New, potentially important concerns have been raised about bioprosthetic aortic valves, both those implanted during surgery and those during a catheter-based procedure (TAVR). Investigators from three separate groups reported on their troubling findings in a paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The article was accompanied by both an editorial and a perspective from the FDA….
Aortic Valve Surgery for Nonagenarians
October 30, 2014 by Leave a Comment
As people continue to live longer physicians are increasingly confronted with very elderly patients who have serious conditions that might benefit from surgery but who are at high risk for surgical complications. In a paper published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, doctors at the Mayo Clinic reviewed their experience with 59 patients age 90 or older who…
Genetic Study Suggests Possible Causal Role for LDL in Aortic Valve Disease
October 26, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Although LDL is an important risk factor for aortic valve disease, the precise role it plays has been uncertain. Lipid-lowering therapy in people with established aortic valve disease has not been shown to be beneficial. Now, however, a new genetic study published in JAMA suggests that LDL cholesterol may in fact cause an increase in aortic valve calcium…
French Surgeons Perform First Aortic Valve Surgery Without Opening The Chest
March 11, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Surgeons in France report that they have performed the first total endoscopic aortic valve replacement (TEAVR) in 2 human patients. Their paper has been published in the the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery [subscription required]. … The new procedure may enable surgeons to replace the aortic valve without opening the chest, though it will still require cardiopulmonary…
Pivotal Results For Medtronic’s CoreValve
October 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Key data on what will likely be the second transcatheter aortic valve to gain approval in the US were presented today at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2013 Conference in San Francisco. Jeffrey Popma, co-principal investigator of the Trial, presented the major results from the CoreValve U.S. Pivotal Trial in patients who were too ill or frail for traditional open heart…
Medtronic Faces Removal Of CoreValve Transcatheter Heart Valve From German Market
July 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
In the wake of a major patent decision, Medtronic will be forced to remove its CoreValve transcatheter heart valve from the German market. Edwards Lifesciences said today that a German Court had found that Medtronic infringed a key patent, known as the Spenser patent, and granted an injunction prohibiting the sale of CoreValve and CoreValve Evolut systems in Germany. Medtronic said it would appeal…
Small Study Explores Expanded Use For TAVI In Native Valve Aortic Regurgitation
February 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
As transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) gains increasing acceptance, cardiologists and surgeons are exploring additional patient populations who may benefit from the procedure. A new paper in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology provides the first look at the use of TAVI in the small but important group of patients with pure, severe native aortic…
ACC And STS Break New Ground To Test TAVR For Unapproved Uses
February 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
In a startling break with tradition, the American College of Cardiology and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons will manage and run their own clinical trials testing expanded uses for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The two medical groups have recently been granted an investigational device exemption (IDE) by the FDA for one such trial and…
Large Study Finds Genetic Links To Aortic Valve Calcification
February 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment
A genetic component is believed to play an important role in valvular heart disease, but the specific genes involved have not been identified. Now an interntional group of researchers has identified genetic variations that increase the risk for valvular calcification. In a paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine, members of the Cohorts for Heart and…
Recent Comments