Clinical

This channel newsfeed includes clinical content on treating patients or the clinical implications in a variety of cardiac subspecialties and disease states. The channel includes news on cardiac surgery, interventional cardiology, heart failure, electrophysiology, hypertension, structural heart disease, use of pharmaceuticals, and COVID-19.

FDA issues Class I alert on emergency use esophagogastric tubes
A serious issue with esophagogastric balloon tamponade tubes manufactured by BD could cause the devices to break, potentially delaying care for bleeding patients. Clinicians are advised to review and follow updated use instructions.
Over a dozen lawsuits claim Ozempic and Wegovy caused patients to go blind
The lawsuits, filed in multiple states, contend there's a causal link between semaglutide and a rare condition called NAION that leads to diminished eyesight. Plaintiffs want the popular weight-loss drugs to add a warning label.
Predictive model uses 6 ultrasound features to differentiate between benign and malignant thyroid nodules
Once the model is further validated, it could help guide providers in determining how to manage thyroid nodules.
Meril TAVR valves linked to 1-year outcomes similar to industry-leading devices from Medtronic, Edwards
Indian medtech company Meril Life Sciences has been manufacturing its Myval TAVR valves for years, but FDA approval has remained out of reach. These latest data represent a one-year update of the multicenter LANDMARK clinical trial.
Society of Interventional Radiology seeks AMA resolution urging payments on high-cost disposables
"The number of non-facility services reimbursed at less than direct costs grew 50% since 2024. The number of services under the MPFS for which reimbursement does not even cover cost likely is much higher than 300 services," the proposed AMA resolution states.

Robotic mitral valve repair linked to benefits for elderly patients

Robotic and traditional mitral valve repair surgeries are mostly associated with similar outcomes when treating elderly patients. In some ways, however, robotic procedures may be preferred.

Alexander Kolomaya, MD, a cardiology resident at the University of Utah, presented a study on U.S. national trends in left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) volume and open payments from vendors to operators at the American Heart Association 2024 meeting.

Vendor payments not responsible for rising popularity of LAAO procedures

Consulting fees and other vendor payments do not appear to be directly influencing U.S. physicians to implant more Watchman devices. Researcher Alexander Kolomaya, MD, discussed his team's findings on this topic.

AI predicts pediatric cancer recurrence with impressive accuracy

Researchers have developed a deep learning model that can spot longitudinal changes in patients' brain imaging that could be indicative of cancer recurrence.

AI healthcare doctor surgery procedure artificial intelligence

AI helps cardiologists terminate AFib for good with ablation

Advanced AI can provide real-time feedback to cardiologists, helping them deliver high-quality care.

FDA announces new recall of Abbott heart pump accessories over significant safety risks

The mobile power units of certain HeartMate 3 and HeartMate II LVADs have been experiencing “sudden, unexpected performance issues” such as turning on, off or even restarting with no warning. These issues can potentially be fatal, according to an alert shared by the FDA.

doctor patient discharge after heart surgery

Same-day discharge after cardiac ablation: Cardiologists share recommendations

Same-day discharge won't always be a great fit after cardiac ablation, of course, but it has been associated with considerable patient satisfaction as well as improved efficiency and substantial cost savings. The Heart Rhythm Society and American College of Cardiology have shared a new scientific statement on the subject.

Field Medical FieldForce Ablation pulsed field ablation

PFA startup founded by industry veteran to share first-in-human data at Heart Rhythm 2025

Field Medical, founded in 2022 by Steven Mickelsen, MD, is set to make a significant splash at the Heart Rhythm Society's annual meeting in San Diego. The company also just raised $40 million in financing.

Michael J. Reardon, MD, the Allison Family Distinguished Chair in Cardiovascular Research and a professor of medicine at the DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, explains the late-breaking five-year results of the Evolut Low-Risk Trial presented at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2025 meeting. The data show positive results for the Evolut transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) system vs. surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

Self-expanding TAVR valves deliver outcomes and durability comparable to surgery after 5 years

Michael Reardon, MD, detailed five-year data out of ACC.25 that found Medtronic's Evolut TAVR platform performs as well as SAVR—and even better in some ways.

Clinical

FDA issues Class I alert on emergency use esophagogastric tubes

Over a dozen lawsuits claim Ozempic and Wegovy caused patients to go blind

Predictive model uses 6 ultrasound features to differentiate between benign and malignant thyroid nodules

Meril TAVR valves linked to 1-year outcomes similar to industry-leading devices from Medtronic, Edwards

Society of Interventional Radiology seeks AMA resolution urging payments on high-cost disposables