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.

Thumbnail

Significant MR after TAVR linked to higher mortality rates—but staged interventions may help

Percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair was associated with improved outcomes among TAVR patients with persistent mitral regurgitation. 

BASILICIA before TAVR is safe and effective, new data confirms

Researchers found that the procedure was associated with a high success rate and low mortality and stroke rates after 30 days.

Thumbnail

AI model helps clinicians predict post-TAVR infective endocarditis

To build and validate their advanced AI model, researchers explored data from nearly 78,000 TAVR hospitalizations.

quality imaging appropriateness clinical decision support CAS AUC

11% of TAVR sites deliver below-average care, suggesting a ‘meaningful performance gap’

The study’s authors developed and validated a new performance measure for TAVR care using data from more than 52,000 patients. They shared their full analysis ahead of print in Circulation.

Thumbnail

1 in 10 patients with post-TAVR infective endocarditis have a stroke, increasing risk of death by 90%

When patients with post-TAVR infective endocarditis have a stroke, their risk of in-hospital mortality and all-cause mortality after one year both skyrocket. 

How valve type and anesthesia strategy affect 1-year TAVR outcomes

Researchers in Germany explored data from more than 400 TAVR patients, sharing their findings in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Thumbnail

Risk of a permanent pacemaker after valve-in-valve TAVR is low, especially when using newer heart valves

The findings, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, focused on data from the VIVID registry.

SCAI 2021: Medtronic pleased with 30-day data on Evolut TAVR systems

Researchers presented 30-day data at the SCAI 2021 Scientific Sessions, highlighting the "excellent" outcomes and the importance of constantly working to improve patient care. 

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.