The calcified plaque-shattering technology developed by Shockwave Medical continues to gain momentum. As more care teams start using IVL during PCI, researchers are paying close attention to its long-term impact on patient care.

A care team in Germany has completed what may be the first structural heart procedure of its kind on a high-risk patient. It started as a straightforward heterotopic caval valve implantation, but then paravalvular leak resulted in a change of plans. 

Researchers hoped to gain a better understanding of the device's real-world impact by reviewing registry data from more than 97,000 U.S. patients. Overall, the Watchman FLX was linked to positive data and limited adverse events one year after treatment. 

The J Valve from JC Medical was linked to positive outcomes and “excellent” hemodynamic data after 30 days in an early feasibility study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. Researchers noted that the valve showed potential in patients with large aortic annuli, which represents an "unmet critical need" at this stage. 

Treating severe MR with the popular device does not appear to increase a patient's risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack. When patients present with AFib, however, care teams may want to make certain adjustments to optimize outcomes. 

Using a cerebral protection device during TAVR was associated with lower readmission rates, shorter hospital stays—and, yes, a lower risk of patients suffering a major stroke. A team of specialists with Cleveland Clinic shared their new findings in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Identical Cardiovalve systems were used to perform the procedures 18 months apart on a high-risk heart patient. 

Researchers tracked the long-term safety, effectiveness and durability of first-generation CoreValve devices in nearly 900 patients.