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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BAV boasts 70% success rate in patients with congenital aortic stenosis

Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV), the most common treatment for isolated congenital aortic stenosis (AS), demonstrated a 70 percent success rate in a study of more than 1,000 patients.

Abbott initiates ground-breaking U.S. pivotal study of AMPLATZER device to correct common congenital heart defect in newborns

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Aug. 30, 2017 — Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced it has initiated a U.S. pivotal clinical study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a modified version of its AMPLATZER™ device designed to correct a common congenital heart defect that occurs in approximately 80,000 pre-term infants in the U.S. each year.

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Prevention takes on new meaning with embryos, and predicting frailty in the elderly

U.S. scientists in July edited the DNA of a human embryo. It’s a first, it’s just the beginning and could someday mean the end of children born with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Imagine wiping out sudden cardiac death in young athletes someday.  

Ancient humans, genetic cousins faced higher risks of CVD

Visit any natural history museum and humankind’s ancestors are shown fighting the elements, large predators and one another to survive. But a recent study shows these folks had another thing to worry about: cardiovascular disease (CVD).

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Researchers: Off-label TAVRs yield ‘acceptable results’

Patients receiving off-label transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are more likely to suffer adverse outcomes than other TAVR patients, according to new research. However, risk-adjusted mortality is similar between the two groups at one year post-procedure.

TAVR, SAVR produce similar long-term health gains

For patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) at intermediate surgical risk, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)—especially the transfemoral approach—might be a good solution.

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TAVI utilization rate highest Northeast US; mortality highest in South

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has skyrocketed in the United States, jumping from 24.8 implants per million adults in 2012 to 63.2 in 2014. A recent study examined regional differences in mortality, utilization and healthcare resource use.

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Birth weight strongly predictive of survival in infants with congenital heart disease

Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) born post-term and with the most body weight have the best chance of surviving for five years, while lighter, preterm babies have poorer chances, according to new research.

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