TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for October 2025

This October, as the TCTMD team crosses the globe in search of cardiovascular news, it’s clear that we’re at the height of meeting season. All of our top 10 stories this month came from on-site coverage of the 2025 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery conference, in Copenhagen, Denmark, and TCT 2025, in San Francisco, CA.

Most popular was an article on the STORM-PE randomized trial of mechanical thrombectomy versus standard-of-care anticoagulation in pulmonary embolism, followed by a variety of stories that spanned everything from drug-coated balloons for in-stent restenosis to cutting and noncompliant balloons in calcified lesions, aortic valve replacement, transcatheter mitral and tricuspid valve interventions, and PCI of failed saphenous vein grafts after CABG—all solid topics. The most fun one, however, was a pilot study showing the benefits of playing music in the cath lab.

1. TCT 2025 Mechanical Thrombectomy Outshines Anticoagulation Alone in STORM-PE

The first of its kind RCT in acute intermediate-high-risk PE used a surrogate endpoint, but more data are on the horizon.

2. TCT 2025 Sirolimus-Coated Balloon Meets Mark in De Novo Lesions and ISR: SELUTION

The DCB is meant to address long-term stent-related complications and avoid adding yet another metal layer in in-stent restenosis.

3. TCT 2025 Trials Bolster Alternatives to Intravascular Lithotripsy for Calcified Lesions

Lower-cost cutting and noncompliant balloons were noninferior to Shockwave IVL for short-term stent outcomes.

4. TCT 2025 Concerto in the Cath Lab: Music Benefits Heart Health After PCI

The pilot study was small, but it suggested music therapy before and during PCI could lower BP and heart rate after PCI.

5. EACTS 2025 SAVR Bests TAVI for 5-Year Survival in Combined RCT, Observational Data

The findings sparked a debate about the merits of RCTs vs other study designs—one surgeon urged others to “read a textbook.”

6. TCT 2025 PARTNER 3 at 7 Years: Stable Outcomes, No Signs of Valve Failure With TAVI

The data are largely in line with those seen at 5 years, but the follow-up reassures there’s no concern about valve durability.

7. TCT 2025 ENCIRCLE: Good Results With Sapien M3 Transseptal TMVR

Operators are excited about a device that avoids transapical access, a limitation of other systems, says Gilbert Tang.

8. TCT 2025 PROCTOR: PCI of Failed Bypass Grafts Tops Native-Vessel PCI, With Caveats

The saphenous vein grafts treated in the RCT were relatively straightforward, while the native vessels were largely chronic total occlusions.

9. EACTS 2025 SAVR Bests TAVI in Patients With Highly Calcific Aortic Valves

The results underscore the need to perform CT imaging when deciding between procedures in patients with aortic stenosis.

10. TCT 2025 More Data on Tricuspid Valve Interventions Reassure, yet Questions Remain

The real-world Evoque and new TRILUMINATE findings provide an “extension” from the pivotal trials, Dharam Kumbhani says.

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With autumn upon us, the year feels like it’s rapidly drawing to a close. But there’s still much to come. You can check out our most recent coverage, from TCT 2025, on our dedicated conference page. Soon to come is news from the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, LA, plus PCR London Valves and VEITH. As always, you can enjoy the TCTMD team’s own favorite moments on the monthly Heart Sounds podcast—the most recent episode celebrates our website’s 25th anniversary.