Cardiac Imaging

While cardiac ultrasound is the widely used imaging modality for heart assessments, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear imaging are also used and are often complimentary, each offering specific details about the heart other modalities cannot. For this reason the clinical question being asked often determines the imaging test that will be used.

$Performing CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) improves the accuracy of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and helps limit unneeded invasive coronary angiography (ICA), according to a new study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. Heartflow$
AI-based CAD assessments dramatically improve vascular surgery outcomes
PAD patients evaluated with HeartFlow's noninvasive FFR_CTAnalysis technology prior to surgery experienced much better outcomes, including a 63% lower risk of all-cause mortality after five years.
Cardiology ranked No. 2 among all specialties with 122 FDA-cleared AI models
Only radiology is associated with more FDA-cleared AI algorithms than cardiology, according to new federal data.
PaceMate names former Philips, BioTelemetry leader its new chief commercial officer
JR Finkelmeier has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare and medical device industries.
Medtronic adds new AI models to its insertable cardiac monitors
The new algorithms are automatically applied in the cloud; patients wearing the devices are not required to take any additional steps.
World’s first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker still going strong after 6 months
Abbott’s Aveir DR leadless pacemaker, the first pacing offering of its kind to gain FDA approval, is linked to a consistent electrical performance six months after implant. Researchers tracked data from nearly 400 patients and presented their full findings in Heart Rhythm.

Illustration of a left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedure using a Watchman device. Image courtesy of Johns Hopkins Medicine. #LAA #LAAO

Older LAAO patients, especially women, face a higher risk of complications

Researchers explored data from the National Inpatient Sample, sharing their findings in the American Journal of Cardiology.

March 21, 2022

Same-day discharge after TAVR is safe for low-risk patients, leads to considerable cost savings

Same-day discharge after TAVR is feasible and safe, new Cleveland Clinic study confirms

Cleveland Clinic turned to same-day discharge after TAVR during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding considerable success.

March 21, 2022

Electrocardiograms analyzed by AI can offer information about mortality risk.

AI models capable of identifying RV, LV dysfunction in ECGs

Specialists used EHR data, imaging results and natural language processing to bring their advanced AI models to life.

March 18, 2022

PCI can improve the odds of survival for some ischemic heart failure patients with moderate-to-severe functional mitral regurgitation, according to a new study. Image courtesy of Beaumont Hospital. Interventional cardiology procedure in a cath lab at Beaumont Hospital.

PCI boosts survival for ischemic HF patients with moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation

Mortality rates can be especially high for ischemic HF patients presenting with FMR and LVSD, but PCI may offer some relief.

March 17, 2022

A CT image from the Heart Institute in Kyiv, Ukraine, showing a Russian bullet in a civilian patient's upper lung lobe. The patient was being treated at the cardiology hospital after he tried to drive his family out of the area of the front lines and was shot at by Russian soldiers. He is being treated by cardiac surgeon Igor Mokryk MD. Photo by Igor Mokryk.

Heart hospital in Ukraine treating wounded civilians

Cardiothoracic surgeon Igor Mokryk, MD, spent last week taking his family to the Polish border. This week, he treated his first gunshot wound patient at the Heart Institute in Kyiv.

March 16, 2022

Breast imaging mammogram screening study being performed. The mammograms can reveal is a patient has breast cancer.

What routine mammograms can tell us about a woman’s CVD risk

Signs of breast arterial calcification on a patient’s routine mammogram may suggest they face a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.

March 15, 2022

William A. Zoghbi, MD, MACC, FAHA, FASE, is the chair of the Department of Cardiology at the Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, and past president of both the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE).

VIDEO: New advances in echocardiography

William A. Zoghbi, MD, past president of the ACC and ASE, discussed the latest trends in cardiac ultrasound technology.

March 15, 2022

AI-powered ECG analysis could boost care for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Advanced algorithms can pick up on key details in a 12-lead ECG that human readers are unable to see.

March 11, 2022

Around the web

Health Imaging

New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Radiology Business

What does radiology have to do with climate change?

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

Cardiac Imaging

AI-based CAD assessments dramatically improve vascular surgery outcomes

Cardiology ranked No. 2 among all specialties with 122 FDA-cleared AI models

PaceMate names former Philips, BioTelemetry leader its new chief commercial officer

Medtronic adds new AI models to its insertable cardiac monitors

World’s first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker still going strong after 6 months

Around the web