The American Stroke Association's first major update in 7 years highlights the importance of coordinated care and expands patient access to critical treatments. It also includes the first detailed recommendations for treating stroke in pediatric patients.

A new comprehensive report detailed the latest stats and trends in hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke and many other areas of interest. “Progress in cardiovascular health depends on knowing where we stand,” the authors wrote. “To improve, we must measure—not occasionally, but consistently, transparently and with purpose.”

The sky may be the limit for robotic cardiac surgery in 2026 and beyond.

The new certification is focused on the importance of high-quality care and real-world patient outcomes. It will be based on the same data care teams already submit if they participate in the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database, ACC CathPCI Registry or STS/ACC TVT Registry.

"If you're not using an intravascular imaging modality, the PCI is not optimal," explained Haroon Faraz, MD, from Hackensack University Medical Center. Faraz is hopeful new and improved technologies will help these modalities become more popular among interventional cardiologists.

CMS is considering substantial updates to its TAVR policies, including coverage for asymptomatic patients. Some stakeholders are excited, embracing the possibility of expanded indications and fewer restrictions. Others are concerned that the changes would be too much, too soon.

TAVR has already transformed care for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Will it make a similar impact on the treatment of aortic regurgitation?

Researchers tracked data from more than 400,00 patients, sharing their findings in JAMA Cardiology.