TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for February 2017

News that two major clinical trials—COMPASS and FOURIER—have turned up positive results, plus recalls of a transcatheter valve and a vascular closure device were among this month’s most popular stories on TCTMD. So, too, were a number of stories from cardiovascular meetings held this month. Finally, the mostly positive reception by the FDA’s circulatory system devices panel for the Sentinel cerebral protection device in TAVR helped round out our top 10 list for February 2017.

Rivaroxaban’s ‘Overwhelming’ Efficacy for Coronary, Peripheral Disease Leads to Early Halt of COMPASS

Full results for the trial will be presented at an upcoming meeting, but the “magnitude of the effect” warranted an announcement, the sponsor said.

Boston Scientific Recalls All Lotus Valves, Including Lotus With Depth Guard

The issue is related to the device’s locking mechanism, and it is similar to the problem that plagued the next-generation Lotus Edge device in 2016.

Transferred STEMI Patients Have Worse Mortality at 1 Year, Registry Shows

The data from a Polish registry raise important questions about health system delays that are relevant to many.

Absorb BVS: Better Technique, Better Outcomes? More Data—and More Debate

A close look at studies of the Absorb BVS hints at the critical importance of lesion preparation, sizing, and postdilatation. Is this enough? Only time will tell.

Major CVD Outcomes Trial Testing PCSK9 Inhibitor Evolocumab Meets Primary Endpoint

One of the most highly anticipated trials in a while, FOURIER will be presented at the upcoming American College of Cardiology 2017 meeting next month.

FDA Advisors Positive on Sentinel Cerebral Protection Device in TAVR

There was no formal vote following the day’s discussions, but most panelists agree that potential benefits of protection outweigh any risks.

Same-Day Discharge and Transradial Access: ‘Millions’ of Dollars in Cost Savings on the Table

The study results call current practice into question, one outside commenter says.

Abbott to Issue Urgent Recall of Certain Lots of Vascular Closure System

The voluntary action affects 66 total lots; Abbott says there is no significant concern for patients.

Forging Into the Future: Debating the Merits of TAVR in Younger, Futile, and Lower-Risk Patients

Two presentations at ISET 2017 explored where TAVR currently stands and what can be done to improve outcomes as it shifts into different populations.

Amid Sluggish Trial Enrollment, Transcatheter Mitral Valve Field Asks: Just How Big Is the Unmet Need?

Patients for transcatheter MV replacement trials “aren’t falling out of the skies,” because physicians remain concerned with safety, say experts.

                                                                 *   *   *

Visit our conference hub pages for news from the International Stroke Conference 2017, the CRT 2017 conference, and the International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy 2017. For our audio recap of some of the top stories of February, check out the Heart Sounds podcast.