Heart pump recall, lack of donor organs create concern for heart failure patients
Editor's Note The lack of available hearts for transplantation combined with the recent recall of Abbott’s HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device (LVAD) “makes the current therapy landscape for heart failure much more dire,” according to a May 20 report in Medical Device Network. The recall of the device, which…
Long-lasting heart valves poised to set world record
Editor's Note More than 45 years after surgery, Mary Ann Kozlowski’s mechanical heart valves are still pumping—and Guinness is reviewing an application to list her as the new world record-holder for longevity of a double-valve replacement. That’s according to a May 15 report in the Erie-Times News, which detailed how…
Majority of American adults have CKM syndrome, at risk for heart disease
Editor's Note Nine out of 10 American adults have Cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic syndrome (CKM)—interrelated factors that progress to heart disease—and almost 10% already have heart disease, according to a report published in JAMA by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. HealthDay news reported on the…
FDA warns of continued cardiac pump safety concerns after series of recalls
Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging healthcare providers to avoid using Getinge heart devices due to continued safety concerns that remain unaddressed despite previous recalls. Issued to healthcare providers May 8, the warning letter applies to Getinge/Maquet/Datascope Cardiosave Hybrid and Rescue Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) devices…
Study: Bariatric surgery improves kidney transplant eligibility for patients with obesity
Editor's Note Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy improves eligibility for kidney transplants in patients with obesity as well as advanced chronic kidney disease, according to a Mayo Clinic study. According to a May 2 report on the results, the surgical weight-loss procedure also reduces the risk of cardiovascular conditions, such as diabetes…
FDA Class 1 recall renews concern about historically problematic heart pumps
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced a Class 1 recall on Monday for Abbott/Thoratec Corp.’s HeartMate II and HeartMate 3 Left Ventricular Assist System (LVAS) due due to biological material buildup obstructing the devices. According to an April 16 CBS News report, surgeons first noticed problems with the…
Donor hearts denied more often to male, black male transplant candidates
Editor's Note New research shows transplant center teams are more to likely reject offers of donor hearts to black men and men than black women and white women, MedPage Today reported on March 25. “The cumulative probability of a donor heart being accepted by the transplant center team was most…
Air pollution tied to hospital admissions for heart disease
Editor's Note Data published February 21 in The BMJ points to air pollution as a factor in increased hospital admissions for major heart diseases. According to the Global Burden of Disease study, exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) accounts for 7.6% of total mortality and 4.2% of disability-adjusted life years…
Transcatheter therapy system becomes first to earn FDA approval for treating tricuspid regurgitation
Editor's Note Patients with severe cases of tricuspid regurgitation (in which a critical heart valve fails to close properly) now have a new treatment option thanks to the recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the ENVOQUE tricuspid valve replacement system, according to a February 2 press release…
Chronic conditions spike nationwide
Editor's Note Eight chronic conditions—arthritis, depression, diabetes, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic kidney disease (CKD)—continue to expand nationwide along with premature deaths from drugs, firearms, and more, according America’s Health Rankings 2023 Annual Report. Presented by the United Health Foundation in partnership with…
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