Heart Surgery News and Research

RSS

Heart surgery is done to correct problems with the heart. More than half a million heart surgeries are done each year in the United States for a variety of heart problems. Heart surgery is used to correct heart problems in children and adults. This article discusses heart surgeries for adults. For more information about heart surgeries for children, see the Diseases and Conditions Index articles on congenital heart defects, holes in the heart, and tetralogy of Fallot.

The most common type of heart surgery for adults is coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). During CABG, surgeons use healthy arteries or veins taken from another part of the body to bypass (that is, go around) blocked arteries. CABG relieves chest pain and reduces the risk of heart attack.

New heart valve procedure helpful for the elderly: Study

Researchers revealed this Sunday a new heart valve that can be implanted without surgery. The device may hold promise for tens of thousands of elderly patients who might not survive a standard valve-replacement operation.

3 Apr 2011

Two experts to comment on new transcatheter heart valve studies

New transcatheter heart valve studies will be presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting in New Orleans on April 3 and 4. The studies compare patient outcomes from minimally invasive catheter procedures with those from open-heart surgery.

2 Apr 2011

Pediatrician suggests tips to combat allergic symptoms

One of the problems that parents may have during the springtime is deciphering whether their children's sneezing is due to a cold or allergies.

1 Apr 2011

Abbott launches MitraClip system to treat MR in Australia

Abbott today announced the launch of the company's catheter-based MitraClip system for the treatment of mitral regurgitation in Australia. The MitraClip device, which has received Therapeutic Goods Administration approval, offers a new treatment option for patients suffering from MR, a debilitating heart valve condition.

31 Mar 2011

Navy sonar experts develop new medical device for stroke detection

A medical device developed by retired U.S. Navy sonar experts, using submarine technology, is a new paradigm for the detection, diagnosis and monitoring of stroke, says a team of interventional radiologists at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 36th Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, Ill.

30 Mar 2011

Regado to present REG1 Phase 2b trial results against acute coronary syndromes at i2 Summit

Regado Biosciences, Inc., a privately held company pioneering the development of antithrombotic aptamers with active control agents, announced that Thomas J. Povsic, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke University, will present results of the RADAR Phase 2b clinical trial for the Company's lead product, the REG1 anticoagulation system, at the i2 Summit during the American College of Cardiology 2011 60th Annual Scientific Session & Expo.

29 Mar 2011

First AngelMed Guardian cardiac monitor system implanted in patient at Jersey Shore

Today at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, 66-year-old heart attack survivor Charles Theodora from Ocean Township became the first NY/NJ Metropolitan resident to be implanted with the experimental AngelMed Guardian cardiac monitor and alert system device that could alert him if a heart attack is imminent.

25 Mar 2011

First continuous-flow total artificial heart transplant performed at THI

Doctors at the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital have successfully implanted the first continuous-flow total artificial heart in a desperately ill patient facing imminent death.

24 Mar 2011

UMHC cardiologist implants heart valve without open-heart surgery

Dr. Makram R. Ebeid, pediatric cardiologist and professor of pediatrics with University of Mississippi Health Care, has successfully performed a transcatheter pulmonary heart valve replacement procedure for the first time in the state, a nonsurgical alternative to open-heart surgery.

22 Mar 2011

SLEH treats irregular heartbeat with novel minimally invasive cold cryoballoon technology

A physician affiliated with Texas Heart® Institute (THI) at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital (SLEH) is the first in Houston and among the first in the nation to treat patients for an irregular heartbeat with a new, minimally invasive cryoballoon technology that uses cold rather than heat to interrupt faulty electrical circuits in the heart.

21 Mar 2011

[UPDATE] Pediatric heart surgery unit of Royal Brompton faces closure

A London NHS trust would challenge proposals to end child heart surgery at the Royal Brompton Hospital. The Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust added that this would mean the loss of other services, which could call into question its viability.

18 Mar 2011

U-M's CoreValve trial to offer less invasive approach for patients with aortic stenosis

The University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center, a leader in heart valve replacement, will participate in a national clinical trial to offer patients a less invasive approach to replacing diseased aortic valves.

14 Mar 2011

U-M participates in national trial for alternative approach to open heart surgery for severe aortic stenosis

10 Mar 2011

UK Healthcare announces significant milestone for Kentucky Children's Heart Center

UK HealthCare announces a significant milestone for the Kentucky Children's Heart Center at Kentucky Children's Hospital and UK Albert B. Chandler Medical Center.

8 Mar 2011

Multifunctional balloon catheter can improve cardiac ablation therapy

In an improvement over open-heart surgery, cardiologists now use catheters to eliminate damaged heart tissue in certain patients, such as those with arrhythmias. But this, too, can be a long and painful procedure as many catheters, with different functions, need to be inserted sequentially.

6 Mar 2011

Doctors at Beaumont Hospital, Troy perform robotic-assisted maze procedure to correct atrial fibrillation

Doctors at Beaumont Hospital, Troy have performed Michigan's first minimally invasive robotic procedure to correct atrial fibrillation, a prevalent and growing heart rhythm disorder. The new robotic maze procedure is an alternative to open-heart surgery. It's performed through tiny, keyhole incisions with fewer complications and a shorter hospital stay.

4 Mar 2011

DMC CVI completes the first two transcatheter aortic valve implants in Michigan

The Detroit Medical Center (DMC) Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) has completed the first two transcatheter aortic valve implants (TAVI) ever achieved in Michigan. The procedures are a part of CVI's participation in the Medtronic CoreValve® U.S. Clinical Trial. This multi-state trial will evaluate a new, non-surgical alternative to open-heart surgery for patients with severe aortic stenosis.

2 Mar 2011

Dizziness, nausea and achiness are symptoms of heart attack in females

Dizziness, nausea and achiness – no, these are not symptoms of the flu but signs of a heart attack in females. While heart attacks affect both men and women, the symptoms of a heart attack are surprisingly different between the genders. Virginia Health Information (VHI) this week released its Cardiac Care Report which provides consumers information comparing heart healthcare in Virginia. This year's report reveals women undergoing open heart surgery continued a five year trend of higher than expected readmission rates.

25 Feb 2011

Refrigerated whole blood may have shelf life beyond current standard of 24 to 48 hours

In a finding that may potentially improve survival from war injuries and disasters, laboratory researchers report that refrigerated whole blood may have a shelf life well beyond the current standard of 24 to 48 hours.

24 Feb 2011

Cerebral oximetry provides new way to identify patient risk levels prior to cardiac surgery

Covidien (NYSE: COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products and recognized innovator in mechanical ventilation and respiratory care devices, today announced that its INVOS™ Cerebral/Somatic Oximeter can provide a simple, noninvasive way to help cardiac surgeons assess patients at risk for poor outcomes prior to surgery.

21 Feb 2011