Acute Coronary Syndromes

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is most commonly caused by a heart attack (myocardial infarction) where blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. This is usually caused by a blood clot from a ruptured coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque. Other causes include spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which most commonly occurs in women. ACS is usually treated in a cath lab with angioplasty and the placement of a stent to prop the vessel open.

Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, director of Mount Sinai Heart and general director of the Spanish National Center for Cardiovascular Research

Mount Sinai renames leading heart hospital after cardiologist Valentin Fuster

Fuster, one of the world's most celebrated cardiologists, currently serves as the hospital’s president and physician-in-chief.

ACC President Hadley Wilson, MD, explained the impact of 4 key ESC 2023 IVUS and OCT intravascular imaging trials and wht thaey will l;ikely influence PCI guidelines. #ESC ESC23 #ESC2023 #ACC

Intravascular imaging for PCI gets a big boost from recent studies

ACC President Hadley Wilson, MD, explains the big impact four late-breaking studies on intravascular imaging may have on revising PCI guidelines.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

One-stop cardiology clinic opens, offering same-day CVD diagnoses

The new healthcare facility is the first of its kind, offering same-day cardiac imaging scans, cardiologist consultations and diagnoses. 

What is CKM syndrome? American Heart Association outlines how to identify and manage a dangerous new condition

The American Heart Association has developed an updated strategy for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease. A newly defined health condition, cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, sits at the center of that strategy. 

cardiovascular emergency ambulance

Family of man who died of a heart attack settles lawsuit for $1.9M after error led to delayed care

EMTs waited outside the man's house for 13 minutes before finally entering. The delay, it turns out, was due to an error in the dispatcher's computer system. 

COVID-19 precautions implemented in 2020 reduced D2B times in STEMI patients, and its impact continues to reduce times following the pandemic.

Hospitals still struggling to reach pre-COVID heart attack care thresholds due to pandemic disruption

NCDR report finds hospitals are seeing improvements but are still struggling to reach pre-COVID treatment thresholds years after pandemic precautions upended longstanding processes.

Lung cancer cigarettes

Patients who quit smoking after PCI see key improvements in their cardiovascular health

This encouraged the study’s authors, who had feared any history of smoking on a regular basis would do permanent, irreversible damage to a patient's cardiovascular health. 

cannabis use disorder marijuana joint weed smoking

Excessive cannabis use linked to greater risk of heart attack, other cardiovascular events

Researchers examined data from nearly 60,000 adults, focusing on individuals who have been diagnosed with Cannabis Use Disorder. 

Around the web

Several key trends were evident at the Radiological Society of North America 2024 meeting, including new CT and MR technology and evolving adoption of artificial intelligence.

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