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 or SAVR? Market competition may be influencing these decisions
Hospitals located in more competitive markets may be more likely to perform TAVR instead of SAVR, according to a new analysis of more than 130,000 patients. Is this a reason for concern?
Surgeons use modified ‘frozen elephant trunk’ technique for first heart surgery of its kind
When the devices needed for a specific procedure were not available, a group of surgeons got creative. Their one-of-a-kind approach was a success, and the patient has experienced no complications.
New recalls announced for troubled heart devices—FDA previously urged customers to seek alternatives
These most recent recalls focus on a series of maintenance issues. In 2024, the FDA advised customers to transition away from the two devices and find alternative treatment options.
Researchers receive $3.2M in federal funding to test new heart pump for children
The device, currently just a prototype, could be the first of its kind to gain FDA approval.
FDA announces Class I recall of patches used for heart surgery
There is a risk of certain pericardial patches not being as strong or durable as needed. Customers are urged to identify, quarantine and replace these devices.

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.

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.

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.

S. Chris Malaisrie, MD, professor of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and attending cardiac surgeon at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute of Northwestern Medicine, explains the late-breaking TAVR for failing bioprosthetic surgical valves five year outcomes from the PARTNER 3 Aortic Valve-in-Valve Registry at CRT 2025.

TAVR for failing surgical valves: Lessons learned from new 5-year data

S. Chris Malaisrie, MD, professor of surgery at Northwestern University, explained what these data can tell us about the lifetime management of patients who require aortic valve replacement.

Mitral valve repair vs. replacement: Surgeons track long-term outcomes in patients with infective endocarditis

Mitral valve repair was linked to a significant improvement in long-term survival when treating infective endocarditis. Some patients are not good candidates for a repair procedure, however, making replacement the best possible option.

Surgeons in Houston have performed the world’s first successful human implant of BiVACOR’s Total Artificial Heart (TAH) technology. The procedure was completed July 9, 2024, at The Texas Heart Institute at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. It was part of an early feasibility study (EFS) first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in December 2023.

Patient discharged with total artificial heart for first time—goes 105 days while awaiting transplant

Total artificial heart recipients typically stay in the hospital. In this case, however, the patient was able to wait for a donated heart from the comfort of his own home.

Cardiac Surgery

TAVR or SAVR? Market competition may be influencing these decisions

Surgeons use modified ‘frozen elephant trunk’ technique for first heart surgery of its kind

New recalls announced for troubled heart devices—FDA previously urged customers to seek alternatives

Researchers receive $3.2M in federal funding to test new heart pump for children

FDA announces Class I recall of patches used for heart surgery