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. 

Medical malpractice gavel diagnostic error mistake stethoscope

Medical malpractice ruling: Hospital to pay $39M over young heart patient’s death

Prosecutors successfully argued that the patient would not have died if clinicians had ordered a routine CT exam. 

December 13, 2023
A gavel and a stethoscope

Nevada health system accused of creating a heart surgery monopoly in new lawsuit

The health system allegedly ended an ongoing contract with little notice, leaving clinicians and patients without the services of a cardiovascular surgery program. 

December 12, 2023
According to the U.S. government, Asante Health System and one of its surgeons knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE for more than six years. Heart surgery surgeons.

Early survival data favor valve-in-valve TAVR over redo SAVR—long-term data flip the script

Valve-in-valve TAVR outperforms redo SAVR for the first six months after treatment, according to a new meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Cardiology. Then, however, things begin to shift.

December 12, 2023
A newly developed 3D printing ink (appearing in red) in a model of a heart can be injected where a structure will be printed and ultrasound will harden the ink into the form. This could be used for future left atrial appendage occlusions. Image courtesy of Zhang et al.

New 3D-printing technique shows early potential to help heart patients

“We can reach tissues, bones and organs with high spatial precision that haven’t been reachable with light-based printing methods," one researcher explained. 

December 8, 2023
Recall | Product recall

FDA announces recall of Cardiohelp ECMO emergency drives due to serious risks

If the emergency drive is needed during treatment, it could fail to work, putting patients at risk of ischemia, hypoxia, stroke or death.

December 8, 2023
BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart. BiVACOR, an international medical device company with headquarters in the United States and Australia, has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to kick off an early feasibility study (EFS) for its total artificial heart (TAH) technology.

FDA approves early feasibility study for total artificial heart technology

The device is intended to be a bridge for heart failure patients waiting to receive a full heart transplant.

December 1, 2023
Tiny fragments of plastic are commonly found deep inside the human body. Heart surgery, it seems, is one of many ways these microplastics are reaching their destination.  Surgeons Operating On Patient

‘We should halt this practice’: Common hormone treatment for donated hearts may be harmful

"This practice has been adopted by multiple organ-procurement organizations and is used on thousands of organ donors each year, without ever having been rigorously studied," one researcher said. 

November 30, 2023
money business cash flow dollar. Kingsway Financial Services, a Chicago-based holding company with subsidiaries in several industries, has acquired New Jersey-based Digital Diagnostics Imaging (DDI) for $11 million. The transaction was funded with $5.4 million in cash and $5.6 million in debt financing.

Robotic-assisted CABG reduces healthcare costs, primarily thanks to shorter hospital stays

The technology may not be cheap, but new research published in The American Journal of Cardiology suggests the investment is well worth it. 

November 29, 2023