— Recent developments of interest in cardiovascular medicine
by Nicole Lou, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today
October 20, 2026 • 2 min read
The FDA said Edwards Lifesciences pulled its Commander M delivery systemsopens in a new tab or window for Sapien M3 transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR), on account of three reports of balloons bursting during inflation, with one death and one serious injury associated with this issue.
The agency also approved an expanded indication for the Gore Viabahn VBX balloon expandable endoprosthesisopens in a new tab or window (VBX stent graft) for use in fenestrated and branched endovascular aortic repair, W.L. Gore announced.
The American College of Cardiology endorsed and provided guidance for prescribing exerciseopens in a new tab or window across the spectrum of cardiovascular health and disease. (Journal of the American College of Cardiology)
Real-world records suggested that GLP-1 agonist usersopens in a new tab or window typically had lower rates of major heart-related complications and infections after surgery compared with peers not taking these drugs, according to research highlighted by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).
The ASA also showcased a study that found that cannabis useopens in a new tab or window among surgical patients was associated with a 46% increased risk of myocardial infarction, but a 22% lower risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Paradoxically, VTE was less likely to occuropens in a new tab or window in hospitalized patients with overweight or obesity, nationwide hospital records showed. (Journal of the American Heart Association)
In a single-arm study, the Vertex pulmonary embolectomy systemopens in a new tab or window met its prespecified safety and effectiveness endpoints for mechanical aspiration thrombectomy in acute intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism. (EuroIntervention)
For patients presenting with possible myocardial infarction at the emergency department, use of point-of-care high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I testingopens in a new tab or window was safe and reduced length of stay compared with laboratory testing, a cluster-randomized trial found. (Circulation)
A single ancestry-specific CD36 allelic variant plays a large role in dilated cardiomyopathy among African Americansopens in a new tab or window, according to a multicohort genetic association study. (JAMA)
For people with refractory ventricular tachycardia, stereotactic arrhythmia radioablationopens in a new tab or window was associated with a 80% reduction in episode burden, with a 1-year overall survival probability of 77%, European registry data suggested. (European Heart Journal)
In a placebo-controlled trial, 6 months of colchicineopens in a new tab or window reduced inflammation but failed to ease arterial stiffness among adults with pharmacologically treated hypertension without cardiovascular disease. (European Journal of Preventive Cardiology)
A cardiologist said beetsopens in a new tab or window could lower blood pressure (BP). (Today)
An automated digital valve care pathwayopens in a new tab or window, built into the existing hospital electronic health record, may facilitate timely management of severe aortic stenosis, a pragmatic implementation study suggested. (JAMA Cardiology)