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.

TAVR, SAVR linked to similar QOL improvements for intermediate-risk patients after five years
TAVR was initially associated with greater benefits than surgery, but that difference faded by the end of the first year.
Q&A: Cleveland Clinic’s Lars Svensson previews AATS annual meeting
Svensson, a prominent voice in cardiothoracic surgery, said he has seen a rise in enthusiasm ahead of this year's meeting.
TAVR or SAVR? ChatGPT could help cardiologists decide
Researchers asked ChatGPT to make treatment decisions for patients with severe aortic stenosis, comparing its answers to the recommendations of a full heart team.
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.

BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart. BiVACOR, an international medical device company with headquarters in the United States and Australia, has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to kick off an early feasibility study (EFS) for its total artificial heart (TAH) technology.

FDA approves early feasibility study for total artificial heart technology

The device is intended to be a bridge for heart failure patients waiting to receive a full heart transplant.

December 1, 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

‘We should halt this practice’: Common hormone treatment for donated hearts may be harmful

"This practice has been adopted by multiple organ-procurement organizations and is used on thousands of organ donors each year, without ever having been rigorously studied," one researcher said.

November 30, 2023

money business cash flow dollar. Kingsway Financial Services, a Chicago-based holding company with subsidiaries in several industries, has acquired New Jersey-based Digital Diagnostics Imaging (DDI) for $11 million. The transaction was funded with $5.4 million in cash and $5.6 million in debt financing.

Robotic-assisted CABG reduces healthcare costs, primarily thanks to shorter hospital stays

The technology may not be cheap, but new research published in The American Journal of Cardiology suggests the investment is well worth it.

November 29, 2023

Cardiawave Valvosoft non-invasive ultrasound therapy

Cardiawave’s non-invasive ultrasound therapy impresses cardiologists early on—could it be an alternative to SAVR, TAVR?

While TAVR and SAVR are reliable treatments for calcific aortic stenosis, some patients are not considered for those procedures due to severe comorbidities or a limited life expectancy. This is where the investigational Valvosoft device from Cardiawave enters the equation.

November 28, 2023

Medtronic Penditure Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Exclusion System

Medtronic debuts new FDA-cleared LAA exclusion device

Medtronic acquired the technology behind the new device back in August.

November 27, 2023

older patient with a doctor at their house

Ross procedure still linked to ‘excellent’ outcomes as patients enter third decade after surgery

Researchers focused on more than 100 patients who underwent the Ross procedure from 1994 to 2001, sharing their findings in JAMA Cardiology.

November 9, 2023

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.

Surgeons warn it is too early to recommend a TAVR-first strategy for low-risk patients

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery say more information is still required before any conclusions can be made about the long-term benefits of TAVR in low-risk patients.

November 6, 2023

Kendra Grubb discusses TAVR vs SAVR and the most recent data to explain choices with patients.

TAVR or SAVR? Where things stand now, from a surgeon's perspective

Kendra Grubb, MD, one of the country's leading experts on cardiac surgery, discussed what she tells her patients when they ask if TAVR is better than SAVR for treating severe aortic stenosis.

November 3, 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

TAVR, SAVR linked to similar QOL improvements for intermediate-risk patients after five years

Q&A: Cleveland Clinic’s Lars Svensson previews AATS annual meeting

TAVR or SAVR? ChatGPT could help cardiologists decide

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

Around the web