4D flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers striking visuals of blood flow in the heart and vessels but as yet has not found a foothold in clinical practice. Congenital heart disease, and in particular the bicuspid aortic valve, may provide its point of entry.

The FDA announced on Jan. 11 that the agency had received reports of serious adverse events associated with the use of implantable infusion pumps in the magnetic resonance environment.

Ischemic heart failure from previous heart attacks and coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in the world, affecting more than 12% of the world’s population, according to the World Health Organization.

 Dr. Joseph Lamelas, an internationally recognized expert in minimally invasive heart surgery, has joined the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine as associate chief of cardiac surgery in the division of cardiothoracic surgery.

New research from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) suggests that a high-fat diet before imaging may improve diagnostic results of cardiac sarcoidosis. 

Professor William Wijns, co-director of EuroPCR and chairman of PCR, has joined NUI Galway as a professor of medical devices. He will head the $5 million research project to develop wearable sensors for patients at high risk of heart attacks.

Medtronic has signed a deal to operate the catheterization and electrophysiology laboratories at the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Cleveland.

Soon, payers will reward cost-effective, high-quality procedures, while both healthcare providers and patients increasingly will demand efficient, diagnostically accurate nuclear cardiology procedures with low radiation exposure.