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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TAVR-related ischemic stroke linked to worse outcomes, higher Medicare costs

TAVR-related stroke, the authors wrote, is a "critically important and potentially preventable source of patient morbidity."

Tricuspid valve annuloplasty during mitral valve surgery offers key benefits

The new analysis focused on 98 patients who presented with primary mitral regurgitation.

Seeking Out Severe Aortic Stenosis: The Low Down on Low Flow-Low Gradient

Sponsored by Medtronic

It’s not uncommon for severe aortic stenosis to go unrecognized, and thus untreated. When the data points to the existence of low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis, a diagnosis can be even more challenging.

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Same-day discharge after LAAO is safe, cost-effective and ‘could become the new standard’

Same-day discharge was associated with a 15% reduction in healthcare costs. 

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Time of day does not affect TAVR or SAVR outcomes

One previous study had suggested outcomes may improve in the afternoon, but researchers did not find that to be the case. 

TAVR is safe and effective among asymptomatic patients, new research confirms

TAVR was associated with a consistently low risk of all-cause mortality or disabling stroke.

Both younger and elderly heart failure patients benefit from TEER

Researchers used data from the COAPT trial to examine TEER's impact on patients from different age groups. 

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Sapien 3 Ultra THV outperforms its predecessor, reducing PVL after TAVR procedures

The risk of all-cause mortality, stroke, major bleeding events or permanent pacemaker implantation was similar between the two valves.

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