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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Challenges of Infective Endocarditis: The Opioid Crisis Hits Home & Cardiologists Can’t Go It Alone

As rates of infective endocarditis among intravenous drug users skyrocket, cardiologists are finding that treating the heart condition without addressing the disease of addiction contributes to readmissions and mortality. 

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‘Really Not Close’: TAVR Trumps SAVR in Two Trials of Low-risk Patients

Clinical trials presented at ACC.19 flipped the script on TAVR vs. SAVR. 

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Positive Projections: TAVR/TMVR Market Likely to Double by 2023

The global market for transcatheter treatment of the mitral and aortic valves is expected to increase from $4 billion to $8 billion in the next five years, but barriers exist. 

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Preemie heart damage could be reversed with exercise in young adulthood

Cardiac abnormalities stemming from preterm birth can be corrected with a three-and-a-half-month exercise program in patients’ teens and twenties, according to a drug-free trial of Canadian adults.

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2.4% hydrogen could ease risk of brain damage, seizures in CHD patients

The addition of 2.4% hydrogen to hypoxia patients’ traditional ventilation gases improved neurologic outcomes and reduced tissue injury in a recent study of piglets, suggesting hydrogen might be a beneficial addition to therapy for babies undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD).

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FDA clears LOTUS Edge valve system for TAVR

Boston Scientific’s LOTUS Edge Aortic Valve System was cleared by the FDA April 23 for use in high-risk surgical candidates with severe aortic stenosis.

Transaxillary TAVR emerges as top alternative to femoral access

Transsubclavian or transaxillary (TAx) access has become the preferred route for balloon-expandable TAVR when femoral access isn’t feasible, a new analysis found. Outcomes were generally favorable with TAx TAVR compared to other alternative access techniques, with the exception of higher stroke rates, researchers reported in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

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Registry analysis finds link between TAVR volume, mortality

With CMS just months away from an updated national coverage determination for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a new analysis in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests the relationship between procedural volume and TAVR outcomes remains important in the United States.

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.