Cardiovascular Today—April 30, 2026

This week’s Cardiovascular update highlights clinical progress, device launches, financing activity, drug-delivery data, and safety warnings

In Today’s Newsletter

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🫀 Tempus Next alerts improve valve-care referral [1] [US • 21 Apr 2026]

https://www.healio.com/news/cardiology/20260421/automatic-alerts-improve-referral-for-treatment-of-valvular-heart-disease
Context: ALERT was a multicenter, cluster-randomized trial across five US health systems and 35 hospitals, using Tempus Next natural-language processing alerts.
Key point: Alerts improved the 90-day hierarchical endpoint of valve intervention or multidisciplinary heart team visit versus usual care.
Implication: May expand screening, initiation, and follow-up at scale.

🩸 Haemonetics Vascade MVP XL compared in large-bore venous closure [2] [US • 25 Apr 2026]

https://cardiovascularnews.com/study-compares-vascular-closure-systems-in-large-bore-venous-access-closure-procedures/
Context: The retrospective, non-randomized, single-center cohort included 574 patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial arrhythmia or LAAC.
Key point: Haemonetics said Vascade MVP XL showed higher procedural success, a consistent safety profile, efficient hemostasis, and 0% bleeding complications.
Implication: Could streamline initiation and adherence via remote prescribing and logistics.

🦵 Abbott Esprit BTK posts 30-day CLTI data [3] [UK • 28 Apr 2026]

https://cardiovascularnews.com/abbott-unveils-promising-esprit-btk-post-approval-study-data/
Context: The prospective, multicenter, single-arm Esprit BTK post-approval study assessed Abbott’s everolimus-eluting resorbable scaffold in CLTI.
Key point: Interim 30-day data in 200 patients showed 100% freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization and a 2.6% MALE-plus-perioperative-death composite.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🎈 Sirolimus-versus-paclitaxel DCB debate sharpens at CX 2026 [4] [UK • 28 Apr 2026]

https://cardiovascularnews.com/absence-of-endorsement-is-not-absence-of-evidence-peripheral-session-raises-sirolimus-versus-paclitaxel-debate/
Context: CX 2026 discussed sirolimus versus paclitaxel drug-coated balloons in femoropopliteal intervention, including CLTI and claudication datasets.
Key point: Panelists highlighted maturing sirolimus evidence but said CLTI data remain less mature and head-to-head randomized trials are needed.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🧭 Reflow Medical launches Cora Flex and Cora Force in the US [5] [US • 28 Apr 2026]

https://cardiovascularnews.com/reflow-medical-launches-new-generation-of-torqueable-microcatheters/
Context: Reflow Medical launched next-generation Cora Flex and Cora Force torqueable microcatheters for complex coronary interventions.
Key point: The devices add refinements to hub design, shaft construction, distal profile, torque transmission, and trackability.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🧬 PlaqueTec raises US$5 million for BioCarta database [6] [28 Apr 2026]

https://cardiovascularnews.com/plaquetec-secures-funding-to-support-development-of-intracoronary-database/
Context: PlaqueTec’s BioCarta data lake uses intracoronary liquid biopsy samples from the BIOPATTERN trial to collect proteomic and clinical data.
Key point: The company raised US$5 million from existing investors to support BioCarta and potential target-selection and patient-stratification partnerships.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

💊 Cordis Selution SLR SEB shows comparable PCI outcomes to DES [7] [Canada • 27 Apr 2026]

https://cardiovascularbusiness.com/topics/clinical/interventional-cardiology/fewer-stents-positive-outcomes-sirolimus-eluting-balloons-safe-alternative-during-pci
Context: More than 1,000 NSTEMI or unstable angina patients were randomized to Cordis Selution SLR sirolimus-eluting balloon or drug-eluting stent.
Key point: One-year target vessel failure, cardiac death, target vessel-related MI, and clinically driven target vessel revascularization were low and comparable.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

⚠️ FDA warns on Terumo Aortic Relay Pro Thoracic Stent Grafts [8] [US • 28 Apr 2026]

https://cardiovascularbusiness.com/topics/clinical/vascular-endovascular/fda-warns-public-about-vascular-device-after-3-deaths
Context: FDA warned on certain non-bare stent Relay Pro Thoracic Stent Graft System devices, size 32 mm and above, from Terumo Aortic.
Key point: Three deaths were linked to a failure mode in which the stent graft could not unclasp from the delivery system.
Implication: May affect device selection and procedural planning while FDA review continues.

Why it matters

Automated referral infrastructure is moving into structural heart workflows, with Tempus Next showing a measurable 90-day care-pathway effect [1].
Peripheral and coronary drug-delivery debates are increasingly focused on patient selection, lesion type, and long-term durability [3], [4], [7].
Large-bore venous access, microcatheter handling, and resorbable scaffolds remain active device-innovation areas across electrophysiology, coronary, and limb-salvage settings [2], [3], [5].
FDA’s Terumo Aortic alert underscores that delivery-system failures can create acute procedural risk even before a recall is finalized [8].
PlaqueTec’s BioCarta investment points to growing interest in site-of-disease cardiovascular biomarkers for drug development [6].

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FAQ

What did the ALERT trial show for Tempus Next?

The ALERT trial found that automated Tempus Next alerts improved timely valve intervention or multidisciplinary heart team evaluation within 90 days. The source reports benefit across aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation groups [1].

What is Haemonetics Vascade MVP XL used for?

Vascade MVP XL is a venous vascular closure system. The source discusses large-bore venous access closure in catheter ablation and LAAC procedures, including larger sheaths used in PFA and LAAC technologies [2].

What is Abbott Esprit BTK?

Abbott Esprit BTK is an everolimus-eluting resorbable scaffold system for below-the-knee disease. The post-approval study is evaluating safety and effectiveness in CLTI patients, including more complex real-world cases [3].

Why is the sirolimus-versus-paclitaxel DCB debate unresolved?

CX 2026 speakers cited promising sirolimus data and long experience with paclitaxel, but said CLTI evidence remains sparse. Panelists called for clearer head-to-head randomized trials by indication and lesion type [4].

What did the Selution SLR PCI analysis report?

The Cordis Selution SLR sirolimus-eluting balloon strategy showed low and comparable one-year outcomes versus drug-eluting stents in NSTEMI or unstable angina patients. Stents were used only when needed in the balloon arm [7].

What is the FDA concern with Relay Pro Thoracic Stent Grafts?

FDA warned that certain Terumo Aortic Relay Pro Thoracic Stent Grafts may fail to unclasp from the delivery system. The issue has been directly linked to three deaths as of 23 Apr 2026 [8].

Entities / Keywords

ALERT trial, Tempus Next, Tempus AI, aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, multidisciplinary heart team
Haemonetics, Vascade MVP XL, Vascade MVP, large-bore venous access closure, LAAC, PFA, AMBULATE EXPAND
Abbott, Esprit BTK, LIFE-BTK, CLTI, chronic limb-threatening ischemia, everolimus-eluting resorbable scaffold
Sirolimus DCB, paclitaxel DCB, femoropopliteal intervention, SIRONA, MagicTouch, IN.PACT Admiral, SELUTION SLR
Reflow Medical, Cora Flex, Cora Force, torqueable microcatheter, Cora Tech, DEEPER CORONARY
PlaqueTec, BioCarta, BIOPATTERN, intracoronary liquid biopsy, proteomics, cardiovascular data lake
Cordis, Selution SLR SEB, PCI, NSTEMI, unstable angina, drug-eluting stent
FDA, Terumo Aortic, Bolton Medical, Relay Pro Thoracic Stent Graft System, thoracic aorta