Clinical

This channel newsfeed includes clinical content on treating patients or the clinical implications in a variety of cardiac subspecialties and disease states. The channel includes news on cardiac surgery, interventional cardiologyheart failure, electrophysiologyhypertension, structural heart disease, use of pharmaceuticals, and COVID-19.   

Alain Cribier, MD, a veteran interventional cardiologist known for performing the very first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), died on Feb. 16. He was 79 years old.

Cardiology pioneer, known for performing world’s first TAVR, remembered as a ‘true visionary’

Alain Cribier, MD, a veteran interventional cardiologist out of France, died at the age of 79. The procedure he helped put on the map is arguably cardiology's most significant breakthrough in the last several decades. 

February 22, 2024
Elderly patient doctor. Despite an expanded indication from the FDA and lower prices, patient access to these cholesterol-lowering medications remains a significant issue.

Insurance plans still denying more claims for PCSK9 inhibitors than other cardiovascular drugs

Despite an expanded indication from the FDA and lower prices, patient access to these cholesterol-lowering medications remains a significant issue.

February 22, 2024
Multiple factors can interfere with pulse oximetry accuracy including skin pigmentation. Multiple studies have shown the inaccuracy of current pulse oximeters in patients with darker skin tones than whites, often over estimating their oxygenation when in fact they are hypoxic. Images courtesy of Masimo.

Inaccurate pulse oximeter readings impact Black heart failure patients and FDA plans to address this

Black patients are already less likely to receive LVADs or transplants compared to whites, and these inaccurate readings can further widen the disparities.

February 21, 2024
The Reprieve System using intelligent software and automation to manage diuretic dosing and fluid replacement for patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

Heart failure startup emerges with $42 million in financing for its intelligent fluid management system

Reprieve Cardiovascular emerged from stealth mode this week with sizable financial backing and some big name board members to advance development for its intelligent, automated diuretic and fluid management system for heart failure.

February 21, 2024
An Illinois appellate judge upheld a pervious trial victory that cleared and central Illinois cardiologist Amit Dande, MD, and Prairie Cardiovascular Consults LLP of alleged misdiagnosis of the severity of a patient's heart condition that led to his death prior to a schedule percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Illinois cardiologist not held responsible for patient's death while waiting for angiogram

A judge upheld a previous trial victory that cleared Prairie Cardiovascular Consults of alleged mishandling of a patient and not fully understanding the severity of the heart condition prior to their death.

February 21, 2024
Examples of photon-counting coronary angiography showing how clarity improves as the thickness of the image is reduced. Top: 60-year-old female, with noncalcified plaque (arrowheads) and coronary stenosis (inset images). The reduced section thickness did not affect assessment in this patient. Bottom: 56-year-old female with calcified plaque (arrowheads) and coronary stenosis. The reduced section thickness leads to less calcium blooming and therefore a less severe percentage of stenosis. Courtesy of RSNA

Coronary artery disease classification improved with photon-counting CT

After a photon-counting CT, 54% of patients had their coronary artery disease classification downgraded.

February 20, 2024
With advances and increased experience in the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), same-day discharge (SDD) has become increasingly commonplace, but patient selection is key. Antithrombotic therapy may not be necessary for certain transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patients, according to a new analysis published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Implementing a same-day PCI discharge pathway boils down to correct patient selection

Safety is key to which individuals are selected for SDD, and there can be benefits to both patients and health systems as this becomes the predominant model of care in elective PCI.

February 20, 2024
Staff at the new Fetal Cardiac Clinic at the Heart Institute at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. From left, Director of the Heart Institute David Romberger, RN, MSN, CCRN; attending physician Shuo Wang, MD; Executive Director of the Heart Institute Jennifer Klunder, MHA; Director of the Fetal Cardiac Clinic Jodie Votava-Smith, MD; Chief of the Division of Cardiology and Co-director of the Heart Institute Paul F. Kantor, MBBCh, MSc, FRCPC; and congenital cardiac surgeon Luke Wiggins, MD.

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles unveils new fetal cardiac clinic

Clinic for expectant mothers designed to better diagnose and treat congenital heart defects and heart diseases before birth. 

February 20, 2024

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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