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. 

Young patient recovering after world’s first combination heart transplant and thymus procedure

“This has the potential to change the face of solid organ transplantation in the future,” one surgeon said. 

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DOACs an effective substitute for VKAs after AFib patients undergo bioprosthetic valve replacement

Direct oral anticoagulants are noninferior to vitamin K antagonists when treating this important patient population, researchers reported. 

David Bennett

Pig heart transplant patient dies 2 months after historic procedure

The 57-year-old patient was able to communicate with his family in his final hours. 

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Ross procedure outperforms bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement among younger patients

Researchers highlighted the low risk of reintervention after the Ross procedure, though they did say additional studies were still needed. 

Life after heart surgery: Tracking the long-term performance of several bioprosthetic aortic valves

The study's authors examined data from multiple bioprosthetic aortic valves — and one popular solution consistently came out on top. 

David Bennett with two of his physical therapists at the University of Maryland Medical Center

Pig heart transplant patient doing well weeks after procedure—he even watched the Super Bowl

The 57-year-old patient is working with physical therapists on a daily basis, according to a recent update from the University of Maryland Medical Center. 

How modified bioprosthetic heart valves could limit calcification, reduce need for TAVR

Bioprosthetic heart valves often express foreign sugars that trigger a response from the body's immune system. This immune response appears to be associated with calcification. 

A study that analyzed patient outcomes in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in veterans showed outcomes for on-pump and off-pump procedures over 10 years to be similar. Photo by Jim Lennon

Debate over? On-pump CABG, off-pump CABG lead to similar 10-year outcomes

10-year data from the ROOBY study found that there was little difference in outcomes between the two forms of heart bypass surgery. 

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

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

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