Cardiothoracic
Conference Coverage
FAME 3 subanalysis adds twist to negative primary results
A quality of life subanalysis suggests PCI with fractional flow reserve might be preferred over CABG by at least some patients.
Conference Coverage
POISE-3 backs wider use of tranexamic acid in noncardiac surgery
The antifibrinolytic agent significantly reduced the risk for bleeding in a wide array of major noncardiac surgeries, suggesting an expanded role...
Guidelines
Surgery groups push back on VARC-3 valve trial definitions
A new position statement says the updated VARC-3 document on clinical endpoint definitions provides many important contributions, but “some...
FDA/CDC
Congress opens investigation into FDA’s handling of a problematic heart device
The FDA took no decisive action even as safety problems with the LVAD persisted.
Feature
Death of pig heart transplant patient is more a beginning than an end
The landmark case will have much to teach; still, it “turns back the clock” to a time when immunosuppression was especially intense “because we...
Latest News
Man who received first modified pig heart transplant dies
“This organ transplant demonstrated for the first time that a genetically modified animal heart can function like a human heart without immediate...
From the Journals
Fewer than half with severe aortic stenosis get new valves
The findings are surprising given the availability of transcatheter options and should sound the alarm for change, experts suggest.
Commentary
Organ transplantation: Unvaccinated need not apply
Pandemic-era physicians must now consider whether a politically motivated choice to decline COVID-19 vaccination should negatively affect the...
From the Journals
VARC-3 TAVR technical failure definition ‘highly clinically relevant’
The new endpoint was met in the majority of patients, but observers say there’s still a need for further improvements in TAVR devices, techniques...
Feature
CVS Caremark formulary change freezes out apixaban
The decision doesn’t affect patients on a Medicare or Medicaid plan but hits those taking the popular anticoagulant who have select commercial...
Feature
What does a pig-to-human heart transplant mean for medicine?
It was brilliant and courageous, ‘but it’s always in the implementation that we have to hold our breath,’ says a prominent specialist.