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Only orthopedic surgeons and neurologists/psychiatrists received more industry payments from 2013 to 2022 than cardiologists. Also, the two prescription medications associated with the most physician payments were a blood thinner and an anticoagulant. 

Medtronic has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its Evolut FX+ transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) system for the treatment of symptomatic severe aortic stenosis.

The Evolut FX+ TAVR system includes an updated diamond-shaped frame, which was made four times larger than previous models to offer improved coronary access. It was also designed to provide more space for operators to guide and maneuver the catheter during procedures.

American Heart Association and Joint Commission launch new Comprehensive Heart Attack Center certification.

Hoping to gain a better understanding of how TAVR may impact a patient’s long-term cardiovascular health, researchers explored data from more than 200,000 patients and shared their findings in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

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Polyethylene was present in 58.4% of patients, and polyvinyl chloride was present in 12.1%. The presence of either one was associated with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke or death. 

artificial intelligence robot evaluates healthcare data. Novo Nordisk announced a new collaboration with Valo Health, a healthcare technology company focused on using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to identify new drug treatments for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

HeartFlow hopes to gather real-world data from up to 10,000 patients with suspected CAD.

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Cardiologists now have two more tools to help them combat PAH, a rare vascular condition that often leads to heart failure.

money business cash flow dollar. Kingsway Financial Services, a Chicago-based holding company with subsidiaries in several industries, has acquired New Jersey-based Digital Diagnostics Imaging (DDI) for $11 million. The transaction was funded with $5.4 million in cash and $5.6 million in debt financing.

Healthcare giants Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic were all reportedly interested in acquiring Shockwave Medical in 2023. Now, new rumors suggest a deal could be finalized within weeks. 

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Members of Congress are now asking the FDA to investigate a parent's claim that her 14-year-old son was treated with an experimental heart valve without proper consent. The valve eventually failed and had to be replaced. The hospital has said its heart team did nothing wrong. 

Cardiologist heart

The new guidance, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, covers a variety of topics, including thoracic aortic disease, peripheral artery disease, shared decision-making and cardiac imaging.

A transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure being performed at Intermountain Healthcare. Image from Intermountain Healthcare. Sex differences in TAVR one-year mortality.

Atrial fibrillation and peripheral artery disease, for example, are both predictors of mortality among women, but not men. 

Tablet projecting metaphorical medical hologram

New research out of Mayo Clinic found that clinicians who listened to AI-based treatment recommendations were more successful at identifying patients with low ejection fraction. 

Deepak Bhatt, MD, discusses the long-term, positive SYMPLICITY HTN-3 trial results presented at TCT 2022, and the future of renal denervation therapy to treat hypertension. #TCT

Deepak Bhatt, MD, MPH, details long-term outcomes from the SYMPLICITY HTN-3 trial, which show a lasting impact on patients with uncontrolled hypertension. 

Around the web

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

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."

Philips introduced a new CT system at ECR aimed at the rapidly growing cardiac CT market, incorporating numerous AI features to optimize workflow and image quality.