Is your facility curious about robotically assisted mitral valve repair? Cleveland Clinic, which has now performed more than 2,600 of these operations, has plenty to share with you about it. And it claims that its safety and efficacy are “comparable” to open repair. Cardiothoracic surgeon Per Wierup, MD, PhD, whom Cleveland…

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The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) this week posted a compelling story about a notable medical assistant who provides deeply personal counsel to anxious heart failure patients. The story shows perioperative leaders how thoughtful staffing can immensely improve the patient experience. It focuses on medical assistant Tina McCorkle, who talks…

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Tri-City Cardiology Ambulatory Surgical Center announced on Dec. 29 that it had surpassed 6,000 completed procedures, which it said underscores its commitment and ability to deliver “high-quality, patient-centered cardiovascular care in an outpatient setting.” The Mesa, Ariz.-based practice said Tri-City Cardiology ASC was designed to expand patient access to “highly personalized…

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Editor's Note A Phase III clinical trial comparing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with traditional open-heart surgery found no significant differences in key health outcomes 7 years after treatment, Cedars-Sinai October 27 reports. The international PARTNER 3 trial, led by Raj Makkar, MD, and published in The New England Journal…

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Editor's Note Copeptin levels surge during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), marking it as a potential biomarker for physiological stress in cardiac surgery, according to a May 13 article in Medical Dialogues. The article details a prospective cohort study, published in the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, involving 61 adult patients…

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Editor's Note Air quality in cardiac ORs may be a silent driver of surgical site infections (SSIs), with airborne contamination linked to significantly elevated infection risk and mortality—especially when ventilation is suboptimal. A newly published study covered by Medical Dialogues May 19 reveals that one-third of bacteria in cardiac procedures…

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Editor's Note The first study to evaluate percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in Medicare beneficiaries treated at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) found similar short-term safety outcomes as hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). As detailed in an announcement from The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI), the research was presented on May…

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Editor's Note Same-day discharge following catheter ablation is both safe and increasingly standard in appropriately selected patients, according to a new joint scientific statement from the Heart Rhythm Society and the American College of Cardiology, TCTMD April 24 reports. The statement reflects growing evidence and clinical experience suggesting that, with…

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Editor's Note An Australian man lived for 100 days with an artificial titanium heart, the longest duration recorded for a patient using the device, according to a March 12 report from CNN. The breakthrough marks a significant step toward using total artificial hearts as a long-term solution for patients with…

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Editor's Note Surgeons recently performed open-heart surgery on an infant during a C-section to correct a congenital heart defect, according to a February 25 brief from the American College of Surgeons. Led by Dr. Sameh Said at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, a team of specialists conducted the procedure on a…

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