In a new clinical trial at PinnacleHealth, based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, researchers are testing the efficacy of the Keystone Heart TriGuard, a device designed to reduce the risk of stroke during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures.
Researchers working on the study, called REFLECT, hope the outcomes will help improve TAVR outcomes and minimize the chance of permanent brain damage, PinnacleHealth said in an April 11 press release.
The TriGuard is designed to reduce the amount of embolic debris, including calcium, blood clots and parts of vessel walls, from traveling through the blood stream to the brain during a TAVR procedure.
"As physicians, we see firsthand the debilitating effects of brain injury following TAVR can have on our patients," said Mubashir Mumtaz, MD, lead author on the study and chief of cardiothoracic surgery and the surgical director of structural heart at PinnacleHealth, in a statement. "PinnacleHealth CardioVascular Institute is honored to be selected for this elite global trial, studying a major patient safety initiative."
Senior Writer
As a Senior Writer for TriMed Media Group, Katherine primarily focuses on producing news stories, Q&As and features for Cardiovascular Business. She reports on several facets of the cardiology industry, including emerging technology, new clinical trials and findings, and quality initiatives among providers. She is based out of TriMed's Chicago office and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Columbia College Chicago. Her work has appeared in Modern Healthcare, Crain's Chicago Business and The Detroit News. She joined TriMed in 2016.