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| The Monthly Pulse |
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| Tech News: The Promise of Polymer Valve Technology: An Update from the Tria Valve Clinical Trials
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| The Story |
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| In an effort to improve lifetime durability, excellent performance, and avoidance of anticoagulation in valve replacement technology, researchers are studying the Tria valve, which uses polymer leaflet technology. The valve is manufactured through a robotic process, requiring no direct human contact and no special preparation prior to implantation. |
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| What You Should Know |
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| A small, initial study of 15 participants who received the Tria valve showed excellent and sustained outcomes, according to STS News. The early experience was also continued with 25 more participants, but results are not yet available. Other studies are also underway in the U.S. and India. While we won’t know long-term outcomes for some time, researchers believe the Tria valve is a promising step forward for valve replacement technology.
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| Self-expanding Transcatheter vs Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Intermediate-Risk Patients: 5-Year Outcomes of the SURTAVI Randomized Clinical Trial |
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| The Story |
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| For patients in need of aortic valve replacement, surgeons often ask: Should the patient have a TAVR or a surgical procedure? In a recent study published by JAMA Cardiology, researchers sought to answer that question by analyzing five-year outcomes of TAVR versus surgery in intermediate-risk patients with severe aortic valve stenosis.
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| What You Should Know |
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| Study results show that of the 1,660 individuals who underwent TAVR or surgical procedures, outcomes were similar for both. Specifically, the rates of death or disabling stroke were similar (31.3% for TAVR versus 30.8% for surgery). Bearing in mind that major clinical outcomes are similar at five years for both procedures may help surgeons make more informed decisions when considering TAVR versus surgery for their patients within intermediate risk groups.
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| Ascending Aneurysmectomy: Should we Shift to the Left? |
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| The Story |
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| Oftentimes, cardiothoracic surgeons monitor patients with ascending aneurysms for years. At a certain point, they must decide on the best time to recommend surgery. In a recent opinion piece published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, doctors call for earlier intervention for ascending aneurysms and for shifting the intervention leftward on the aortic size continuum, from the current 5.5 cm to 5.0 cm. |
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| What You Should Know |
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| While patient-specific factors must be weighed when deciding on surgical interventions, the authors of the opinion piece cite several reasons for their recommendations. For one, they note that prior analyses of hinge point curves are more than 20 years old and showed only one distinct hinge point at 6.0 cm, but newer analyses show two points, at 5.25 and 5.75 cm. Moving the intervention criterion leftward to 5.0 cm would accommodate these newly identified hinge points, thereby helping to prevent aortic-related deaths. Data from whole-exome sequencing has also provided insights into size and age at which the dissection is likely to occur, which supports the small shift.
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| Leadership Reflections |
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Transitions
While in the midst of numerous transitions both personally and professionally, I am reminded of the familiar quote by Heraclitus, “The only constant in life is change.” We are wired to be creatures of habit and while change is necessary for growth, it can create anxiety — it certainly does for me. So how do we as leaders minimize the stress and maximize the benefits of change? Consider leading your team through these steps:
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- Allow time for reflection. Reflecting on fears helps you learn what specifically is causing anxiety and determine potential solutions.
- Utilize communication and collaboration. Communicating throughout change helps transitions run more smoothly, creates a collaborative environment, and gives the team a sense of ownership in the process.
- Be flexible and embrace mistakes. Prioritizing flexibility and allowing mistakes to happen as a natural part of the process can minimize conflicts along the way.
- Practice wellness. Implementing wellness practices can help you weather stressful times of change with your health intact.
- Stay centered on your purpose. Remembering the meaning behind your work helps to reduce stress and generate ideas for new opportunities while moving through the change.
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| If your organization is going through significant change, I encourage you to look into change management resources. Consider starting with this overview: Everything you need to know about change management. |
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| Minnesota Perfusion Society Meeting |
| Fri., Oct 21 - Sun., Oct 23 |
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| STSA 69th Annual Meeting |
| Wed., Nov. 9 - Sat., Nov. 12 |
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| AATS Clinical Trials Methods Course |
| Thurs., Nov. 17 - Sat. Nov. 19 |
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