A study comparing recommendations from a heart team versus those of an interventional cardiologist for the treatment of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) has found differing recommendations in up to one-third of cases.

Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement in the setting of trans-tricuspid pacemaker leads without extraction or re-replacement can be performed safely with a low risk of complications, a study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions has found. The study, authored by Jason H Anderson (Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA) and colleagues, concludes that transcatheter valve replacement for valve-in-valve or valve-in-ring implantation offers a safe alternative to surgical valve replacement in the setting of pacemaker leads.

Royal Philips has announced the introduction of OmniWire, a solid core pressure wire for coronary artery interventional procedures. With a solid core construction, physicians can more easily manoeuvre the wire in the patient’s circulatory system to measure blood pressure along the vessel and guide the delivery of catheters and stents, Philips said in a press release.

Mental stress and anger may have clinical implications for patients with heart failure according to a study published in the Journal of Cardiac Failure.

Biosensors a developer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative medical devices, announced today the enrolment of the first patient in REFORM—a prospective, randomised, non-inferiority trial to determine the safety and efficacy of the Biolimus A9 drug coated balloon for the treatment of in-stent restenosis: first-in-man trial. This trial is targeting CE-mark approval for the Biolimus A9 drug coated balloon (DCB) and will include 34 sites in Germany, Italy, Ireland, Spain, the UK and South Korea.

In the EffPac trial, designed to compare a drug-coated and an uncoated balloon in the treatment of vascular occlusion in the femoropopliteal region, the drug-coated device proved to be superior. Additionally, the complete review of the study cohort two years after the intervention showed no increased mortality with the drug-coated balloon.

A recent study examining the effect of operative approach on outcomes in patients presenting with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) demonstrated clear short- and midterm survival benefits of endovascular repair over an open approach.

A US survey released by patient advocacy group Heart-Valve-Surgery.com, with support by Medtronic, has found that nearly half (49%) of heart valve patients say return to active living is a key factor in their treatment decision.

The Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) has retracted a paper published in March 2020, which drew criticism due to its conclusions about race and the role of affirmative action within cardiology. 

Thirty-day clinical outcomes from the FORWARD PRO international study of the Evolut Pro (Medtronic) self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve, published in EuroIntervention, have confirmed the safety and efficacy of the device with an external pericardial wrap.

A meta-analysis of 24 randomised controlled trials assessing dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents shows a net clinical benefit in favour of short-term DAPT followed by P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy, instead of aspirin, in select patients. The analysis, published in Circulation, notes that extended-term DAPT “has a role” in patients at low risk of bleeding but with a higher ischaemic risk, and adds that a “personalised approach” considering each patient’s relative and absolute risk of ischaemia and bleeding should be considered when deciding upon the optimal intensity and duration of DAPT after PCI.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an emergency use authorisation (EUA) for left-sided Impella heart pumps to provide left ventricular unloading and support to COVID-19 patients who are undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment and develop pulmonary edema or myocarditis. Impella is manufactured by Abiomed.