A decade ago, when TAVR was first cleared by the FDA, surgeons had concern about losing business. But unexpectedly, TAVR has helped also gain heart surgery cases. 

The FDA said cardiovascular devices make up the largest number of technologies accepted into the Breakthrough Devices Program, and several are on the list of the first 50 in the program to gain market clearance.

Brijeshwar Maini, MD, structural heart cardiologist, national and Florida medical director of cardiology, Tenant Health, explains what hospitals need to build a structural heart program and develop a heart-team care collaboration approach.

"To say we are proud of what this means for our patients and the medical community at large, is an understatement," the patient's cardiologist said. 

The annual rankings from U.S. News are here, with some familiar names making the top of the list. Did your facility make the cut? 

Allan Lansing, MD, PhD, performed the first coronary artery bypass in the state of Kentucky. He also volunteered to help patients all over the world and was publicly honored by President George H. W. Bush in 1991. 

“We can learn from nature, but we have built something that has never been introduced before,” one researcher said. 

“Robotically assisted mitral valve surgery allows us to make even smaller incisions with greater precision,” one surgeon said. “By using the robotic arms, we have more degrees of articulation than with our natural wrists."