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.

SAVR outperforms TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valves
BAV patients are often excluded from TAVR trials, creating uncertainty about the best way to treat that population when aortic valve replacement is required. To learn more, researchers tracked CMS data from 2018 to 2022, presenting their findings in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
‘Incredibly rewarding’: FDA expands total artificial heart study after early success
An additional 15 patients will now receive BiVacor's titanium total artificial heart technology as they wait for a permanent transplant.
How one health system reduced lengths of stay, slashed readmissions after heart surgery
Remote patient monitoring helps clinicians track heart patients as they recover from major operations. One surgeon described the technology as a "game-changer," highlighting the confidence patients feel when they have "an extra set of eyes on them."
Heart surgeons detail world’s first robotic heart procedure of its kind
The care team behind the very first robotic aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass surgery has written about the experience in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. The group discussed the development of the technique, how the patient was chosen for treatment and other key details.
Cardiothoracic surgery linked to a lack of diversity, uneven salaries: What can be done?
A brand new analysis explored diversity, equity and inclusion within the specialty of cardiovascular surgery. It also included several recommendations for leaders looking to help create change and improve patient care.

The Livanova Essenz heart-lung perfusion machine for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery is designed with updated workflow efficiency, to capture and record electronic data and to tailor therapy top each patient.

FDA clears new LivaNova heart-lung machine for cardiopulmonary bypass procedures

LivaNova PLC developed the new cardio-pulmonary system based on feedback from more than 300 perfusionists.

March 13, 2023

A transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure being performed at Intermountain Healthcare. Image from Intermountain Healthcare

10 reasons heart teams may consider SAVR over TAVR when treating aortic stenosis

As much as TAVR's popularity has grown in recent years, there are still many instances when a heart team may find that surgery offers the best path forward.

March 2, 2023

Q&A: What the rise of private equity investments in cardiology means for cardiologists and their patients

Private equity investors have grown more and more interested in cardiology in recent years. Why the sudden shift? And what does it mean for patient care going forward?

February 15, 2023

High-risk patients ineligible for bypass surgery see ‘profound improvements’ after PCI

High-risk patients with complex CAD who are ineligible for CABG can still see substantial benefits from PCI.

February 13, 2023

New guideline on mechanical circulatory support tackles device selection, ethical dilemmas and more

The Heart Failure Society of America and International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation worked together on the document, hoping their recommendations serve as a "critical roadmap" for clinicians.

February 8, 2023

AI model predicts risk of post-operative AFib

Post-operative atrial fibrillation was once viewed as a fairly insignificant issue, but more recent research suggests it can increase a patient’s risk of multiple adverse events.

February 3, 2023

Interventional cardiologists can safely perform PCI without on-site surgical backup

The finding comes from a new expert consensus statement published by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. Several industry societies, including the ACC and AHA, have endorsed the document.

January 30, 2023

FDA issues new recall for circulatory support system after software update

The device was first recalled in 2022, but a new software update has now been released that addresses the issue. The FDA wanted a new recall to be issued to ensure all customers went through with the update.

January 30, 2023

Cardiac Surgery

SAVR outperforms TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valves

‘Incredibly rewarding’: FDA expands total artificial heart study after early success

How one health system reduced lengths of stay, slashed readmissions after heart surgery

Heart surgeons detail world’s first robotic heart procedure of its kind

Cardiothoracic surgery linked to a lack of diversity, uneven salaries: What can be done?