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.

Research gets to the meat of the matter

Of mice and men. A team from the Cleveland Clinic used animal and human studies to accumulate evidence that challenges conventional wisdom on red meat and cardiovascular disease. Red meat is still on the hook, but the culprit appears to be a byproduct of bacteria involved in the digestion of red meat. The New York Times describes the multiyear effort, including results published in Nature Medicine.

Cholesterol buildup & macular degeneration

Cholesterol may play a role in the development of macular degeneration, according to a study published online in Cell Metabolism.

CHOP collaborates with Pfizer's Centers for Therapeutic Innovation to speed pediatric R & D

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Pfizer, Inc., are joining forces with the goal of translating biomedical discoveries into novel treatments. CHOP is announcing its participation in the Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI) network, a novel collaboration model built by Pfizer that brings academic researchers together with Pfizer scientists to expedite the pace of innovation.

Small island shows a big heart

The Republic of San Marino, which is known among philatelists for its postal offerings, plans to release a stamp April 3 designed to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease.

Medtronic announces FDA clearance and first uses of new oxygenation system for adult cardiac surgery

Medtronic, Inc. today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance and the first U.S. clinical uses of its new Affinity Fusion oxygenation system.

Adolescents’ poor health behaviors raise risk of heart disease as adults

U.S. adolescents’ lack of heart-healthy behaviors may increase their chances of heart disease as adults.

EuroPCR: SOURCE Registry one-year mortality rates inform TAVI operators

Martyn Thomas, MD, director of cardiothoracic services, Guys and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London, reported Tuesday on the one-year mortality rates with transcatheter heart valve implantations with the Sapien valve (Edwards Lifesciences) using either a transfemoral or transapical approach, based on results of 1,038 high-risk patients assessed in the SOURCE Registry at EuroPCR in Paris. Slides

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

 

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

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