Care Delivery

This channel includes news on cardiovascular care delivery, including how patients are diagnosed and treated, cardiac care guidelines, policies or legislation impacting patient care, device recalls that may impact patient care, and cardiology practice management.

Heart surgeons with the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute have made a bit of history, performing the world’s first combined robotic aortic valve replacement (AVR) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedure—all through one small incision. Patients requiring these procedures typically undergo open-heart surgery.

Heart surgeons perform world’s first combined robotic AVR and CABG

The entire robotic procedure was performed through one small incision. Surgeons originally recommended the 73-year-old patient undergo open-heart surgery, but she requested a less invasive alternative. 

Off-label TAVR for native aortic regurgitation linked to worse outcomes

Targeting aortic regurgitation with TAVR valves built to treat aortic stenosis may be the only option a cardiologist has—but valves designed specifically to treat AR are linked to much better outcomes, according to a new meta-analysis. Edwards Lifesciences recently acquired the two companies at the center of this study, JenaValve and JC Medical.

Artificial intelligence AI in healthcare

Industry Watcher’s Digest

Federal AI guardrails are taking shape.

artificial intelligence AI in healthcare

Healthcare-specific AI: How to multiply successes and head off accidents

Given the rapid proliferation of AI-equipped medical devices across U.S. healthcare, unintended effects should surprise no one. 

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Prosthesis-patient mismatch after TAVR: 5 key findings related to patients with small annuli

PPM is still relatively common after TAVR, especially among patients with a small aortic annulus. What can be done to minimize the risk of PPM? Does valve type play a role? Researchers explored those questions, and many others.

Artificial intelligence AI in healthcare

Industry Watcher’s Digest

FDA commissioner Robert Califf recently suggested the agency may need to double its workforce. And that’s just to oversee AI. 

FDA Digital Health Advisory Committee

FDA taking the long view of generative AI in healthcare

The FDA’s fledgling Digital Health Advisory Committee (DHAC) only held its first meeting last week, but it has already committed its thinking to writing. 

Cardiothoracic surgeons at Emory University Hospital have implanted the BrioVAD System, a new type of ventricular assist device (VAD) from BrioHealth Solutions, for the very first time in the United States.

Surgeons make history with first US implant of new magnetically suspended heart pump

Cardiothoracic surgeons at Emory University Hospital implanted the BrioVAD System, a new type of ventricular assist device from BrioHealth Solutions, for the very first time in the United States. The advanced technology, designed to minimize adverse events and improve quality of life, has been under development since 2008.