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.

RSS icon

Women bore brunt of initial NCD for TAVR

Limiting access to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) therapy to inoperable patients suitable for only a transfemoral approach reduced the number of patients who received care, particularly women, in a study that evaluated the effect of the national coverage determination (NCD). 

Texas Children's Heart Center welcomes two new physicians dedicated to providing care to pediatric and adult patients with congenital heart disease

Today, Texas Children's Heart Center is excited to announce the addition of two new members to its Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program team: pediatric and adult cardiologist, Dr. Peter Ermis, and pediatric and adult cardiologist, Dr. Wilson Lam. Texas Children's Heart Center is ranked #2 nationally in cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report. For more information about the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program at Texas Children's Hospital, visit the website.

Thumbnail

Surgeons warn against use of Mitroflow valve in young patients

Children’s hospital physicians cautioned surgeons against implanting the Mitroflow bioprosthetic aortic valve in young patients who undergo aortic valve replacement and recommended vigilant surveillance of those who already have the device.

Thumbnail

Valve Volumes: Growing Demand, But There’s a Catch

The number of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures in the U.S. has been growing with FDA approval of two devices and ongoing clinical trials evaluating other new technologies.

Congenital heart disease longevity increasing in Quebec

People with congenital heart disease are living longer and both birth and longevity rates in Quebec and the rest of Canada are comparable to statistics from other industrialized nations. Over time, this is leading to growth of an aging congenital heart disease population, particularly for those with severe disease with comorbid conditions, according to a study published online June 18 in Circulation.

Thumbnail

Antidepressants not likely to increase risk of cardiac birth defects

The risk of children developing heart defects due to maternal antidepressant use in the first trimester may be lower than originally thought, according to a study published June 18 in the New England Journal of Medicine. These findings challenge the FDA’s decision to classify selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors as Category D medications (evidence of human fetal risk, but benefits may warrant use) in pregnancy.

FDA approves next-gen Sapien valve

The FDA has given the green light to Edwards Lifesciences to market its next-generation transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device, the Sapien XT, for treatment in inoperable and high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Thumbnail

2D echo may lead to inaccurate sizing in half of TAVR patients

Almost half the patients implanted with a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device received the wrong valve size in a study that compared oversizing using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with multislice CT. As a result, the patients received a transcatheter heart valve that was too small.

Displaying 1241 - 1248 of 2350

Around the web

Radiology Business
Key takeaways from RSNA 2024 for AI, CT, MRI and the radiology staffing shortage

Several key trends were evident at the Radiological Society of North America 2024 meeting, including new CT and MR technology and evolving adoption of artificial intelligence.

Health Imaging
Use of AI opportunistic screening in CT for cardiovascular disease

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