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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Q&A U.S. and European Valvular Heart Disease Guidelines: Lessons from Across the Pond

Sponsored by Medtronic

“Good harmony” is the way John P. Erwin III, MD, describes the synergy of the 2021 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease (VHD) released in August along with the ACC/AHA guidelines that rolled in December 2020.

When infective endocarditis after TAVR is most likely to be fatal

Researchers reviewed data from more than 900 patients, sharing their research in the American Journal of Cardiology.

How modified bioprosthetic heart valves could limit calcification, reduce need for TAVR

Bioprosthetic heart valves often express foreign sugars that trigger a response from the body's immune system. This immune response appears to be associated with calcification. 

The Edwards Lifesciences Sapien transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device in a heart model used to show patients how the device works.

TAVR associated with lower healthcare costs than surgery

Researchers examined Medicare data from 2016 to 2018, presenting their findings in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions. 

Recurrent MR after TEER: Tracking data from nearly 700 MitraClip patients

The new analysis focused on both primary and secondary MR 12 months after TEER. 

A team of researchers at Gladstone, including Bárbara González Terán shown here seated, developed a novel algorithm method for identifying genetic variants that are likely to play important roles in congenital heart disease. This opens up opportunities to accelerate research into this serious condition. Photo by Michael Short/Gladstone Institutes

Algorithm helps sort genetic data to improve our understanding of congenital heart disease

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes developed a new algorithm method for identifying genetic variant combinations that are likely to play important roles in congenital heart disease.

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Amyloidosis patients can safely undergo TAVR

Researchers focused on 30-day outcomes, sharing their findings in the American Journal of Cardiology.

New risk score predicts mortality after TEER

Researchers developed the new algorithm by identifying eight key factors associated with mortality among TEER patients. 

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Around the web

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Use of AI opportunistic screening in CT for cardiovascular disease

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New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

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