News

An AI-powered opportunistic screening tool is being developed to identify patients with undiagnosed aortic stenosis using existing imaging data. The technology aims to detect asymptomatic or unrecognized cases by analyzing routine medical scans that were performed for other clinical indications.

Digest: Early detection of aortic stenosis through opportunistic AI screening could identify intervention candidates before symptom onset, potentially improving outcomes and expanding the patient pool for TAVR and SAVR procedures.

Ventripoint Diagnostics is expanding subscription-based access to its FDA-cleared VMS+ 4.0 platform, which uses AI and Knowledge Based Reconstruction technology to generate MRI-comparable 3D volumetric measurements of all four cardiac chambers from standard echocardiographic images. The company is implementing a Device-as-a-Service model targeting approximately 80% subscription-based adoption to reduce capital budget barriers for hospital implementation.

Digest: This AI-powered echocardiographic platform addresses a critical need for accurate right ventricular volumetric assessment without requiring MRI, with subscription pricing potentially lowering adoption barriers for structural heart programs evaluating patients for interventions.

ASCEND Cardiovascular and Epsilon Imaging announced a strategic partnership integrating ASCEND's enterprise structured reporting platform with Epsilon's EchoInsight Zero Footprint advanced echo analysis system featuring speckle-tracking strain imaging. The integrated solution uses AI-based view classification and bidirectional data exchange to automate strain measurement workflow, generating over 100 standardized measurements based on ASE chamber quantification guidelines without manual data entry.

Digest: Automated strain imaging integration addresses a key workflow barrier to routine use of global longitudinal strain for cardiotoxicity monitoring, heart failure assessment, and valvular disease management in structural heart programs.

Emerging developments in cardiac CT include artificial intelligence-driven preventive imaging strategies and noncontrast imaging techniques. These advances aim to expand cardiac CT's clinical utility beyond current anatomical assessment capabilities.

Digest: Enhanced cardiac CT capabilities could improve preprocedural planning for structural heart interventions and risk stratification without contrast-related complications.

Incidental findings on pre-procedural CT scans demonstrate predictive value for mortality following transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The study suggests that non-cardiac imaging findings identified during routine TAVR planning may provide additional risk stratification capabilities.

Digest: Integration of incidental CT findings into TAVR risk assessment models could improve patient selection and prognostic accuracy beyond traditional cardiac risk scores.

HOPPR launched its fifth AI foundation model, the EF Chest CT Narrative Model, which processes 3D chest CT volumes to generate narrative reports across pulmonary, mediastinal, cardiac, upper abdominal, osseous, and soft tissue regions. The model was trained on a large proprietary U.S. dataset with deliberate overrepresentation of serious conditions including aortic injury, pulmonary embolism, rib fractures, and pneumothorax.

Digest: This AI model offers potential automated assessment of cardiac and aortic anatomy on chest CT, which could support preprocedural planning and screening for structural heart interventions, though clinical validation data were not provided.

An article discusses how artificial intelligence can assist heart teams in identifying appropriate patients for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. No specific AI platform, clinical data, or implementation details were provided in the available content.

Digest: AI-driven patient identification tools could improve TAVR referral patterns and reduce undertreatment of severe aortic stenosis, though clinical validation and implementation strategies remain unclear from this report.

University of Maryland researchers developed an AI-powered clinical support tool that analyzes electronic health records to identify undiagnosed pulmonary hypertension by automatically extracting and predicting missing mean pulmonary artery pressure measurements from right heart catheterization reports. The system was tested on 17,292 catheterization reports from over 11,000 patients treated between 2016-2024, addressing the clinical challenge that mPAP is missing in 7-33% of cases depending on the dataset.

Digest: This tool addresses a diagnostic gap in pulmonary hypertension detection that affects appropriate patient selection and hemodynamic assessment for structural heart interventions, particularly in evaluating patients for tricuspid and mitral valve procedures where pulmonary pressures are critical eligibility criteria.

