In Global News: FDA Clarithromycin Warning, Health Disparities for Kids With CHD, and the “State of Lung Cancer” Report

Patient Care

The first deceased donor lung transplant in the UAE was performed at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Heart and Vascular Institute, making the hospital the first in the country to offer heart, liver, and lung transplants.

The king of Morocco underwent surgery for an arrhythmia in Paris, France.

Malaysia hosted the first Joint Surgical Colleges Fellowship Examination in Cardiothoracic Surgery to be held outside the UK.

Drugs and Devices

AtriCure, Inc, has launched the AtriClip Flex-V™ Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion System in the United States, the newest design to be added to the AtriClip line of devices.

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about the use of clarithromycin in patients with heart disease.

Research, Trials, and Funding

Children with congenital heart disease are considered well-connected to health care regardless of socioeconomic background, however researchers from New York City found that neighborhood health disparities for these patients were similar to those observed in general pediatric patients.

The American Lung Association has released its first Lung Force “State of Lung Cancer” report, which evaluates cancer incidence, survival, and treatment around the US.

Researchers from California have identified iron as a key element to Aspergillus invasion in transplanted lungs of mice.