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.

Key takeaways from ACC.25: Advances in cardiovascular science
Former American College of Cardiology president Hadley Wilson, MD, executive vice chair of Atrium Health Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute, explains his main takeaway messages from the ACC 2025 late-breaking trials.
New TAVR research explores adverse outcomes, disease progression in patients with asymptomatic severe AS
Two separate studies at ACC.25 explored data from the EARLY TAVR trial. One analysis included stroke findings that surprised researchers.
Dapagliflozin improves outcomes for elderly TAVR patients with heart failure
The positive data were presented as part of a late-breaking clinical trial at ACC.25 in Chicago. One cardiologist on stage for the presentation said these findings will impact the way he manages certain TAVR patients.
Bringing state-of-the-art healthcare to Florida heart patients
Naples Comprehensive Health is building up what it hopes will be a nationally recognized cardiology program. Robert Cubeddu, MD, and Dee Dee Wang, MD, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about the journey so far.
Cardiologists make case against routine interventions for asymptomatic severe AS
Aortic valve replacement is likely inevitable for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Immediately performing TAVR or SAVR, however, may not always be the answer.

Study: Resuscitated survivors have good quality of life

In cardiac arrest patientsin-hospital and pre-hospitaldoes resuscitation produce a good quality of life for survivors after discharge from the hospital? The answer, simply put, is yes, according to a systematic review of the literature published in this month's Resuscitation.

Study: Rapid response lowers in-hospital arrests

Implementation of a rapid response system had a significant impact on medical and surgical patients with the occurrence of and survival from a cardiac arrest out of the intensive care unit. However, researchers could not explain the disproportionate number of arrests in the medical patients, according to a study published in the April issue of Resuscitation.

USA Volleyball staff get CPR, AED training

In recognizing both the chance of adverse cardiac events associated with sporting events and the value of CPR and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to help save lives, 15 members of USA Volleyball this month completed the American Heart Association's first aid certification.

Circ: Brief video training boosts hands-only CPR attempts

Study participants who viewed a brief hands-only CPR video were more likely to attempt CPR, and perform better quality CPR in an emergency than participants who did not view the short videos, according to research reported in the April issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Risk Stratification for CV Disease Gets Personal

Stratifying cardiac disease risk is evolving along with the advancements in imaging technology, which help risk stratification become more highly individualized, taking us further toward personalized medicine.

Managing Chronic Angina: What Do We Know?

While there are a multitude of drugs and lifestyle changes that are prescribed for chronic angina, properly managing this patient population continues to challenge cardiologists. However, recent studies have begun to reveal new therapies that might better relieve this chronic pain.

NEJM: Actos prevents diabetes in 72% of pre-diabetics

Compared with placebo, pioglitazone (Actos, Takeda Pharmaceuticals) reduced the risk of conversion of impaired glucose tolerance to type 2 diabetes mellitus by 72 percent, but was associated with significant weight gain and edema, according to a study published March 24 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

JCL: LDL-P levels may better predict CVD risk than cholesterol

LDL-particles (LDL-P) can better predict atherosclerotic risk and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk when LDL-P and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) were discordant, according to a study published in the March-April issue of the Journal of Clinical Lipidology.

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Structural Heart Disease

Key takeaways from ACC.25: Advances in cardiovascular science

New TAVR research explores adverse outcomes, disease progression in patients with asymptomatic severe AS

Dapagliflozin improves outcomes for elderly TAVR patients with heart failure

Bringing state-of-the-art healthcare to Florida heart patients

Cardiologists make case against routine interventions for asymptomatic severe AS

Around the web