Cardiac Surgeons Highlight the Need for Innovation Stewardship: Noteworthy in 2022

Abstract

Modern cardiac surgery has rapidly evolved to treat complex cardiovascular disease. This past year boasted noteworthy advances in xenotransplantation, prosthetic cardiac valves, and endovascular thoracic aortic repair. Newer devices often offer incremental design changes while demanding significant cost increases that leave surgeons to decide if the benefit to patients justifies the increased cost. As innovations are introduced, surgeons must continuously aim to harmonize short- and long-term benefits with financial costs). We must also ensure quality patient outcomes while embracing innovations that will advance equitable cardiovascular care.

The Year 2022 in Review and a Glimpse into the Future

“…A review article by Netsanet and colleagues further describes the past year’s advances in cardiac xenotransplantation as well as other noteworthy cardiac surgical innovations in prosthetic heart valves and thoracic endovascular aortic repair. 54 The rise of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing has permitted the development of pigs with organs genetically engineered to minimize the risk of rejection after xenotransplantation, to the point that on January 7, 2022, the first genetically modified pig heart was transplanted into a human patient. 53 The patient, David Bennett, Sr, went on to live for just over 2 months following the surgery, ultimately succumbing after his xenograft developed sudden diastolic failure and global myocardial thickening, at which point he was transitioned to compassionate palliative care.…”