Complete revascularisation is rarely achieved in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiogenic shock related to acute myocardial infarction (MI). This is the conclusion of a study evaluating the predictive value of the residual SYNTAX score in patients with cardiogenic shock. Findings from the study were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) in January, with the authors concluding that the residual SYNTAX score is independently associated with early and late mortality.

Robocath has announced the successful completion of the first remote robotic-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure in Europe, carried out by Eric Durand at the Rouen Medical Training Center, Rouen, France and Rémi Sabatier, Caen University Hospital, Caen, France—spanning 75 miles between the two locations.

Inari Medical has announced US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance of the FlowTriever system for the treatment of clot in transit (CIT) in the right atrium.

A recent network meta-analysis shows that, in failing arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) with outflow stenosis, drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty is “significantly superior” to plain balloon angioplasty, presenting an improved six-month failure rate. However, Gregory Tripsianis (Democritus University, Alexandroupolis, Greece) and colleagues stress that the effectiveness of DCB angioplasty in the long term “deserves further investigation”.

BioVentrix has announced that heart failure specialist Jerry Estep (Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA) has been appointed as co-principal investigator of the pivotal ALIVE Trial studying LIVE Therapy using the Revivent TC transcatheter ventricular enhancement system. He joins co-principal investigators Gregg Stone of New York’s Mount Sinai Health System (New York, USA) and Andrew Wechsler of the Drexel University College of Medicine (Philadelphia, USA) in overseeing the trial.

VDYNE has announced today that it has secured a US$21 million Series C financing, proceeds of which will fund first-in-human studies of its tricuspid valve replacement device and delivery system. The financing round was supported by existing investors, including Jean Boulle Medtech, together with significant participation from a large, global medical device company.

A recent systematic review found that “carefully designed and structured” simulation-based training (SBT) in open vascular surgery is effective and can improve technical skills, especially in less experienced trainees. However, authors Jonathan Lawaetz (Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark) and colleagues note that the supporting evidence “lacks homogeneity in the reporting standards and types of simulations”. Pass/fail standards that support proficiency-based learning and studies investigating skills transfer “should be the focus on future studies,” they write.

Michael Poon (Lenox Hill Hospital-Northwell Health, New York, USA) discusses the progress made in treatment of cardiovascular disease, and considers how US healthcare practitioners can learn from their overseas colleagues in the use of coronary computed tomography angiogram (CTA), which he describes as the “gold standard” diagnostic technique in many countries.

Okami Medical has revealed the expansion of its LOBO vascular occlusion system product line with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance of the LOBO-5 vascular occluder.

Speaking at the Virtual Aortic Surgery How to Do It (HTDI) Highlights conference (17–18 December), Stéphan Haulon (Hôpital Marie Lannelongue, GHPSJ, Paris, France) discussed total endovascular treatment of the aortic arch in chronic dissections. Detailing global experience using three-vessel inner branch stent grafts for this procedure, Haulon highlighted good technical success and low morbidity and mortality rates. However, he also stressed that the high number of secondary procedures required remains the “Achilles’ heel” of the technique, and that larger experiences and longer follow-up are mandated.

Edwards Lifesciences has announced that the first patient has been treated in the RESTORE clinical trial, which will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the investigational Harpoon Beating Heart Mitral Valve Repair System in the USA and Canada. The Harpoon system is used to treat severe degenerative mitral valve regurgitation. The procedure took place at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, USA.

Edwards Lifesciences has announced that Health Canada has approved the expanded use of the Edwards Sapien 3 and Sapien 3 Ultra transcatheter heart valves for the transfemoral treatment of patients diagnosed with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who are at low risk for open-heart surgery. The Sapien 3 valves are the first transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) systems to have this indication in Canada.