February 20, 2019 — Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by itself does not explain the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in veterans with this condition. A combination of physical disorders, psychiatric disorders and smoking, that are more common in patients with PTSD, may explain the association, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association.

Medtronic is recalling its dual chamber implantable pulse generators (IPGs) due to the possibility of a software error that can result in a lack of pacing. Patients and physicians cannot predict whether and when this software error might occur. A lack of pacing could result in patients experiencing slow heart beating, low blood pressure, and symptoms such as light headedness, fainting and even death.

Clinical study data makes the world go around in cardiology and is the basis of setting guidelines in evidence-based medicine. However, hiccups in this data can remind us that there is often more than meets the eye in raw numbers, as is the case with two recent late-breaking news items in interventional cardiology. The first was clinical data in a large meta-analysis of trials showing increased mortality in patients treated with paclitaxel eluting peripheral artery disease stents and balloons.

California-based Vascular Dynamics Inc. (VDI) is sponsoring a new clinical trial, called CALM-2 (Controlling And Lowering blood pressure with MobiusHD), of a novel endovascular approach to treat patients with drug-resistant hypertension. St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London is helping to lead efforts in the U.K. as a key study site.

Ochsner Health System in Louisiana recently announced a new partnership with device data management and remote monitoring vendor Geneva Health Solutions (GHS) for implantable cardiac devices. This partnership marks the first time the GHS cloud-based technology platform and remote monitoring service for patients with cardiac implants will be utilized in the region, which includes Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. The GHS system will drive full automated scheduling and reporting in collaboration with Ochsner’s established Epic electronic medical record (EMR).

A new reversible, drug-free antiplatelet therapy could reduce the risk of blood clots and potentially prevent cancer metastasis, according to a study published in Science Translational Medicine.

Vascular Interventional Advances (VIVA)

Patients receiving hormone therapy as part of their gender-transition treatment had an elevated risk for cardiovascular events, including strokes, heart attacks and blood clots, according to a study published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation.

Foldax Inc. announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted investigative device exemption (IDE) approval for an Early Feasibility Study of the Tria surgical aortic heart valve to treat aortic valve disease.

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