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).

American Heart Association awards researchers $15M to study stress-related CVD

Teams from three universities have received four-year research grants to examine the relationship between chronic stress and CVD. Each team plans to study the issue from a different angle.

Magenta Medical Elevate Heart Pump

Medical device company raises $55M for new percutaneous heart pump

The device, described as the "world's smallest heart pump," has received the FDA's breakthrough device designation for two indications. 

CVRx Barostim illustration

CVRx ‘thrilled’ with Q1 performance as Barostim use continues to increase

The company has seen significant improvements in revenue and the number of centers actively using its technology.

Laser speckle imaging captures details of blood vessels in a beating donor transplant heart outside the body for viability evaluation. Image from Plyer et al., doi 10.1117/1.JBO.28.4.046007

Laser technology may help determine viability of transplant hearts

A new laser imaging technology may be able to determine which donor hearts are viable for transplant and which will result in poor outcomes, without the need for coronary angiography or use of contrast agents that can damage an explanted heart.

Abbott centrimag life support system

Abbott life support system gains 2 new FDA clearances aimed at providing long-term relief

Certain uses of the CentriMag acute circulatory support system were previously limited to six hours, but the FDA has now cleared long-term treatment so that clinicians have more time to provide high-quality care. 

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American College of Cardiology shares new HFpEF recommendations as cases continue to rise

HFpEF now accounts for a majority of heart failure cases, highlighting the importance of ensuring both primary care providers and dedicated heart teams know as much about this topic as possible. 

cardiologist doctor physician patient black diverse hypertension

NSAID use, even for just 2 weeks, increases heart failure risk among patients with type 2 diabetes

The link between NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and heart failure was especially strong among patients 80 years old and older. For patients 65 years old and younger, on the other hand, no such link was identified. 

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FDA announces third recall of 2023 for troubled heart devices

This latest recall is due to a heightened risk that the devices will stop working with no warning. There have been 42 customer complaints reported so far.