Vascular & Endovascular

This channel includes news on non-coronary vascular disease and therapies. These include peripheral artery disease (PAD), abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysm (AAA and TAA), aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism (PE), critical limb ischemia (CLI), carotid artery and stroke interventions, venous interventions, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and interventional radiology therapies. The focus on most of these therapies is minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures performed in a cath lab.

Mediterranean diets that include some lean red meat can still boost cardiovascular health
The study's authors focused on blood pressure reductions and arterial stiffness, sharing their findings in Current Developments in Nutrition.
Late-breaking cardiovascular drug trials took center stage at ACC.25
Richard Kovacs, MD, detailed some the most important late-breaking cardiology pharmacology trials presented at ACC.25.
‘A practice-changing trial’: Semaglutide linked to key benefits for PAD patients with diabetes
Patients who present with type 2 diabetes and PAD often face substantial mobility issues. According to new data presented at ACC.25, however, treatment with semaglutide could represent a major step forward for this high-risk population.
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.
Advances in bioresorbable stents show promise for treating PAD
Bioresorbable stents are back in the spotlight thanks to some significant progress from multiple medtech companies. Eric Secemsky, MD, discussed some of the biggest breakthroughs in this space at CRT 2025.

Migraine drug shows no increase in CV outcomes

The migraine medication galcanezumab might protect against adverse CV events in patients taking the drug for episodic headaches, according to research presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 2019 meeting in Philadelphia.

Virtue sirolimus-eluting balloon granted breakthrough designation for coronary ISR

Pennsylvania-based health company Orchestra BioMed has obtained FDA breakthrough device designation for its Virtue sirolimus-eluting balloon (SEB), according to a statement issued April 24.

FDA schedules June meeting to discuss safety of paclitaxel devices

The FDA’s Circulatory System Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee will meet in mid-June to discuss recent controversies and safety practices surrounding paclitaxel-coated and -eluting medical devices, according to a notice posted April 22.

Novel antiplatelet could circumvent bleeding risk for stroke patients

The first study to test an experimental antiplatelet compound in humans found the therapy inhibited clot formation without increasing bleeding, suggesting it could avoid that dangerous side effect of other clot-preventing drugs.

Researchers: Urban, rural hospitals should have different standards for acute stroke care

Three physicians published an editorial in Stroke proposing that tertiary healthcare centers in cities be held to stricter standards for performing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) than their rural counterparts.

Quitting smoking is easier when couples try together

When couples attended smoking cessation programs together, their odds of quitting were nearly six times higher than for people who attempted to kick the habit alone, according to preliminary research presented April 12 at EuroPrevent 2019.

Thrombectomy offers survival benefit for acute stroke

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) significantly reduced the risk of 90-day mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke compared to medical therapy alone, according to a meta-analysis of 10 randomized trials cited in the 2018 update to American stroke guidelines.

Real-world Watchman results hold up at 2 years

Left atrial appendage (LAA) closure with the Watchman device was associated with low rates of stroke and bleeding events in high-risk atrial fibrillation patients over a two-year follow-up period, according to a real-world analysis published April 3 in Circulation: Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia.

Vascular & Endovascular

Mediterranean diets that include some lean red meat can still boost cardiovascular health

Late-breaking cardiovascular drug trials took center stage at ACC.25

‘A practice-changing trial’: Semaglutide linked to key benefits for PAD patients with diabetes

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

Advances in bioresorbable stents show promise for treating PAD