CT-based Measurements Beat Framingham Risk Score in Predicting Future CVD Events

Assessment of abdominal aortic calcification using computed tomography (CT) is a highly effective predictor of future heart attack and CVD risk, according to research published in Radiology Oct. 2—more effective even than... read more

CT-based Measurements Beat Framingham Risk Score in Predicting Future CVD Events

Magnesium for Rapid Atrial Fibrillation Rate-Control in the ED

Over the years, IV magnesium has been studied for the treatment of rapid AF in several clinical situations, most prominently in post-cardiac surgery patients. However, there are also studies in ED and cardiology patients,... read more

Magnesium for Rapid Atrial Fibrillation Rate-Control in the ED

Operator performs robot-assisted PCI from 100 miles away

Tele-stenting appears more possible now than ever, as Vascular Robotics announced an interventional cardiologist used its CorPath GRX System to perform a remote percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a pig 100 miles... read more

Operator performs robot-assisted PCI from 100 miles away

Collective Quality Improvement in the Pediatric Cardiology Acute Care Unit

Collaborative quality improvement and learning networks have amended healthcare quality and value across specialities. Motivated by these successes, the Pediatric Acute Care Cardiology Collaborative (PAC3) was founded in... read more

Collective Quality Improvement in the Pediatric Cardiology Acute Care Unit

The Elevated Troponin: What else besides ACS could cause troponin elevation?

The increased troponin used to be a straight ticket to the cardiology service. Now, the picture isn't so clear. What do you need to consider in the patient with elevated troponin? Cardiac troponins consist of three proteins:... read more

The Elevated Troponin: What else besides ACS could cause troponin elevation?

Advances in Critical Care Management of Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Cardiac surgery has been evolving to include minimally invasive, hybrid and transcatheter techniques. Increas‑ing patient age and medical complexity means that critical care management needs to adapt and evolve. Recent... read more

Advances in Critical Care Management of Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Elevated BNP Levels in CFS Associated with Cardiac Dysfunction

This study confirms an association between reduced cardiac volumes and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Lack of relationship between length of disease suggests that findings are not secondary... read more

Elevated BNP Levels in CFS Associated with Cardiac Dysfunction

Understanding How to Improve Quality and Value for Patients With AMI

Although the United States lags behind comparable nations in many health measures, mortality following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is lower in the United States than in many other developed countries, including Finland,... read more

Understanding How to Improve Quality and Value for Patients With AMI

Detecting Undiagnosed Atrial Fibrillation with Cardiac Monitors

A group of researchers led by James A. Reiffel, M.D., did a study to determine the incidence of previously undiagnosed atrial fibrillation in high-risk patients with the use of insertable cardiac monitors (ICM). The results... read more

Detecting Undiagnosed Atrial Fibrillation with Cardiac Monitors

Double Mortality Risk for Depressed Heart Disease Patients

Among 24,000 patients with heart disease studied over many years, those who suffered from depression were at twice the risk of dying, according recently published findings from Intermountain Healthcare. A statistical analysis... read more

Double Mortality Risk for Depressed Heart Disease Patients

When Evidence Says No, but Doctors Say Yes

Long after research contradicts common medical practices, patients continue to demand them and physicians continue to deliver. The result is an epidemic of unnecessary and unhelpful treatments.... read more

Organ Dysfunction, Injury and Failure in Acute Heart Failure

Managing patients with AHF remains a clinical challenge and current therapies have uncertain impacts on long-term morbidity and mortality. The use of therapies that prevent or reverse congestion-induced organ injury may represent... read more

Organ Dysfunction, Injury and Failure in Acute Heart Failure

Heart Rate Variability in Critical Care Medicine

Heart rate variability (HRV) has been used to assess cardiac autonomic activity in critically ill patients, driven by translational and biomarker research agendas. Several clinical and technical factors can interfere with... read more

Heart Rate Variability in Critical Care Medicine

I’m your Anesthesiologist. Let me explain what that means

Anesthesiologists are the guardian angels of the operating room. Their primary purpose is to keep you alive so you can undergo whatever procedure you need. While we may only meet you shortly before we take you to the operating... read more

I’m your Anesthesiologist. Let me explain what that means

Implications of Prevalent Noncardiac Disease in the Cardiac ICU

Half of >1000 patients of admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) at a major tertiary-care center over about 1 year also had acute respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, or sepsis. Those with lung or kidney... read more

Implications of Prevalent Noncardiac Disease in the Cardiac ICU

The Gut Microbiome and Its Role in Cardiovascular Diseases

The trimethylamine/TMAO pathway likely represents only one of many microbe-dependent pathways that will ultimately be linked to cardiovascular disease pathogenesis, and proven to be an important diagnostic and therapeutic... read more

The Gut Microbiome and Its Role in Cardiovascular Diseases

ACC Releases Afib Treatment Interruption Guidelines

Revised recommendations released today by the American College of Cardiology are designed to help clinicians determine if, and for how long, Afib patients on anticoagulants should be taken off the medications before scheduled... read more

ACC Releases Afib Treatment Interruption Guidelines