Post-CABG cardiac shockwave therapy shows promise in early study
Editor's Note Using a device they call a “space hairdryer,” researchers in Austria applied gentle shockwaves to regenerate heart tissue after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in a study with potential implications for millions of patients, BBC News reported June 20. Researchers are now seeking larger trials, European regulatory…
FDA announces Class 1 recall for Vyaire Medical’s Twin Tube CPX sample lines
Editor's Note A choking hazard prompted the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to designate Vyaire Medical’s recall of Twin Tube sample lines—critical components of the Vyntus CPX system—as Class 1, the most serious category of recall indicating a risk of serious injury or death. According to the agency’s May…
Heart disease trial supports less-invasive alternative to SAVR, CABG surgery
Editor's Note Contrary to previous findings, less-invasive percutaneous intervention combining fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) could be a viable alternative to surgery for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and concomitant obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). That’s according to the results…
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…
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