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. 

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Cardiologists make case against routine interventions for asymptomatic severe AS

Aortic valve replacement is likely inevitable for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Immediately performing TAVR or SAVR, however, may not always be the answer.

Michael Reardon at ACC.25 presenting data on low-risk TAVR and SAVR patients

So far, so good: TAVR comparable to open heart surgery after 5 years in low-risk patients

Michael J. Reardon, MD, shared the highly anticipated data with a large audience at ACC.25 in Chicago. Overall, he said, these five-year findings suggest TAVR with a supra-annular, self-expanding valve is a safe and effective alternative to SAVR.

Heart cardiologists doctors surgery

Strokes more likely for U.S. heart transplant recipients following policy change

A nationwide policy shift implemented in 2018 was designed to, among other things, improve the waiting list mortality rate. One unintended consequence, however, is that patients are now more likely to experience a stroke after receiving a new heart.

Brian R. Lindman, MD, MSCI Medical Director, Structural Heart and Valve Center and associate professor of medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, gives an update on the American Heart Association Target: Aortic Stenosis quality improvement program to catch more missing referrals.

AHA still working to find more patients with severe aortic stenosis who may require care

The initiative is designed to help identify more patients who may require aortic valve replacement. Brian Lindman, MD, provided an update on the project's efforts.

heart surgery cardiac surgeons

Timing is everything: Delaying noncardiac surgery after a heart procedure reduces risks

When patients require subsequent noncardiac surgery after a major heart operation, waiting at least 100 days is one way to limit the risk of an adverse event. Read the full analysis in JACC: Advances.

Inspiris Resilia aortic valve from Edwards Lifesciences

First-in-class SAVR valve from Edwards Lifesciences linked to positive 5-year outcomes

Researchers focused on a relatively young patient population, hoping to learn as much as possible about the surgical valve's safety and effectiveness over an extended period of time. 

Video of Steven Bolling, MD, professor of cardiac surgery, University of Michigan, explaining trends in tricuspid valve repair and replacement at CRT 2025.

Key trends in transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions

Steven Bolling, MD, noted that tricuspid treatments have been linked to consistent benefits in terms of quality of life. However, he said, finding clear improvements in clinical outcomes has been more challenging.

heart patient

New drug shows early potential to treat aortic stenosis in some patients without TAVR, SAVR

The drug in question, ataciguat, could help heart patients avoid aortic valve replacement—or at least put it off until later in life.

Around the web

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