Cardiovascular Surgery

University of Minnesota researchers used a hybrid of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine to create heart valves that can grow with the recipient. When implanted in lambs, researchers showed that the tri-tube valves worked better than current animal-derived valves with almost none of the calcification or blood clotting that the other valves showed. Photo from Syedain, et al., Tranquillo Lab, University of Minnesota

A coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure where blockages in the coronaries are bypassed using a blood vessel harvested from elsewhere in the body and connected to the vessel past the blockage to supply blood to the heart. A new study shows better outcomes seen in multiple vs. single coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) in men and sex appears to play a role in mortality. Getty Images

CMS coverage changes effective as of Dec. 2, 2020 will open up the use of LVADs to more Medicare patients, including use of the HeartWare and HeartMate ventricular assist devices.

The Medtronic SEEQ mobile cardiac telemetry system, pictured here, and the Icentia CardioSTAT cardiac rhythm monitoring device both found in reased rates of post-operative atrial fibrillation in the SEARCH-AF trial presented at the American Heart Association annual meeting.