices have made transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVRs) easier to perform in patients with pure native aortic regurgitation (AR), suggests a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Infant CCHD deaths cut by 33% after mandatory pulse oximetry testing

Infant deaths from critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) declined by 33.4 percent in eight states that mandated pulse oximetry screening for newborns, according to a study published online Dec. 5 in JAMA.

Boston Scientific delays plans to reintroduce LOTUS valve to European market

Plans to reintroduce the troubled LOTUS Edge Aortic Valve System into the European market have stalled, Boston Scientific reported Tuesday.

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Paravalvular regurgitation rates slashed with SAPIEN 3 heart valves

The mortality risk associated with moderate to severe PVR was consistent with previous studies, wrote lead author Philippe Pibarot, DVM, PhD, and colleagues, but the rate of moderate or worse PVR dropped threefold when compared to previous SAPIEN valves.
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