TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for June 2018

Topping the most popular list for June 2018 was a feature on the potential legal pitfalls of sticking with a routine transfemoral PCI practice, with the FDA approval of andexanet alfa coming a close second. Dominating the rest of the lineup was transcatheter valve news, including stories from the 2018 Structural Heart Disease Summit, and the sad news of Jack Tu’s death.

The M Word: Is Routine Transfemoral PCI Defensible in 2018?

Most operators reject the idea that routine transfemoral PCI could be deemed malpractice, but also agree: radial needs a prominent role.

Andexanet Alfa, First Reversal Agent for Factor Xa Inhibitors, Finally Gains FDA Approval

The agent is the second antidote approved for the NOACs, joining idarucizumab, dabigatran’s reversal agent.

Jack V. Tu, Tireless Cardiovascular Researcher and Mentor, Dies at 53

After graduating from medical school at age 23, he built a legacy of professionalism, kindness, and dedication to improving quality of care.

New European Hypertension Guidelines Not in Harmony With US Guidance

In contrast to the American recommendations, traditional classifications are maintained and treatment targets are not as aggressive.

High-Quality TAVR: Does a Minimum Volume Requirement Still Make Sense?

CMS is set to ponder minimum volume requirements as part of the national coverage decision, but some docs worry volume is not the whole story.

Trade-offs Between Self-Expanding and Balloon-Expandable Valves in Very Large Annuli

Getting a good seal is the chief concern, and while cases are uncommon now, experts expect more as TAVR moves into younger, lower-risk patients.

Will Percutaneous Mitral Repair Catch Up or Surpass Surgery? Experts Make Their Predictions

As COAPT and MITRA-FR crest the horizon, surgeons and cardiologists alike have plenty of opinions about the future of repair in severe MR.

Percutaneous Edge-to-Edge Repair for Tricuspid Regurgitation: Some Successes, Some Caveats

The largest series to date of patients treated with MitraClip in the tricuspid position appears in a special journal issue focused on valve interventions.

Women in Cardiology: ‘Underrepresented, Underestimated, and Undervalued’

Four papers in JAMA Cardiology tackle the issues affecting women who are thinking about joining or who have already joined the male-dominated field.

Similar Rate of Radial Artery Occlusion After Manual and Mechanical Compression

One operator said the occlusion rate at 24 hours remains too high, suggesting more work is needed to reduce this complication after transradial access.