The American Heart Association published a report from the Target: AS Registry examining quality metrics for evaluation, surveillance, and management of aortic stenosis patients. The registry aims to establish benchmarks and identify gaps in AS care delivery across participating centers.

Digest: This AHA registry provides standardized quality measures that can guide institutional protocols for AS patient management and inform appropriate timing for intervention referrals.

A high-intensity ultrasound technology designed to treat calcified valve leaflets has launched in Europe. No specific clinical data or device details were provided in the article content.

Digest: Novel leaflet modification technologies could expand treatment options for calcified valves, though clinical validation data are needed to assess utility in structural heart interventions.

This is a correspondence response by Moura-Ferreira et al addressing a previously published article on the prognostic value of exercise right ventricular-pulmonary arterial coupling in primary mitral regurgitation. The response provides commentary or additional perspective on the original research findings regarding RV-PA coupling assessment during exercise in MR patients.

Digest: Exercise RV-PA coupling assessment may refine risk stratification and surgical timing decisions in primary mitral regurgitation patients, particularly those with preserved left ventricular function.

Badano et al published a letter to the editor commenting on a previously published article examining exercise right ventricular-pulmonary arterial coupling as a prognostic marker in primary mitral regurgitation. This correspondence addresses methodological or interpretive aspects of the original research on RV-PA coupling assessment during exercise in mitral regurgitation patients.

Digest: Exercise RV-PA coupling may inform patient selection and timing decisions for transcatheter or surgical mitral valve interventions in primary mitral regurgitation.

A new guideline has been published to standardize echocardiographic guidance protocols for mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) procedures. The guideline aims to harmonize imaging practices across operators and centers performing M-TEER interventions.

Digest: Standardized echo guidance protocols can improve procedural outcomes, reduce variability in M-TEER technique, and establish benchmarks for quality assurance in this growing mitral valve intervention field.

The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) 2026 annual meeting featured presentations focused on plaque imaging techniques, artificial intelligence applications, and structural heart disease. The conference highlighted advances in CT-based cardiac imaging modalities relevant to structural interventions.

Digest: SCCT conference coverage demonstrates the growing integration of advanced CT imaging and AI tools in pre-procedural planning and risk stratification for structural heart interventions.

TAVR valve implant depth significantly influences post-procedural outcomes including paravalvular leak, conduction abnormalities requiring permanent pacemaker, and coronary obstruction risk. Optimal implantation depth varies by valve platform, with higher implantation generally associated with reduced paravalvular regurgitation but increased pacemaker rates, while deeper implantation may increase coronary occlusion risk particularly in valve-in-valve procedures.

Digest: Precise implant depth optimization is a modifiable procedural factor that directly impacts major TAVR complications and may influence valve selection and procedural planning across risk stratifications.

The American Heart Association awarded $15 million to three research centers (Mass General Brigham, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and University of Pittsburgh) to establish a Strategically Focused Research Network on Earlier Detection and Delaying Progression of Valvular Heart Disease. The four-year initiative addresses a growing global health burden affecting over 80 million people worldwide and contributing to more than 57,000 deaths annually in the U.S.

Digest: This dedicated funding network may accelerate discovery of biomarkers and diagnostic tools for pre-symptomatic valve disease detection, potentially expanding the treatable patient population before irreversible cardiac remodeling occurs.

University of Colorado Hospital's Heart and Vascular Center performs approximately 3,000 interventional and structural heart procedures annually, including complex PCI with hemodynamic support and transcatheter mitral valve repair. The program has participated in pivotal trials for structural heart devices and performs 25-50 chronic total occlusion procedures and 50 Impella-supported high-risk PCI cases per year.

Digest: This academic center's experience with MitraClip procedures, complex high-risk PCI, and participation in pivotal device trials provides insights into advanced structural heart program development and procedural volumes at high-performing institutions.