Our top 10 stories of May 2021, including highlights from both EuroPCR 2021 (18–20 May, virtual), and the American College of Cardiology’s 70th Annual Scientific Session (ACC.21, 15–17 May, virtual).

1. Elective coronary revascularisation leads to “significant and robust reduction” of cardiac mortality compared with medical therapy alone

Eliano Navarese (Bydgoszcz, Poland) talks to Cardiovascular News about a large-scale meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing elective coronary revascularisation versus medical therapy alone in stable patients with documented coronary artery disease.

2. Mitral regurgitation patients treated with TEER will require mitral replacement surgery if treatment fails

Patients suffering from severe mitral regurgitation should be carefully screened and counselled before undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral repair (TEER), as data show that as many as 95% of patients who needed surgery after failed TEER could not have their valves repaired and needed mitral valve replacement to resolve the issue.

3. Interventional cardiologists sound the alarm over silent impact of the pandemic

Interventional cardiologists from across the globe are joining forces for a campaign reinforcing the crucial message that patients with heart disease should, by all means, continue seeking timely cardiac care, and access to cardiovascular services that has been restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic needs to be re-established with every emphasis.

4. Cardiovascular News 61 – May 2021

The May issue of Cardiovascular News includes: Hostile environment: How cardiologists feel about discrimination in the workplace; Highlights from CRT 2021, SCAI 2021, STS 2021 and more; Latest research and opinion on the impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular care; Cindy Grines interview, and; The future of robotics in the cath lab.

5. Leaflex: Changing the conversation around aortic stenosis?

ADVERTORIAL: Cardiovascular News speaks to Eberhard Grube (University Hospital, Bonn, Germany) about Leaflex (Pi-Cardia), a novel, non-implant device for patients with aortic stenosis.

6. First-in-human use of Tria biopolymer heart valve completed

Foldax has announced the successful first-in-human use of its biopolymer Tria heart valve in surgically replacing a diseased mitral valve. The first case was performed by David Heimansohn, at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, USA, as part of a US early feasibility research study.

7. Two-year results of Evolut Low Risk trial “reassuring” for TAVI in low-risk patients

Complete two-year follow-up data from the Evolut Low Risk trial, presented during a late-breaking trial session at EuroPCR 2021 (18–20 May, virtual), offer “reassuring” evidence on the outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in low-surgical risk patients, speakers at the virtual event commented.

8. FAST II underscores vFFR as a “faster and easier” physiological lesion assessment tool

ADVERTORIAL: Findings of the multicentre FAST II clinical trial, presented virtually at EuroPCR 2021 (18–21 May, virtual) underscore the potential of CAAS vessel fraction flow reserve (vFFR, PIE Medical) software—a non-invasive, angiography-based method for calculating fractional flow reserve (FFR) values—as a faster and easier physiological lesion assessment tool, compared to invasive, wire-based techniques.

9. VOYAGER PAD analysis shows reduced risk of ischaemic events in PAD patients receiving rivaroxaban

Rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Bayer/Janssen), in addition to low-dose aspirin, should be considered as an adjunctive therapy after lower extremity revascularisation to reduce first and subsequent adverse outcomes, analysis from VOYAGER PAD, presented during a late-breaking trial session at the American College of Cardiology’s 70th Annual Scientific Session (ACC.21, 15–17 May, virtual), indicates.

10. Image-guided PCI study demonstrates non-inferiority of ultra-thin stent

Investigation of the use of an ultra-thin strut biopolymer sirolimus-eluting (BP-SES; Orsiro, Biotronik) compared to a durable polymer everolimus-eluting stent (DP-EES; Xience, Abbott), yielded no statistically significant difference in 30-day outcomes between the two devices, according to findings of the CASTLE study presented during a late-breaking trial sessions at EuroPCR 2021 (18–20 May, virtual).