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.

Balloon expansion deployment of an Edwards Lifesciences Sapien 3 transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device.

TAVR vs. surgery: Exploring 5-year outcomes among intermediate-risk patients

A group of renowned TAVR specialists examined data from 783 pairs of intermediate-risk patients, sharing their findings in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Ted Abraham, MD, explains ASE efforts to increase HCM education and standardization of care. #HCM #ASE #ASE23 #ASE2023

All eyes are on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy now that a drug treatment is in place

Ted Abraham, MD, explained why HCM has entered the limelight at recent cardiology conferences, including ASE 2023.

FDA approves Abbott’s Aveir dual chamber (DR) leadless pacemaker system, the world’s very first dual chamber leadless pacing solution for treating patients with abnormal heart rhythms.

FDA approves world’s first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker system

The minimally invasive system is made up of two pacemakers that send signals back and forth to one another. One pacemaker is placed on the patient's right ventricle, and the other is placed on the patient's right atrium. 

Roberto Lang, MD, explained the AI advances in echocardiography that will make it a requirement to have in the coming years at ASE 2023. #ASE #AIhealthcare #ASE2023

Echo labs not using AI will be left behind

Echocardiography expert Roberto Lang, MD, says artificial intelligence will be so important to cardiac ultrasound in the near future that echo labs not using it will be inefficient and less accurate than labs that do use it.

James Kirkpatrick, MD, explains the key trends at ASE 2023. #ASE23 #ASE2023

Key takeaways in cardiac ultrasound from ASE 2023

James Kirkpatrick, MD, discussed some of the biggest trends and themes he saw at the American Society of Echocardiography's 2023 annual meeting.

AI artificial intelligence stethoscope doctor

AI model outperforms researchers’ ‘wildest dreams’ with accurate heart attack assessments

The algorithm, developed using data from more than 7,00 chest pain patients, performed better than multiple techniques currently used to evaluate cardiac events. 

The Edwards Lifesciences Sapien transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device in a heart model used to show patients how the device works.

Balloon-expandable valves deliver better short-term TAVR outcomes than self-expandable valves

A new meta-analysis, published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, focused on data from nearly 3,000 patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis.

Shockwave Medical's intravascular lithotripsy used during transvenous lead extraction

Intravascular lithotripsy helps address the challenges of transvenous lead extraction

Dense calcifications have long been viewed as one of the most challenging aspects of TLE procedures. IVL may offer specialists a new way to address that issue. 

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.