Acute Coronary Syndromes

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is most commonly caused by a heart attack (myocardial infarction) where blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. This is usually caused by a blood clot from a ruptured coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque. Other causes include spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which most commonly occurs in women. ACS is usually treated in a cath lab with angioplasty and the placement of a stent to prop the vessel open.

PAD patients face greater risk of death, complications after a heart attack
PAD and CLI patients who show signs of coronary heart disease may benefit from early treatment, according to a new study of nearly 4 million hospitalizations.
ChatGPT struggles to evaluate heart risk—but it could still help cardiologists
Relying on the AI-powered chatbot for heart assessments could be "dangerous," researchers warn, but the technology may still be helpful in certain situations.
Statin therapy may help HFpEF patients lower their risk of death, heart attack or stroke
All participants were free of ASCVD and had no history of statin use at the start of the study.
$Performing CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) improves the accuracy of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and helps limit unneeded invasive coronary angiography (ICA), according to a new study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. Heartflow$
New cardiac imaging strategy could reduce ICA, PCI rates
Radiologists with Massachusetts General Hospital found that the selective use of cardiac CT and AI-based CAD evaluations could make a significant impact on patient care.
Critics call out ‘woefully inadequate’ CMS proposal for inpatient Medicare payments
CMS has issued its proposed rule for the 2025 Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system, suggesting a payment increase of 2.6%. According to the American Hospital Association, this update would not be enough at a time when hospitals are already struggling to stay open.

High-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with an Impella heart pump is associated with better outcomes, including a significantly higher survival rate, than high-risk PCI with an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), according to new findings published in the American Journal of Cardiology. Impella Heart Pump Abiomed RECOVER IV RCT cardiogenic shock

Impella heart pumps linked to improved high-risk PCI outcomes

Researchers examined data from patients who underwent high-risk PCI with either an Impella heart pump or an intra-aortic balloon pump.

October 13, 2022

cardiologist Peter J. Fitzgerald, MD, PhD, HeartBeam

Cardiac technology startup names cardiologist Peter Fitzgerald its chief medical officer

Fitzgerald, a leading figure in interventional cardiology, praised the company's potential to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

October 12, 2022

$Using fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements to guide percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures for patients presenting with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated fewer stent implantations, according to a new meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Cardiology. The study’s authors also emphasized that FFR-guided PCI can help improve resource utilization by identifying lesions that do not require treatment.$

FFR-guided PCI provides significant value, new meta-analysis confirms

FFR-guided PCI was associated with improved resource utilization and less radiation exposure, among other benefits, when compared to angiography-guided procedures.

October 11, 2022

FDA recall. The medications involved are atenolol, which treats hypertension, and the antiplatelet agent clopidogrel, which reduces the risk of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or stroke among patients with a history of AMI, severe chest pain or circulation problems.

FDA announces recall of 2 cardiovascular medications due to labeling mix-up

Patients face a risk of adverse events if they mistakenly take the wrong medication, according to a new warning from the FDA.

September 30, 2022

New recommendations highlight the importance of CCTA when treating acute chest pain in the ED

The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography developed and published the new document to help educate healthcare providers who regularly treat acute chest pain in the emergency department.

September 29, 2022

Impella heart pumps boost survival up to 81% for cardiogenic shock patients

The heart pumps appear to provide significant benefits for patients with acute myocardial infarction- or myocarditis-related cardiogenic shock.

September 28, 2022

Drinking coffee linked to a much lower risk of heart disease, death

"Our findings indicate that drinking modest amounts of coffee of all types should not be discouraged but can be enjoyed as a heart-healthy behavior," said a cardiologist involved in the study.

September 28, 2022

A CTA scan being performed at Beaumont Hospital in Michigan by cardiac CT expert Kavitha M Chinnaiyan, MD. CCTA has largely been used at academic medical centers for the past decade, but it is now expanding in 2022 to community hospitals and clinics thanks to a Class 1A recommendation in the 2021 chest pain guidelines. #CCTA #CTA #Beaumont

Cardiac CT comparable to invasive angiography when assessing stable chest pain, new meta-analysis confirms

Researchers examined data from nearly 5,400 patients, tracking such outcomes as myocardial infarction, stroke and all-cause mortality.

September 22, 2022

Acute Coronary Syndromes

PAD patients face greater risk of death, complications after a heart attack

ChatGPT struggles to evaluate heart risk—but it could still help cardiologists

Statin therapy may help HFpEF patients lower their risk of death, heart attack or stroke

New cardiac imaging strategy could reduce ICA, PCI rates

Critics call out ‘woefully inadequate’ CMS proposal for inpatient Medicare payments