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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Balloon-expandable, self-expanding TAVR valves associated with comparable long-term outcomes

Patients treated with the Sapien 3 platform from Edwards Lifesciences and the Evolut platform from Medtronic were linked to more similarities than differences after six years. This was a single-center study, researchers noted, but it does provide an in-depth look at the safety and effectiveness of TAVR.

Foldax Tria mitral valve

‘A compelling alternative’: Polymer heart valve receives first commercial approval of its kind

A new surgical mitral valve from Foldax will now be commercially available in India. The valve is built using LifePolymer, a proprietary material that does not include animal tissue.

A majority of medical devices involved in Class I recalls were never required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to undergo premarket or postmarket clinical testing, according to new research published in Annals of Internal Medicine.[1]

TAVR specialists come together to explore new data, patient selection and much more

Care teams have a lot to consider when choosing the right treatment for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Two cardiologists and a veteran cardiothoracic surgeon are taking part in a new webinar focused on that very topic. 

Vinay Badhwar, MD, and his team perform a robotic TAVR explant and aortic valve replacement. Image courtesy of WVU Medicine.

Heart surgeons perform world’s first robotic TAVR explant and aortic valve replacement

The patient, 67, presented with a failing TAVR valve and a leaky mitral valve. She had undergone TAVR four years prior, but premature structural valve degeneration made a full replacement necessary. Surgeons ultimately removed the TAVR valve in addition to replacing her aortic and mitral valves—all with the help of advanced robotics.

cardiologist viewing heart data

Real-world data favor SAVR over TAVR when younger patients need aortic valve replacement

Researchers in Italy tracked data from more than 7,000 patients who underwent AVR between the ages of 65 and 80. TAVR was associated with a significantly higher long-term risk of mortality.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Heart patients benefit when cardiologists follow a standardized TAVR protocol

Using a standardized approach, including the cusp overlap technique, is associated with improved patient outcomes when implanting Medtronic's self-expanding TAVR valves. Researchers tracked data from more than 600 patients treated all over the world, presenting their findings in JSCAI.

Compensation for U.S. cardiologists is up across the board, according to a recent survey published by MedAxiom, an American College of Cardiology company. The report identified similar trends for cardiovascular surgeons, highlighting the country’s high demand for all heart specialists in 2024 and beyond.

SCAI celebrates legacies of pioneer pediatric cardiologists

Five veteran clinicians have been recognized for their lasting impact on the field of pediatric cardiology. 

heart drugs with stethoscope

How anticoagulants may impact a patient’s risk of gastrointestinal bleeding after TAVR

Researchers tracked the rates of major gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with AFib randomized to receive edoxaban or a vitamin K antagonist after a successful TAVR procedure.

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