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).

CVRx Barostim illustration

CVRx ‘thrilled’ with Q1 performance as Barostim use continues to increase

The company has seen significant improvements in revenue and the number of centers actively using its technology.

May 1, 2023
Laser speckle imaging captures details of blood vessels in a beating donor transplant heart outside the body for viability evaluation. Image from Plyer et al., doi 10.1117/1.JBO.28.4.046007

Laser technology may help determine viability of transplant hearts

A new laser imaging technology may be able to determine which donor hearts are viable for transplant and which will result in poor outcomes, without the need for coronary angiography or use of contrast agents that can damage an explanted heart.

April 26, 2023
Abbott centrimag life support system

Abbott life support system gains 2 new FDA clearances aimed at providing long-term relief

Certain uses of the CentriMag acute circulatory support system were previously limited to six hours, but the FDA has now cleared long-term treatment so that clinicians have more time to provide high-quality care. 

April 25, 2023
Large peridevice leaks after left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) are incredibly rare and not associated with a greater risk of adverse outcomes, according to new research published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.[1] Smaller residual links are more common, however, and associated with a risk of thromboembolic and bleeding events.

American College of Cardiology shares new HFpEF recommendations as cases continue to rise

HFpEF now accounts for a majority of heart failure cases, highlighting the importance of ensuring both primary care providers and dedicated heart teams know as much about this topic as possible. 

April 21, 2023
cardiologist doctor physician patient black diverse hypertension

NSAID use, even for just 2 weeks, increases heart failure risk among patients with type 2 diabetes

The link between NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and heart failure was especially strong among patients 80 years old and older. For patients 65 years old and younger, on the other hand, no such link was identified. 

April 17, 2023
Recall | Product recall

FDA announces third recall of 2023 for troubled heart devices

This latest recall is due to a heightened risk that the devices will stop working with no warning. There have been 42 customer complaints reported so far. 

April 3, 2023
Obesity Paradox Body Mass Index

New research debunks the ‘obesity paradox’

Using waist-to-height ratio instead of body mass index (BMI) eliminates the oft-debated "advantage" of being overweight or obese with a heart condition.

March 27, 2023
NASA astronaut Kate Rubins conducts research for the Effect of Microgravity on Drug Responses Using Engineered Heart Tissues (Cardinal Heart) investigation onboard the International Space Station, one of several cardiovascular experiments on the ISS in recent years. Two more cardiac experiements launched to the ISS in March 2023. NASA Image

Heart tissue heads to space for research on aging and impact of long spaceflights

These experiments, performed with help from NASA, are simply out of this world. 

March 23, 2023

Around the web

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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."

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