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.

Women of all ages face rising risks of heart disease and stroke—but cardiologists see a path forward
Cardiovascular disease is already the No. 1 killer among women—and new projections from the American Heart Association suggest things are going to get much worse. There are certain things that clinicians and patients can do, however, to help reverse this trend and save countless lives.
Death after PCI seen in just 0.5% of patients—heart attack, cardiac arrest most common causes
The new analysis included data from more than 22,000 PCI patients treated at one of two high-volume U.S. facilities. Infection was the most common noncardiac cause of death.
CCTA delivers value, even when treating low-risk patients with no history of CAD
Total plaque volume and total plaque burden can help find patients who may be closer to suffering a heart attack than they realize.
Ultrathin iron bioresorbable scaffold shows promise in first randomized trial
An investigational device could help interventional cardiologists avoid the limitations of drug-eluting stents, according to a new analysis published in JACC.
Interventional cardiologists take on angiography-derived physiology in new expert opinion
ADP offers care teams multiple benefits not seen with traditional wire-based physiologic assessments. A roundtable of 17 expert clinicians discussed the topic at length, and their findings were used to develop a new manuscript published in JSCAI.

Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) Shockwave Medical PCI PAD CAD Disrupt PAD Disrupt CAD SCAI 2022

Intravascular lithotripsy tied to superior long-term PAD, PCI outcomes at SCAI 2022

Two separate sessions presented at SCAI 2022 focused on long-term outcomes associated with Shockwave Medical's IVL technology.

Intermittent fasting helps breast cancer survivors limit their CVD risk

A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology examined how a breast cancer survivor's eating schedule may impact their risk of cardiac events.

Medtronic’s more deliverable drug-eluting stent gains FDA approval

According to Medtronic, the Onyx Frontier DES features improved catheter flexibility and a lower crossing profile.

CT-FFR before TAVR improves detection of coronary artery disease, limits invasive imaging exams

CT-FFR, which recently got a boost from the 2021 AHA/ACC chest pain guidelines, could play a key role for clinicians hoping to screen TAVR patients for coronary heart disease.

Flu shots lower CVD risk, new meta-analysis confirms

The study's authors tracked data from six different randomized controlled trials, including a large study from 2021 that focused on myocardial infarction patients.

How the science behind COVID-19 vaccines could transform care for heart attack patients

A technique seen in the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be able to help heart cells repair themselves, according to new research out of the Netherlands.

Unpaid student loan debt is bad for the heart

An American Journal of Preventive Medicine study highlights higher rates of cardiovascular disease for adults who fail to pay down student debt.

USPSTF updates its stance on aspirin use to prevent CVD, sees no benefit for patients 60 or older

These recommendations, the group emphasized, do not include patients with a history of CVD or those who are already taking aspirin for another reason.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

Women of all ages face rising risks of heart disease and stroke—but cardiologists see a path forward

Death after PCI seen in just 0.5% of patients—heart attack, cardiac arrest most common causes

CCTA delivers value, even when treating low-risk patients with no history of CAD

Ultrathin iron bioresorbable scaffold shows promise in first randomized trial

Interventional cardiologists take on angiography-derived physiology in new expert opinion