Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump as much blood as the body requires. This ineffective pumping can lead to enlargement of the heart as the myocardium works harder pump the same amount of blood. Heart failure may be caused by defects in the myocardium, such as an a heart attack infarct, or due to structural issues such as severe heart valve regurgitation. Heart failure can be divided into HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The disease is further divided into four New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes. Stage IV heart failure is when the heart is completely failing and requires a heart transplant or hemodynamic support from a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

Ultromics EchoGo AI platform

CMS increases reimbursement for AI-powered heart failure platform

Ultromics thinks the significant payment increase will help ramp up utilization among U.S. healthcare providers.

CMS increases reimbursement for CVRx’s implantable Barostim device for heart failure

Implanting the Barostim device is now associated with an average payment amount of $45,000, up significantly from the previous average of $29,000.

Example of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) shown as part of the multimodality imaging capability on the Fujifilm CVIS.

IVUS-guided PCI boosts 2-year survival, reduces need for bypass surgery

IVUS was especially effective when treating patients with a complex coronary anatomy, researchers found. 

Lawrence Faucette, the pig heart transplant patient who died after six weeks.

Second patient in history to receive a pig heart transplant dies after 6 weeks

Lawrence Faucette, the second patient to ever receive a genetically modified pig heart, died on Oct. 30. “He can never be forgotten," his wife said in a statement. 

doctor telehealth computer screen

Cardiologist-founded virtual cardiology clinic raises $8M to expand heart failure offerings

The company hopes this new round of funding from private-equity investors will help its home-based care model flourish and reach more patients than ever before. 

No, a popular blood pressure medication does not increase heart failure risk, new research confirms

Dihydropyridines such as amlodipine have been the topic of some debate in recent months due to fears they lead to significant side effects. 

Impella Heart Pump Abiomed RECOVER IV RCT cardiogenic shock

FDA warns Abiomed about ‘significant violations’ related to its Impella heart pumps

The agency said Abiomed did not seek the necessary approvals for one Impella-related device and was slow to act on certain safety concerns. 

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Endotronix gains key approval from FDA, shares new heart failure data

The company can now begin the enrollment process for its PROACTIVE-HF 2 clinical trial, which will focus on treating patients with NYHA class II heart failure.