Cardiac Imaging

While cardiac ultrasound is the widely used imaging modality for heart assessments, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear imaging are also used and are often complimentary, each offering specific details about the heart other modalities cannot. For this reason the clinical question being asked often determines the imaging test that will be used.

A TAVR procedure being performed at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. These structural heart procedures require a team approach.

TAVR outcomes take a hit when patients present with heart failure or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

In-hospital mortality was especially high among TAVR patients presenting with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, according to a new analysis.

Anita Asgar, MD, MSc, FSCAI, director, transcatheter valve therapy research at Montréal Heart Institute, discusses a textbook she co-edited with Jason Rogers, MD, on the transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) of the mitral valve.

VIDEO: SCAI publishes free how-to textbook on TEER procedures

Anita Asgar, MD, discusses a free textbook available online she co-edited on the transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) of the mitral valve. 

TricValve Transcatheter Bicaval Valves System P+F Products + Features GmbH

TricValve device proven safe and effective after 6 months for patients with severe symptomatic TR

The study's authors explored data from 35 patients who received the TricValve Transcatheter Bicaval Valves System. All patients presented with severe tricuspid regurgitation.

Brijeshwar Maini, MD, FACC, structural heart cardiologist, national and Florida medical director of cardiology, explains his decision to leave clinical practice in the near future to become a full-time cardiac device manufacture business owner. It is a path several prominent cardiologists have made.

VIDEO: How this cardiologist became a full-time inventor and entrepreneur

Brijeshwar Maini, MD, explains his decision to leave clinical practice to become a full-time cardiac device business owner. It is a path several prominent cardiologists have made.

Medtronic CathWorks FFRangio FFR fractional flow reserve x-rays

Medtronic invests $75M in AI-powered FFR specialists, opening door to a future acquisition

The FFRangio System, which uses AI to obtain fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements from routine X-rays, is at the center of this new partnership

Mitral and_tricuspid transcatheter valves Evoque and Intrepid were discussed at TVT 2022.

VIDEO: Advances in transcatheter tricuspid and mitral valve technology

Anita W. Asgar, MD, director, transcatheter valve therapy research at Montréal Heart Institute, discusses advances and new technology for mitral and tricuspid valves at the 2022 Transcatheter Valve Therapies (TVT) meeting. 

KardiaBand outperforms Apple Watch in diagnosing AFib, but a cardiologist’s perspective is still crucial

The study's authors noted that the ECG acquisition technology in these wearable devices appears to be quite effective. The automated algorithms, however, could still be improved. 

Examples of new plaque reporting in the CAD-RADS 2.0 document. Left, an example from CAD-RADS 2 / P2 plaque burden with mild coronary stenosis (25-49%). Right, example of a CAD-RADS 5/ P3, with a focal, non-calcified occlusion of the proximal RCA (arrow) and severe amount of plaque (P3). #CADRADS #YesCCT #CTA #CCTA

New CAD-RADS 2.0 reporting for coronary CTA offers patient management recommendations

The document includes updated classification to established a framework for stenosis, plaque burden and plaque modifiers, including assessment of CT-FFR or myocardial CT perfusion.

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.