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.

CMAJ: Canadian hypertension control improves, prevalance remains stable

Hypertension control and treatment has improved substantially over a 25-year span in Canada, but prevalence of the condition has remained stable among adults, according to research published May 16 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Medtronic, Bayer expand diabetes deal into U.S.

Medtronic and Tarrytown, N.Y.-based Bayer HealthCare have expanded their international alliance to include the U.S., and will work exclusively to develop diabetes management technologies for patients and wireless blood glucose meters for the global market.

Rice, Texas Heart team up to develop Second-Chance AED pads

Rice University bioengineering students in collaboration with the Texas Heart Institute have developed new pad technology for automated external defibrillators (AEDs), Second-Chance AED Pads.

Webinar: Medical ID theft is often 'a family affair'

Lawmakers and vendors are working to address medical identity theft, but it doesn't seem to be a top concern among the public, said speakers at a recent webinar titled Medical Identity Theft Trends: The Importance of Securing Healthcare Data.

Edwards Lifesciences reports strong first quarter earnings

Edwards Lifesciences has reported strong first quarter net earnings totaling $63.9 million compared to a net income of $47.7 million for the same period in 2010. The quarter ended March 31.

Are some young athletes playing with fire?

Each year an estimated 400,000 young men and women participate in collegiate athletics. This month, research published in Circulation showed that some National Collegiate Athletic Association athletes may be playing with fire in terms of their risk to experience sudden cardiac death.

Study: AED audiovisual feedback can improve outcomes, but has limitations

Using the audiovisual feedback mechanism within an automated external defibrillator (AED) can improve CPR-quality parameters including compression rates, correct hand position and leaning, according to a study published online April 1 in Resuscitation.

Study: CPR training, defibrillator training and outcomes improve

Over the 10-year span between 1999 and 2008, CPR training and defibrillator use in Sweden improved, which has resulted in an improvement in outcomes for in-hospital cardiac arrest, according to a study published in the April issue of Resuscitation.

Around the web

GE HealthCare said the price of iodine contrast increased by more than 200% between 2017 to 2023. Will new Chinese tariffs drive costs even higher?

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