Making cardiac catheterization labs more efficient and less wasteful could help reduce the large carbon footprint associated with healthcare, according to a new commentary published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

The updated recommendations from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association cover a variety of topics, including patient communication, follow-up imaging, nutritional supplements and more. 

The group collaborated with two other medical societies, SCAI and CHSS, on the expert consensus document. 

The new 44-page document focuses on the detection, classification and risk assessment of congenital heart issues.

Researchers think their new AI model could be especially helpful in areas where qualified physicians and/or ultrasound technology are in short supply.

The American Society of Echocardiography recognized the lack of training and standardization for point-of-care ultrasound users and decided to do something about it. 

It is becoming more and more important, researchers noted, to examine the lifetime management of patients who undergo aortic valve replacement.

Advanced cardiac imager Roosha Parikh, MD, explained that cardiac amyloidosis is regularly misdiagnosed. It can often be identified in echocardiography results, however, if physicians know how to identify it.