Acute Coronary Syndromes

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is most commonly caused by a heart attack (myocardial infarction) where blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. This is usually caused by a blood clot from a ruptured coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque. Other causes include spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which most commonly occurs in women. ACS is usually treated in a cath lab with angioplasty and the placement of a stent to prop the vessel open.

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Dual antiplatelet therapy after CABG linked to a key benefit—and a key risk

A two-medication strategy after CABG surgery reduces the risk that grafts will fail, but it also increases the risk of serious bleeding. As one surgeon said, "the benefit comes at a price.”

August 29, 2022
Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, director of Mount Sinai Heart and general director of the Spanish National Center for Cardiovascular Research.

Polypill strategy improves odds of survival after a heart attack

The new findings, presented during ESC Congress 2022 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that prescribing these new-look pills to heart patients could boost outcomes while also improving medication adherence.

August 26, 2022
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has finalized its new recommendations on the use of statins to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in August 2022. The USPSTF recommends statin use for high-risk patients between the ages of 40 to 75 to help prevent a first heart attack or stroke. This received the group’s “B” recommendation, which means there is high certainty that there is net benefit. #statins

USPSTF highlights the benefits of statin use among high-risk CVD patients in new recommendations

The USPSTF recommends statin use for high-risk patients between the ages of 40 to 75 to help prevent a first heart attack or stroke. Other patients in that same age group may also benefit, the group noted, but physician input is needed. 

August 25, 2022
Echo:Prio represents the latest addition to Dyad Medical's cloud-based Libby platform. Image courtesy of Dyad Medical.

Regulatory Roundup: FDA approves new-look self-expanding stent, clears 2 advanced AI models

The FDA has had a busy month, overseeing the recall of nearly 88,000 implantable cardiac devices, juggling the continued rise of monkeypox cases in the United States and maintaining an active Breakthrough Devices program. This rundown covers some of the agency's biggest moves during that time. 

August 24, 2022
Onyx Frontier drug-eluting stent Medtronic FDA approval CE mark approval

Medtronic launches updated drug-eluting coronary stent system

The news comes after the Onyx Frontier DES gained CE mark approval. It received FDA approval in May.

August 24, 2022
Jianyi "Jay" Zhang, MD, PhD, is leading research on growing new heart muscle cells

Researchers receive $11.2M to study how the heart recovers from significant damage

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, awarded the funds to three research teams. 

August 23, 2022
A heart attack is caused when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked with a clot.

Study the signs: The most common symptoms of 6 cardiovascular diseases

A new scientific statement details the most common symptoms associated with heart attacks, heart failure and other cardiac conditions. Importantly, the authors wrote, clinicians must remember that symptoms can vary between men and women. 

August 19, 2022
American Heart Association and Joint Commission launch new Comprehensive Heart Attack Center certification.

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

The new certification, based on recommendations published in Circulation, was developed to signal that a facility offers cardiac surgery and primary PCI at all times. 

August 17, 2022

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."

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