News highlights this April were brought by Podium First data from the BASIL-2 trial presented at this year’s Charing Cross 2023 symposium (CX, 25–27th April, London, UK), alongside innovation updates within transcatheter aortic valve implantation, arrhythmia and heart disease detection and treatment, among many more.
1. BASIL-2 points towards endovascular-first revascularisation strategy in CLTI patients
Presenting the BASIL-2 trial at CX 2023, chief investigator Andrew Bradbury (University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK) to delivered the stark message: a patient who needs a below-the-knee revascularisation with or without a femoropopliteal revascularisation is likely to do better if they are treated with a best endovascular-first strategy rather than a vein bypass-first approach.
2. Smart glasses guide remote support for pioneering TAVI procedure
The UK’s first remotely-supported TAVI using smart glasses for remote guidance has been performed at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) at Basildon Hospital. The glasses enable heart staff to receive real-time advice from anywhere in the world as they share a live feed from the operating theatre through a high-resolution camera on the smart glasses.
3. AVS’s pulsatile IVL technology attracts an additional US$8.8 million to close US$28.8 million Series B round
AVS, an early-stage medical device company focused on safely and effectively treating severely calcified arterial disease with its pulsatile intravascular lithotripsy (PIVL) therapy, has announced that it closed an additional US$8.8 million in new financing, bringing its Series B round to US$28.8 million total.
4. Adept launches Adducted Arm Scoop product for use during image-guided procedures
Adept Medical has launched the Adducted Arm Scoop—an improved and “extremely durable” solution for supporting the adducted arms of supine patients during image-guided procedures.
5. First US implant of Lux-Valve Plus transcatheter tricuspid valve performed in Detroit
The first transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement procedure in the USA using the LuX-Valve Plus (Jenscare) device for the treatment of symptomatic tricuspid valve disease has been performed by interventional cardiologists at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, USA.
6. Increased air pollution associated with a rise in deaths from cardiovascular disease
Deaths from cardiovascular disease are elevated on polluted days and for two days afterwards, according to research presented at European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Preventive Cardiology 2023, a scientific congress of the ESC, and published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
7. Enrolment target met in ECLIPSE coronary atherectomy trial
Cardiovascular Systems has announced the complete enrolment of its prospective, multicentre, randomised clinical trial of approximately 2,000 patients with severely calcified coronary lesions in the USA.
8. Talking therapy associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
Effective management of depression through psychological therapy is associated with a lower likelihood of heart disease and stroke, according to research published in European Heart Journal, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
9. Shockwave Medical completes Neovasc acquisition
Shockwave Medical has announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of Neovasc. The Neovasc Reducer system is a first-of-its-kind technology to address refractory angina.
10. OpSens completes European enrolment in SAFE-TAVI study
OpSens has announced the successful completion of enrolment in the SAFE–TAVI clinical study, studying left ventricular rapid pacing using SavvyWire in TAVI, in Europe.
