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. 

Medtronic and GE Healthcare have received FDA clearance and CE mark approval for a new collaboration designed to improve patient monitoring. The combined solution involves the integration of Medtronic’s INVOS regional oximetry and Microstream capnography technologies into GE Healthcare’s CARESCAPE precision monitoring platform.

Medtronic, GE Healthcare join forces on new-look continuous monitoring solution

The collaboration is aimed at improving patient outcomes after cardiac surgeries and other procedures. 

June 2, 2022

Transcatheter PVL closure linked to lower 30-day mortality than surgery

Long-term mortality, meanwhile, is similar between the two treatment options.

May 27, 2022
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

Open AAA repair linked to better long-term outcomes than EVAR

However, the authors noted, 30-day survival is significantly higher after EVAR than open AAA repair.  

May 26, 2022
Cardiologist heart

New data on cardiac damage before and after AVR suggests earlier treatment may be beneficial

Patients with higher levels of extravalvular cardiac damage prior to TAVR or SAVR face a higher risk of dying within two years, according to new findings presented at EuroPCR 2022 in Paris.

May 19, 2022
A transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure being performed at Intermountain Healthcare. Image from Intermountain Healthcare. Sex differences in TAVR one-year mortality.

TAVR vs. surgery: A new look at 1-year outcomes among moderate-risk patients with severe, symptomatic AS

All-cause mortality after one year was 4.6% for the TAVR group and 6.6% for the SAVR group

May 18, 2022

When PPE is not enough: Improved shielding during EVAR linked to ‘dramatic reduction’ in radiation exposure

“Improving ancillary shielding barriers is paramount,” according to the authors of a brand new analysis. 

May 10, 2022
David Bennett

How did the pig heart transplant patient die? A preventable infection may be to blame

The genetically modified pig heart appears to have been infected with a porcine virus, according to the surgeon who performed the initial transplant. 

May 6, 2022
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.

May 4, 2022