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.

Private equity-backed Medline files for IPO
The company, founded in 1966, has been providing supplies to cardiac surgery suites and cath labs for decades.
Patient sues Abbott after early heart valve replacement
The patient's Trifecta GT heart valve had to be replaced after just six years, an experience he says resulted in "permanent injuries." Abbott pulled the devices off the U.S. market in 2023 due to a known risk of structural valve deterioration.
The push to get 3D echo into the congenital operating room
Nee Khoo, MBChB, director of the echocardiography lab at Canada's Stollery Children’s Hospital, explains the rapid adoption of pediatric 3D transesophageal echo.
New-onset AFib is common after CABG—but typically not persistent or symptomatic
The study's authors questioned if these patients should even be given oral anticoagulation as currently recommended.
Cardiologist compensation hits an all-time high
Cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and cardiology APPs all earned more in 2024 than 2023, according to a new survey. Compensation in private practices continues to be much lower than it is integrated practices.

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is not associated with a significant reduction in the risk of dementia, according to a new analysis published in the European Journal of Vascular & Endovascular Surgery.[1] However, the study’s authors noted, it did still lead to considerable improvements in stroke risk.

Carotid endarterectomy does not reduce long-term dementia risk

However, researchers noted, there was still a clear improvement in stroke risk.

How to improve shared decision-making among vascular surgeons and their patients

Researchers introduced decision support tools to 13 different hospitals, tracking the overall impact on shared-decision making and patient knowledge.

COVID-19 vaccines improve outcomes for heart transplant patients

“In light of more infectious COVID-19 variants and ongoing high rates of transmission, COVID-19 vaccination for all orthotopic heart transplant recipients is of paramount importance,” the authors concluded.

Researchers awarded $1.4M to study heart transplants in children

The American Heart Association and Enduring Hearts awarded the grants to two research teams studying ways to improve heart transplant outcomes in children.

Machinist Patrick Leibich of Penn State College of Medicine’s division of Applied Biomedical Engineering works to create artificial heart parts. Image courtesy of Penn State.

Penn State researchers receive more than $3 million to develop new-look artificial heart

The group will be working to develop a wireless artificial heart that can last at least 10 years.

VIDEO: TAVR durability outperforms surgical valves

Michael J. Reardon, MD, professor of cardiothoracic surgery and Allison Family Distinguished chair of cardiovascular research at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, presented pooled data at ACC.22 from the CoreValve SURTAVI trials that found transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was more durable than surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) devices.

How the continued rise of TAVR has impacted SAVR outcomes

Did SAVR outcomes suffer due to the rapid rise of TAVR? A team of researchers aimed to find out with a brand new analysis.

Several ACC 2022 late-breaking trials may have impacts on clinical practice for interventional cardiology and structural heart. One trial compared FFR vs. IVUS guided PCI for intermediate coronary lesions. Photos by Dave Fornell

Key interventional cardiology takeaways from ACC.22

Several late-breaking clinical trials at ACC.22 will likely impact clinical practice. Below are summaries of a few key trials and their takeaways for interventional cardiology and structural heart interventions.

Cardiac Surgery

Private equity-backed Medline files for IPO

Patient sues Abbott after early heart valve replacement

The push to get 3D echo into the congenital operating room

New-onset AFib is common after CABG—but typically not persistent or symptomatic

Cardiologist compensation hits an all-time high