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).

Dapagliflozin improves outcomes for elderly TAVR patients with heart failure
The positive data were presented as part of a late-breaking clinical trial at ACC.25 in Chicago. One cardiologist on stage for the presentation said these findings will impact the way he manages certain TAVR patients.
FDA approves vutrisiran to treat ATTR-CM
The subcutaneous drug, sold under the brand name Amvuttra, joins an ATTR-CM market that already includes Pfizer’s tafamidis (Vyndaqel, Vyndamax) and BridgeBio’s acoramidis (Attruby).
Direct marketing to cardiologists increases uptake of some, but not all, heart failure drugs
Researchers tracked three years of CMS data to explore how meal-based marketing may influence the habits of general and advanced heart failure cardiologists.
Cannabis use increases risk of heart attack, stroke in young adults
“Asking about cannabis use should be part of clinicians' workup to understand patients' overall cardiovascular risk, similar to asking about smoking cigarettes,” one researcher said. Additional details will be presented at ACC.25 in Chicago.
Patient discharged with total artificial heart for first time—goes 105 days while awaiting transplant
Total artificial heart recipients typically stay in the hospital. In this case, however, the patient was able to wait for a donated heart from the comfort of his own home.

Medtronic is once again recalling its HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device (HVAD) pump implant kit, a part of the company’s HeartWare HVAD system. This is a Class I recall, which means using the device can lead to serious injury or death. The new recall includes more than 1,600 devices distributed from October 2006 to June 2021.

FDA announces another recall of Medtronic HVAD pump implant kits—1 patient death reported

The recall includes more than 1,600 devices distributed from October 2006 to June 2021. Medtronic's HVAD system has already been associated with multiple issues, including a separate recall in 2021.

cocaine heart failure HFrEF LVEF hospitalizations beta-blockers hypertension cardiology

How cocaine use affects outcomes for hospitalized heart failure patients

When cocaine users are hospitalized for heart failure, what should physicians expect? Are beta-blockers an effective treatment strategy?

EHR alerts boost care for patients with HFrEF

Simple EHR alerts helped one health system get more guideline-recommended medications to its heart failure patients.

LVAD patients spend nearly 1 in 4 days seeking care — is there a more effective way?

The study's authors noted that LVADs consistently lead to strong outcomes, but improvements are still needed to reduce the burden on patients.

Empagliflozin may reverse vascular aging, lower CVD risk

The SGLT2 inhibitor is already known as an effective medication for both type 2 diabetes and heart failure.

TPV valves, CTO PCI and more: SCAI 2022 updates for interventional cardiologists

The first two days of SCAI 2022 were jam-packed with innovative technologies and late-breaking research.

How did the pig heart transplant patient die? A preventable infection may be to blame

The genetically modified pig heart appears to have been infected with a porcine virus, according to the surgeon who performed the initial transplant.

transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure guided by CT fusion imaging on a patient with heart failure and a blood clot

Cardiologists and surgeons perform first TAVR using CT imaging guidance on HF patient with blood clot

“We believe this case is potentially groundbreaking," one interventional cardiologist said.

Heart Failure

Dapagliflozin improves outcomes for elderly TAVR patients with heart failure

FDA approves vutrisiran to treat ATTR-CM

Direct marketing to cardiologists increases uptake of some, but not all, heart failure drugs

Cannabis use increases risk of heart attack, stroke in young adults

Patient discharged with total artificial heart for first time—goes 105 days while awaiting transplant