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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OR in 3-D

The Billings Gazette in Montana is keeping tabs on a $13.5 million expansion and renovation of surgical facilities at the Billings Clinic. The latest update includes a 3-D illustration of the cardiovascular operating room viewed from various angles.

No difference in cardiac risk between 2 bronchodilators

It’s a toss-up: In a comparison of their relative cardiovascular risk, neither of two long-acting bronchodilators for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease appeared to be safer than the other.

International Consortium of Cardiovascular Registries establishes roadmap for registry collaboration

The FDA brought together various stakeholders from across the globe on April 22 to establish the International Consortium of Cardiovascular Registries. The ground-breaking initiative, comprised of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, industry and others, aims to enhance the way device registries are used across the practice of cardiology and around the world.

IOM, AHA at odds over sodium guidelines

Authors of a report released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on sodium intake by the American public failed to be persuaded that lowering daily consumption below 2,300 mg a day affected outcomes. The American Heart Association (AHA) countered the report missed the mark in its conclusions.

Edwards Lifesciences announces CFO retirement

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring, today announced that Thomas M. Abate, the company's chief financial officer, plans to retire later this year. Abate, who turns 60 in August, plans to remain CFO until his successor is in place. The company has retained Peter Crist of Crist/Kolder Associates to assist in the CFO search.

Ranbaxy pays $500M to settle adulterated drugs suit

Ranbaxy has agreed to pay $500 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that claimed the pharmaceutical manufacturer made and distributed adulterated drugs at two facilities in India. The payment includes $350 million as a civil settlement plus $150 million in criminal fines. 

Using sophisticated techniques to study congenital heart disease

Richard Lifton, MD, PhD, chair of the genetics department at Yale University, and Jonathan R. Kaltman, MD, chief of the Heart Development and Structural Diseases Branch at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, discuss genetic causes of heart disease in a video.  Findings from the research team’s large-scale sequencing analysis of congenital heart disease were published online May 12 in Nature. 

American Heart Association and Macy's announce Multicultural Scholarship recipients

The American Heart Association and Macy’s have awarded 16 scholarships of $2,500 each to increase culturally-sensitive, patient-centered care.

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