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. 

While a vast majority of heart transplants in the United States are successful, unplanned hospitalizations after the procedures are still incredibly common. Top 10 reasons for readmission after heart transplant.

On-pump vs. off-pump CABG: No difference in long-term mortality, meta-analysis confirms

Researchers explored data from nearly 70,000 patients, sharing their findings in the American Journal of Cardiology.

April 3, 2024
Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Moderate prosthesis-patient mismatch after SAVR linked to worse long-term outcomes

The long-term impact of moderate PPM remains unclear. To learn more, researchers explored dozens of different studies from over the years, sharing their work in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

April 1, 2024
doctor examines patient data on their tablet

Donor hearts more likely to be accepted when the transplant candidate is female or white

"This finding suggests racial and gender bias as a potential contributor to the organ acceptance decision-making process," researchers wrote in JAMA.

March 29, 2024
American Heart Association and Joint Commission launch new Comprehensive Heart Attack Center certification.

Heart attacks after TAVR: New AMI data ‘reassuring’ at first glance, but questions remain

Hoping to gain a better understanding of how TAVR may impact a patient’s long-term cardiovascular health, researchers explored data from more than 200,000 patients and shared their findings in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

March 28, 2024
Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Hospital accused of implanting experimental heart valve in young patient without proper consent

Members of Congress are now asking the FDA to investigate a parent's claim that her 14-year-old son was treated with an experimental heart valve without proper consent. The valve eventually failed and had to be replaced. The hospital has said its heart team did nothing wrong. 

March 26, 2024
Since the first U.S. deceased after circulatory death (DCD) heart transplant in late 2019, there has bee ongoing research to determine the best way to utilize this new source of donor hearts. Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine recently published a study in JAMA Network Open about their use of beating heart transplant procedures. It was found to be safe and had additional benefits. By avoiding additional warm and cold ischemic periods it eliminated need for ECMO.

New DCD heart transplant technique could reduce risk of serious injury

This new approach to transplanting deceased after circulatory death (DCD) hearts may offer significant benefits.

March 19, 2024
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has helped cardiologists, radiologists, nurses and other healthcare providers embrace precision medicine in a way that ensures more heart patients are receiving personalized care.

Diabetes increases risk of death, complications when patients undergo CABG or PCI for left main disease

Researchers also found that CABG and PCI were each associated with their own advantages and disadvantages, highlighting the importance of shared decision-making. 

March 15, 2024
Researchers with UVA Health in Charlottesville, Virginia, have received $2.8 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue work on a high-tech material that could boost care for hundreds of thousands of heart patients per year.

Vascular ‘paint’ for heart patients earns researchers $2.8M in funding

“Our approach is like deploying tiny guards to protect blood vessels from going bad, so that there is no need to open the body over and over again to repair them,” one specialist explained. 

March 11, 2024