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.

Abbot to buy Solvay Pharma for $6.6B

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TCT: Aortic valve implants have very low complication rates up to one year

SAN FRANCISCOMid-term valve-related complications are exceptionally low, and the gradient release after transcatheter aortic valve prosthesis implantation is stable up to one year of follow up, according to a study presented this week at the 2009 Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics meeting.

TCT: Transcatheter valve therapy explodes, standardization sought

SAN FRANSISCOAn estimated 10,000 transcatheter heart valves have been implanted in patients with critical valvular aortic stenosis, and the researchers, who have their eyes on U.S. approval, are now seeking to standardize the techniques and trial expectations, according to a presentation by Martin B. Leon, MD, at the 21st annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) symposium.

Circulation: During CPR, more compressions = more saved lives

The chance that a person in cardiac arrest will survive increases when rescuers doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) spend more time giving chest compressions, according to a multi-center study reported Sept. 14 in Circulation.

NCPA: HITECH privacy rules could pose problems for pharmacies

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) has sent a letter to the deputy director for health information privacy, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, arguing that that expanded privacy rules could create significant problems for community pharmacies

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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

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