The discussion then shifts to the SMART trial, which studied treatment outcomes for women with aortic stenosis, particularly those with smaller aortic annuli. The conversation concludes with recommendations for patient management post-TAVR, emphasizing the importance of rehabilitation, long-term monitoring, and appropriate anticoagulation strategies. The speakers stressed the need to rethink medical terminology, improve patient education, and advocate for continued research on sex-specific cardiovascular treatments. The SMART trial is a model for future studies to ensure women receive equitable and effective heart care.

Join Dr. Puja Parikh, Director of the TAVR program at Stony Brook University Hospital, as she hosts a captivating conversation with the renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Michael Reardon. Dr. Reardon, a leader in cardiac surgery and structural heart innovation, shares his remarkable journey into the field, from an unexpected childhood incident to becoming a pivotal figure in the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) revolution.

In this insightful episode, Dr. Reardon reflects on the evolution of cardiac surgery training and the transformative impact of TAVR. He discusses the importance of adapting to new technologies, the future of cardiac surgery education, and the potential challenges and opportunities facing young surgeons today. The conversation also delves into the role of AI in patient care and the ongoing advancements in valve technologies.

Dr. Reardon offers invaluable advice to early-career colleagues and trainees, emphasizing the importance of open-mindedness, hands-on experience, and collaboration between cardiologists and surgeons. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of cardiac care and the dynamic world of structural heart interventions.

In this episode of the Structural Heart podcast, world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeons Dr. Patrick McCarthy and Dr. Dan O'Hair discuss a wide range of topics centered around advancing technology within the surgical and structural heart landscape. The episode starts with Dr. McCarthy and Dr. O'Hair discussing emerging surgical mitral technology alongside how lulls in procedures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic afforded them the extra time to analyze their own program data and better understand which patients benefited most from various cardiac therapies. Next, the conversation shifts from mitral to aortic as they discuss consistent themes and fundamentals that are shared between open-heart aortic valve replacements and transcatheter aortic valve replacements. Both physicians speak to the importance of practicing evidence-based medicine within the cardiovascular space and making decisions rooted in data regarding critical procedures like valve replacements. The episode concludes with light-hearted conversation lessons they wish they had learned earlier in their careers and want to pass along to an emerging generation of cardiovascular physicians.