In Global News: Improving Vein Grafts, a Suture-Based Percutaneous Mitral Device, and Donating CT Surgical Equipment [1]
Patient Care
The Jos University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria has received a donation of surgical equipment for cardiothoracic surgery [3] from Project CURE, which will allow the hospital to offer more surgical services to patients.
Italy’s former president, Giorgio Napolitano, underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured aorta [4].
A former goalkeeper for the national Pakistani field hockey team is in need of a heart transplant [5] and has appealed to the Indian government for a medical visa.
Drugs and Devices
The CoAp Pro device from HeartStitch, designed to provide a percutaneous suture-based approach for mitral valve remodeling and repair [6], has received CE Mark approval in the European Union.
The US Food and Drug Administration has expanded approved use of osimertinib from AstraZeneca to include first-line treatment [7] for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor mutations.
A planned firmware upgrade for certain implantable cardiac devices from Abbott includes a cybersecurity update [8].
Research, Trials, and Funding
The VEST US trial has enrolled the first 20 patients. The trial will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a device for treating saphenous vein graft disease after coronary artery bypass grafting [9].