Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic surgery includes coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), heart valve repair or replacement, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement, heart transplant, assisting in minimally invasive transcatheter valve structural heart procedures such as TAVR, left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion, septal myectomy, surgical ablation for arrhythmias, and reconstruction of the heart in congenial heart disease cases. 

In a late-breaking long-term analysis presented at ACC 2022, the Medtronic CoreValve TAVR valve outperformed the surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in terms of durability.

VIDEO: TAVR durability outperforms surgical valves

Michael J. Reardon, MD, professor of cardiothoracic surgery and Allison Family Distinguished chair of cardiovascular research at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, presented pooled data at ACC.22 from the CoreValve SURTAVI trials that found transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was more durable than surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) devices.

April 13, 2022
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How the continued rise of TAVR has impacted SAVR outcomes

Did SAVR outcomes suffer due to the rapid rise of TAVR? A team of researchers aimed to find out with a brand new analysis. 

April 12, 2022
Several ACC 2022 late-breaking trials may have impacts on clinical practice for interventional cardiology and structural heart. One trial compared FFR vs. IVUS guided PCI for intermediate coronary lesions. Photos by Dave Fornell

Key interventional cardiology takeaways from ACC.22

Several late-breaking clinical trials at ACC.22 will likely impact clinical practice. Below are summaries of a few key trials and their takeaways for interventional cardiology and structural heart interventions. 

April 11, 2022
MitraClip vs mitral valve edge to edge repair (TEER).

VIDEO: MitraClip vs. surgical mitral valve replacement

Joanna Chikwe, MD, founding chair of the department of cardiac surgery at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, compares transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) to mitral valve surgery for primary mitral regurgitation.

April 7, 2022
Researchers are using an intra-atrial shunt to lower pressures between the upper chambers of the heart to relieve symptoms in HFpEF heart failure patients. The novel Noya device uses an RF ablation to cut a hole into the septum and then enlarge it using a stent that can then be removed from the body after the procedure. 

Researchers share first human data on new interventional shunt procedure for HFpEF

The first-in-man study, completed by a team of cardiologists in China, included 10 patients presenting with HFpEF. 

April 7, 2022
While a vast majority of heart transplants in the United States are successful, unplanned hospitalizations after the procedures are still incredibly common. Top 10 reasons for readmission after heart transplant.

PCI vs. CABG for left main disease: Key takeaways from a new meta-analysis

Researchers explored data from five different randomized controlled trials, publishing their analysis in the American Journal of Cardiology.

April 5, 2022
Congress dome capitol Washington

Congress investigating FDA over heart device recall, says agency ‘failed to protect consumers’

“I am concerned by the FDA’s slow action, over multiple administrations, to protect patients from this product despite early warning signs,” one U.S. representative said in an open letter. 

March 31, 2022
Examples of prosthetic heart valve thrombus formation on the valve leaflets. A new study shows better outcomes using tPA vs. surgery to remove the clots. Valve thrombosis. Images from Mayo Clinic

Thrombolysis vs. surgery for prosthetic valve thrombosis

The three-month mortality rate was 2.4% after thrombolysis and 18.7% after surgery.

March 22, 2022

Around the web

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

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