Cardiac Conference
Cardiac Conference
With more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and two textbooks on transcatheter cardiovascular care, Eduardo de Marchena, M.D. ’80, professor of cardiovascular medicine and associate dean for international medicine at the Miller School, is one of the world’s leading experts on structural heart disease, including heart valve, chamber and wall defects.
He was one of the first U.S. physicians to perform a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure nearly 20 years ago. It was once a dangerous and rigorous procedure; now, TAVR patients often go home the following day.
Dr. de Marchena founded the International Medicine Institute’s International Interventional Structural Heart Disease Fellowship Program and the Miami Valves conference to help share knowledge about TAVRs and other structural heart disease procedures. Each year, the institute sponsors Miami Valves, which brings cardiologists and surgeons to Miami to share their knowledge.
“Our faculty are thought leaders from around the world,” Dr. de Marchena said. “People come from all over the U.S. and around 20 countries. More than 100 medical centers participate.”
“Our faculty are thought leaders from around the world, people come from all over the U.S. and around 20 countries. More than 100 medical centers participate.”
Now in its 12th year, the conference goes beyond structural heart disease to include interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, heart failure, cardiac imaging and artificial intelligence. One of its most important missions is cross-pollination between cardiologists and surgeons.
“We want this meeting to expand the reach of catheter-based therapies,” Dr. de Marchena said. “That’s why we invite so many excellent invasive cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, who show a wide array of minimally invasive cardiac procedures and surgery.”
Not surprisingly, this intermixing of disciplines can lead to spirited debate. TAVR procedures are modern miracles, but they do have their limitations. Replacement surgical and TAVR valves generally last only 10 to 15 years and, with increased human lifespans, some patients might have to undergo repeat procedures.
Still, there’s a lot of work being done to make TAVRs more effective. AI modeling and tissue engineering are being harnessed to eventually make personalized valves for each patient. In addition, new medications are on the horizon to slow valvular disease.
“We’re hoping to start a trial for an experimental drug that slows valve calcification,” Dr. de Marchena said. “This could help patients who have moderate aortic valve calcification slow the progression of the disease. If the drug succeeds, they might not need an aortic valve replacement for many years.”
