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.

‘Making good, better’: Next-gen TAVR techniques and protocols optimize patient care, boost efficiency

Sponsored by Medtronic

Innovation in the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) space has upped the ante once again.

Tricuspid valve repair outperforms replacement, new meta-analysis confirms

The study's authors examined outcomes data from more than 8,500 tricuspid valve repairs and nearly 9,000 tricuspid valve replacements.

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AI model evaluates ECG data as well as cardiologists

The team's convolutional neural network was trained on data that is readily available at most facilities. 

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3 risk factors associated with endocarditis after TPVR

Researchers tracked data from nearly 2,500 patients from 15 different facilities, sharing their findings in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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TEER shows potential to boost outcomes for cardiogenic shock patients

Cardiogenic shock has been linked to a heightened risk of morbidity and mortality. TEER, it seems, may be able to help provide patients with some relief. 

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How diabetes impacts TEER outcomes

The new analysis, published in JACC: Heart Failure, focused on patient data from the renowned COAPT trial. 

Confirmed: Watchman FLX LAAC device safe for nonvalvular AFib patients

New two-year findings, presented at TVT 2021, suggest that the Watchman FLX device is a safe alternative to long-term oral anticoagulation therapy.

TAVR outcomes similar after 1 year in low-risk bicuspid, tricuspid aortic stenosis patients

Lead author John Forrest, MD, a cardiologist at Yale School of Medicine, presented the findings at TVT 2021. He noted that it felt great to finally return to in-person conferences after COVID kept people at home for so long. 

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.