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.
![Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) with the Watchman FLX device from Boston Scientific is associated with positive outcomes and limited adverse events after one year, according to new findings published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.[1] Many prior Watchman FLX studies, including PINNACLE FLX, had focused on the device’s performance in a controlled setting. The study’s authors hoped to gain a better understanding of its real-world impact by reviewing registry data from more than 97,000 U.S](/sites/default/files/styles/top_stories/public/2024-08/screenshot_2024-08-12_at_11.35.13_am.png.webp?itok=5FeQeMFj)
![An 86-year-old patient is showing signs of improvement six months after receiving the world’s first implant of a new-look medical device for treating tricuspid regurgitation (TR), according to new data published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.[1] The device in question, the Tricuspid Flow Optimizer, was developed by Triflo Cardiovascular, a U.S.-based biomedical company founded in 2017 by a team of structural heart specialists.](/sites/default/files/styles/240x220/public/2024-04/screen_shot_2024-04-26_at_10.55.10_am.png.webp?itok=ZMT_brpB)
