Structural Heart Disease

In a head-to-head trial of the Amplatzer Amulet and Watchman FLX left atrial appendage closure devices, the primary endpoint of crossover to the other device or residual LAA patency at 45 days was similar, researchers reported at TCT 2021.

Abbott announced that the FDA has approved its patent foramen ovale occlusion system for patients with a PFO and prior stroke at risk for recurrent ischemic stroke.

In a head-to-head comparison of two left atrial appendage closure devices for patients with atrial fibrillation, the Amplatzer Amulet device was superior at closure and noninferior for safety and effectiveness vs. the Watchman device.

As elective surgeries have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to monitor patients with structural heart disease via telemedicine and to know when an elective procedure becomes an emergent one, according to two documents.

A pooled analysis of three phase 3 trials assessing inclisiran found that the agent safely lowered LDL in patients with several conditions including atherosclerotic CVD, heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and ASCVD risk equivalents, according to data presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session.

There was no relationship between institutional volume of mitral valve surgery or transcatheter mitral valve repair and transcatheter mitral valve repair outcomes, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session.

The risk for congenital heart disease-related infant mortality was higher when mothers lived farther from specialized pediatric cardiac centers, according to a research letter published in Circulation.

Patients hospitalized for HF were found to have significantly elevated long-term risk for venous thromboembolism, regardless of ejection fraction.

Patients who regularly used cannabis were more likely to have adverse changes in subclinical dysfunction and left ventricular size compared with those who rarely or never used the substance, according to a study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.

SAN FRANCISCO — Early clinical data suggest that an investigational percutaneous device designed to directly repair the left ventricle is feasible and safe in patients with HF and functional mitral regurgitation. Data on the first 31 patients enrolled in the CorCinch FMR early feasibility study who were treated with the AccuCinch ventricular repair system at U.S. centers through July were presented at TCT 2019.