Atrial fibrillation (AF) accounts for the majority of cardioembolic strokes, especially in elderly individuals. Although anticoagulation reduces the risk of embolic stroke, a significant proportion of AF patients have relative or absolute contraindications to anticoagulation. Patients with high bleeding risk…
Background Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy not explained by secondary causes, with a predisposition for outflow tract obstruction in some patients. As the most commonly encountered genetic cardiac condition, HCM affects 1 out of 500 individuals…
Introduction Transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defects (VSDs) is a less invasive treatment option for patients with suitable anatomy for device closure and those who are considered to be high-risk candidates for surgical therapy. , This chapter provides an overview,…
Atrial septal defect Indications Device closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) is indicated for patients with secundum defects less than 38 mm in diameter, who have evidence of right ventricular volume overload, and do not have associated cardiac abnormalities…
Introduction Patients with symptomatic severe mitral valve disease due to severe mitral annular calcification (MAC) are often elderly with multiple comorbidities and have a high risk of cardiovascular death. Their surgical risk for standard mitral valve surgery is high due…
Introduction Paravalvular prosthetic leak (PVL) occurs in 6% to 15% of surgical prosthetic valves or annuloplasty rings secondary to degeneration and loss of integrity of the annular tissue. Moderate-to-severe PVL is associated with increased morbidity and mortality if left untreated.…
Introduction Mitral valve disease is the most common cardiac valve condition, with the prevalence of significant regurgitation or stenosis increasing with age and estimated to be 9.5% in the general population above the age of 75. The most common treatments…
Introduction Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valvular regurgitant abnormality, increasing in prevalence with age and affecting approximately 4 million people in the United States alone. , Severe MR eventually leads to left ventricular (LV) dilation and dysfunction resulting…
Introduction Mitral stenosis (MS) is the most common sequelae of rheumatic heart disease and is characterized by diffuse fibrous thickening of the margins of the mitral valve (MV) leaflets and fusion of the commissures. Untreated, severe MS can lead to…
Paravalvular leak (PVL) occurs in 5% to 17% of patients after valve replacement surgery. Although the majority of PVLs are subclinical, some patients develop symptoms of heart failure, hemolysis, or both, requiring intervention. Surgical repair or valve re-replacement is the…