James Kirkpatrick, MD, explains the key trends at ASE 2023. #ASE23 #ASE2023

Key takeaways in cardiac ultrasound from ASE 2023

James Kirkpatrick, MD, discussed some of the biggest trends and themes he saw at the American Society of Echocardiography's 2023 annual meeting.

Cardiologists, radiologists say EPA’s new sterilization proposal could put patients at risk

The primary concern is that sterilization facilities and healthcare providers would not have enough time to adapt to the proposal. Devices impacted would include pacemakers, angioplasty balloons and catheters, just to name a few. 

Imaging companies join forces to deliver AI-guided echocardiography exams

The collaboration, announced at ASE 2023, was launched in the name of patient access. 

Artificial intelligence automated measurements on an echocardiogram on the Siemens SyngoDynamics cardiovascular imaging and information solution. AI is helping speed workflows and complete tedious tasks faster and more accurately that humans, allowing sonographers and cardiologists to be more efficient. Photo by Dave Fornell

AI technologies to be featured heavily at ASE 2023

Artificial intelligence will be one of the hottest topics at the upcoming American Society of Echocardiography meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. 

Abbott's TactiFlex flexible tip, force sensing ablation catheter (right), and its integration with the EnSite X EP mapping system (left) showing the distance from the last ablation. and the contact force during an AFib pulmonary vein isolation.

FDA clears first ablation catheter with flexible electrode tip, contact force sensing

Contact force-sensing catheters were developed to help overcome the issue of incomplete ablation lesions.

Video of Jon Lindner explaining the use of ultrasound and bubble contrast for therapy.

Cardiac ultrasound could lead to key advances in heart attack care, drug delivery

Jonathan Lindner, MD, offers an update on the use of echocardiography and bubble contrast agents in a therapy role to help revascularize STEMI patients and increase drug and gene delivery.

Mitral valve repair: How a minimally invasive approach compares to conventional surgery

Researchers compared minithoracotomy, a minimally invasive procedure for treating degenerative mitral regurgitation, with conventional surgery, sharing their findings in JAMA. The research was previously presented as a late-breaking study at ACC.23. 

The Medtronic pulsed field ablation (PFA) system.

Pulsed field ablation shows more positive data as treatment for AFib

Pulsed field ablation is one of the biggest technology trends in cardiac electrophysiology and may become a new standard of care in atrial fibrillation the coming years based on clinical data.