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.

Anemia may help explain why women are more likely to die during heart bypass surgery
Finding new ways to avoid intraoperative anemia could go a long way toward improving outcomes for female CABG patients. The full analysis, based on more than 1.4 million patients, was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
FDA announces new recall of Abbott’s HeartMate LVADs after 14 deaths
The issue at the center of this recall, which includes both the HeartMate II and HeartMate 3 LVAD, is the gradual buildup of biological materials. This can impact the device's performance, creating a heightened risk of injury or death.
TAVR, SAVR both linked to low reintervention rates after five years
While most TAVR-related reinterventions occurred in the first year after treatment, most SAVR-related reinterventions occurred in years two through five. The team's full analysis is available in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
First-in-human trial shows potential of guiding CABG with cardiac CT and AI—no ICA required
An independent heart team blinded to ICA results was able to deliver helpful guidance for CABG procedures for 99.1% of patients using just CCTA and FFR_CT alone. This approach is safe and feasible, researchers wrote, and the next step is to gather additional data.
ACC.24: TAVR linked to lower 1-year mortality, stroke rates than SAVR in low-risk patients
TAVR is noninferior to SAVR when treating low-risk patients, according to new data presented at ACC.24. In fact, it is associated with multiple benefits over surgery.

The Livanova Essenz heart-lung perfusion machine for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery is designed with updated workflow efficiency, to capture and record electronic data and to tailor therapy for each patient.

FDA clears new LivaNova heart-lung machine for cardiopulmonary bypass procedures

LivaNova PLC developed the new cardio-pulmonary system based on feedback from more than 300 perfusionists.

March 13, 2023

A transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure being performed at Intermountain Healthcare. Image from Intermountain Healthcare. Sex differences in TAVR one-year mortality.

10 reasons heart teams may consider SAVR over TAVR when treating aortic stenosis

As much as TAVR's popularity has grown in recent years, there are still many instances when a heart team may find that surgery offers the best path forward.

March 2, 2023

Private equity investors have grown more and more interested in cardiology in recent years. Roger Strode, a partner with the global law firm Foley and Lardner LLP, explains why this is.

Q&A: What the rise of private equity investments in cardiology means for cardiologists and their patients

Private equity investors have grown more and more interested in cardiology in recent years. Why the sudden shift? And what does it mean for patient care going forward?

February 15, 2023

Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest health network, recently announced it has signed a definitive agreement with Complete Care to acquire a majority of its long-term care facilities.

High-risk patients ineligible for bypass surgery see ‘profound improvements’ after PCI

High-risk patients with complex CAD who are ineligible for CABG can still see substantial benefits from PCI.

February 13, 2023

Tablet projecting metaphorical medical hologram

New guideline on mechanical circulatory support tackles device selection, ethical dilemmas and more

The Heart Failure Society of America and International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation worked together on the document, hoping their recommendations serve as a "critical roadmap" for clinicians.

February 8, 2023

Tiny fragments of plastic are commonly found deep inside the human body. Heart surgery, it seems, is one of many ways these microplastics are reaching their destination. Surgeons Operating On Patient

AI model predicts risk of post-operative AFib

Post-operative atrial fibrillation was once viewed as a fairly insignificant issue, but more recent research suggests it can increase a patient’s risk of multiple adverse events.

February 3, 2023

Drug-coated balloons were associated with a lower risk of bleeding after PCI than drug-eluting stents, the study's authors reported.

Interventional cardiologists can safely perform PCI without on-site surgical backup

The finding comes from a new expert consensus statement published by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. Several industry societies, including the ACC and AHA, have endorsed the document.

January 30, 2023

FDA issues new recall for circulatory support system after software update

The device was first recalled in 2022, but a new software update has now been released that addresses the issue. The FDA wanted a new recall to be issued to ensure all customers went through with the update.

January 30, 2023

Around the web

Health Imaging

New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

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

Radiology Business

What does radiology have to do with climate change?

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."

Cardiac Surgery

Anemia may help explain why women are more likely to die during heart bypass surgery

FDA announces new recall of Abbott’s HeartMate LVADs after 14 deaths

TAVR, SAVR both linked to low reintervention rates after five years

First-in-human trial shows potential of guiding CABG with cardiac CT and AI—no ICA required

ACC.24: TAVR linked to lower 1-year mortality, stroke rates than SAVR in low-risk patients

Around the web