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.

Dexcom issues new recall for CGM apps due to safety risk—users urged to update immediately
The FDA has categorized this as a Class I recall. If patients update their phone or watch apps as needed, they can continue to use these devices like normal.
Cardiologist sues hospital after he was allegedly let go for sharing safety concerns
The veteran interventional cardiologist claims he was pushed out after repeatedly asking for more coverage from cardiothoracic surgeons in addition to other improvements. The hospital, meanwhile, described the lawsuit as a “collection of false allegations."
Why all heart patients should be vaccinated against the flu, COVID-19, RSV
The American College of Cardiology has shared new recommendations highlighting the protective benefits of a variety of vaccines. The new guidance also examines how to speak with patients who are hesitant to be vaccinated.
Heart surgeons see more potential in AI than colleagues from other fields
Cardiac surgeons see significant value in AI's ability to assist clinicians with administrative tasks and patient selection. When it comes to making clinical decisions, however, there is still a certain amount of skepticism.
New Apple Watch Ultra 3 makes early hypertension detection a priority
"This tool empowers patients and clinicians to work together, putting prevention at the center of care," said Ami B. Bhatt, MD, ACC chief innovation officer. "What we really want to do is create patient agency and reach as many people as we can for earlier detection of high blood pressure."

Many attendees shot selfies in front of the the massive heart on display in the Cytokinetic booth at AHA 2022.

New drug for obstructive HCM outperforms the current standard of care

Cytokinetics announced positive results from a new clinical trial comparing aficamten monotherapy to the beta blocker metoprolol.

COVID causes increase risk of clotting. Example of a pulmonary embolism. CT pulmonary angiograms in a 77-year-old man with COVID-19 and a saddle embolus to pulmonary arteries (black arrow in A) extending into right and left pulmonary arteries (white arrows) in (A, B) axial and (C) coronal planes. Arrowheads show pulmonary changes associated with COVID-19 and possible lung infarction (black arrow in C). (D) Axial image at the level of the ventricles shows right-sided heart strain. RSNA. COVID PE

PE CT studies have risen nearly 50% in recent years

The diagnostic yield of the exam, however, has remained largely unchanged, prompting experts to question whether CT pulmonary angiography is being overused in the ED.

GE HealthCare debuts new wide-bore MRI scanner built with cardiology, oncology in mind

The new 1.5T MRI scanner includes a wide bore and key AI features designed to boost the patient experience.

When valves fail: Surgeons share advice for treating high-risk patients with TAVR explant and SAVR

When a patient’s TAVR valve fails, redo TAVR is not always a feasible option. TAVR explantation and SAVR are typically the answer in these cases, but that approach is associated with certain risks.

stomach surgery gastric bypass gastric sleeve heart risks

Gastric bypass surgery linked to lower heart attack risk than gastric sleeve

Both operations can help obese patients lose weight, researchers noted, but gastric bypass surgery "may be associated with greater cardiovascular benefits."

Obicetrapib linked to substantial reductions in LDL cholesterol for high-risk heart patients

Researchers shared new studies on the highly selective CETP inhibitor in The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet.

Tariffs will have a significant impact on the nuclear imaging supply chain in the US

"Domestic radiopharmaceutical suppliers, who receive isotopes from abroad, would be impacted by price changes and uncertainty caused by additional tariffs,” SNMMI President Cathy Cutler, PhD, wrote in a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce this week.

TAVR and SAVR deliver similar outcomes for patients with low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis

Paravalvular leak was more common after TAVR, as one may expect, but that was the only notable difference between the two aortic valve replacement strategies. The study's authors did highlight the importance of additional research, including larger studies with longer follow-up periods.

Clinical

Dexcom issues new recall for CGM apps due to safety risk—users urged to update immediately

Cardiologist sues hospital after he was allegedly let go for sharing safety concerns

Why all heart patients should be vaccinated against the flu, COVID-19, RSV

Heart surgeons see more potential in AI than colleagues from other fields

New Apple Watch Ultra 3 makes early hypertension detection a priority