TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for May 2026

May is a busy but invigorating season for the TCTMD team—in-person connections abound and the stream of data never stops. The most-read articles reflect that energy. Our top story this month is a column that gave readers a preview of what to expect at the EuroPCR 2026 meeting. In terms of news, many insights came from that Paris-based conference. In addition, the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval of baxdrostat, the first aldosterone synthase inhibitor to enter the US market, made the list, as did articles from the annual meetings of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI).

1. EuroPCR 2026 Immediate Complete PCI May Harm STEMI Patients With Multivessel CAD

The default approach should be a staged procedure given the findings, which are in line with CULPRIT-SHOCK, says Gregg Stone.

2. EuroPCR 2026 Evolocumab Cuts MACE Risk in Stented Patients Without Prior MI: VESALIUS-CV

Among the high-risk patients enrolled in the trial, which reported its main results last November, new data show that those who had a prior PCI had higher event rates but benefited from aggressive LDL-lowering.

3. EuroPCR 2026 Better Hemodynamics With Self-Expanding Valves in Small Annuli at 3 Years: SMART

Clinical event rates were still no different with longer follow-up, but one investigator thinks an advantage will emerge in time.

4. HRS 2026 Rare Fatal Arrhythmias After PFA Highlighted in MAUDE Analysis 

Experts cautioned against reading too much into the incidence data for pulsed-field ablation, but they agreed the issue warrants additional research.

5. EuroPCR 2026 Reassuring Long-term Data for PCI in Left Main Coronary Disease: Meta-Analysis

Ten years after revascularization, mortality rates were the same with either PCI or surgery in this patient subset.

6. SCAI 2026 Higher Lp(a) Threshold More Closely Linked to Major ASCVD Events

Data from three RCTs show a level of ≥ 175 nmol/L, not ≥ 125 nmol/L, is an independent predictor of death and stroke.

7. EuroPCR 2026 Calcium Modification Techniques Abound, With Lesion Prep Key to Success

Previously untreatable patients have several options, but preference, cost, and availability will guide which are used.

8. EuroPCR 2026 Unlocking Coronary Implant Impressive at 4 Years: BIOADAPTOR RCT

The rate of target lesion failure with Bioadaptor was just 2.8%, which astounded many operators.

9. FDA Approves Baxdrostat for Inadequately Controlled Hypertension

This is the first aldosterone synthase inhibitor to enter the US market.

10. SCAI 2026 Large Study Lends Support to Clopidogrel Monotherapy After DAPT Cessation

Most panelists at the SCAI session said the accumulating data are convincing, and for some, they have led to changes in practice.

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The TCTMD news team covers a lot of ground. Not all our work is in the written word—check out our latest podcasts and videos that go live throughout the month.

Summer is a great time for us to dig into complex topics driving the field. If you have thoughts on what we should feature, feel free to reach out with any ideas, questions, or feedback.