Tiny fragments of plastic are commonly found deep inside the human body. Heart surgery, it seems, is one of many ways these microplastics are reaching their destination. 

“This situation unacceptably exacerbates the interventional cardiology workforce shortage and threatens to directly impact the care of patients," SCAI wrote in a new statement. 

This latest recall was brought on by electrical failures and includes more than 4,500 devices. There have been 26 complaints due to the issue but no reported injuries or deaths. 

The agency has shared a new draft guidance focused on the inclusion of information related to QTc interval prolongation. 

The contrast agent, simply called Gadobutrol Injection, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is now available in the United States.

Fasting before major operations has been common in healthcare for nearly 80 years, but that has started to change since the turn of the century. 

"You have to look at each patient and understand their goals," one HCM expert said in a new interview. 

The system includes an expandable cryoablation balloon catheter compatible with multiple balloon sizes. 

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy expert Sherif F. Nagueh, MD, examined imaging's role in treating this serious condition. 

Nicholas Smedira, MD, a cardiovascular surgeon with Cleveland Clinic, discusses septal myectomy and the need to improve overall HCM care with new standards and evidence-based guidelines.