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.

FDA announces new recall of Medtronic surgical devices over safety concerns
The agency warned that any unused devices should be removed from the market and returned to the manufacturer.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Medicare data stethoscope healthcare trends graphs finance financials

Cardiology groups cheer new bill that would improve access to Medicare claims data

If passed, this bill would help clinician-led clinical registries explore Medicare data for research purposes. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and American College of Cardiology both shared public support for the bipartisan legislation.

SAVR associated with several long-term benefits for patients with asymptomatic severe AS

The current evidence suggests early surgery is a better treatment option for asymptomatic severe AS than conservative care, researchers explained.

A demonstration of SenitAR's augmented reality (AR) technology for electrophysiology lab procedures during the Heart Rhythm Society 2024 meeting. This is one of at least six FDA-cleared clinical AR and virtual reality applications that aimed at enhancing cardiology workflow and patient outcomes. Photo by Dave Fornell

A glimpse into the future: FDA has cleared multiple AR, VR tools for cardiology

Heart teams already have access to several augmented reality and virtual reality offerings, and many more are on the way.

A heart team at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (KFSHRC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, made a bit of history, completing the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant. The procedure, which lasted roughly two and half hours, was performed on a 16-year-old patient with end-stage heart failure. One reason this patient was selected was the fact that he had specifically requested the heart team not open his chest.

Surgeons make history, perform world’s first fully robotic heart transplant

The procedure, which lasted roughly two and half hours, was performed on a 16-year-old patient with end-stage heart failure.

A TAVR procedure being performed at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. These structural heart procedures require a team approach.

TAVR complication rates keep falling, highlighting considerable progress

Complications are also down after SAVR, researchers noted, though the drop has been much more dramatic for TAVR patients. The new analysis was based on Medicare data from more than 210,000 patients.

TAVR and SAVR linked to comparable long-term outcomes, new meta-analysis confirms

Researchers combined data from three well-known clinical trials—NOTION, Evolut Low Risk and PARTNER 3—and evaluated thousands of low-risk patients who presented with severe aortic stenosis.

Treating atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) with surgery may be more beneficial than medical therapy alone, according to new data published in JAMA Network Open.[1]

Atrial functional mitral regurgitation: Surgery improves outcomes more than medical therapy alone

"These findings underscore the importance of understanding AFMR and its treatment options," one cardiologist said.

High vs. low oxygen levels during heart surgery: Is one strategy safer than the other?

Researchers tracked patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery at a high-volume medical center, treating 50% of the selected cohort with above-average oxygen levels.

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Cardiac Surgery

FDA announces new recall of Medtronic surgical devices over safety concerns

Cardiologists make case against routine interventions for asymptomatic severe AS

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

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

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

Around the web