Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump as much blood as the body requires. This ineffective pumping can lead to enlargement of the heart as the myocardium works harder pump the same amount of blood. Heart failure may be caused by defects in the myocardium, such as an a heart attack infarct, or due to structural issues such as severe heart valve regurgitation. Heart failure can be divided into HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The disease is further divided into four New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes. Stage IV heart failure is when the heart is completely failing and requires a heart transplant or hemodynamic support from a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

AI cardiology heart artificial intelligence deep learning

New AI model uses ECG images to evaluate heart failure risk

The advanced algorithm only needs an image or photograph of a 12-lead ECG to make its assessment. 

ACC.24 sign American College of Cardiology

American College of Cardiology announces late-breaking clinical trials for ACC.25

The presentations will cover a variety of topics, including coronary artery disease, semaglutide, artificial intelligence, TAVR, heart failure, PCI and much more. ACC.25 takes place March 29-31 in Chicago.

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center perform LVAD implant with robotic assistance

Surgeons make history again with world’s first robotic implant of Abbott heart device

The historic LVAD implant was performed on a 35-year-old patient with advanced heart failure. His symptoms included kidney and lung deterioration.

money maze payment reimbursement

Biden chooses semaglutide for next round of Medicare price negotiations—Trump gets final say

The final list also included diabetes drugs sold by Boehringer Ingelheim and Merck. The first round of drug price negotiations reduced the Medicare prices for 10 popular drugs by up to 79%. 

Stephen Browning, FDA assistant director for hemodynamic and heart failure diagnostics, explains the FDA perspectives and regulatory pathways for AI-enabled cardiovascular devices at TCT 2024.

FDA regulator examines AI's growing influence in cardiology

Stephen Browning, the FDA's assistant director of hemodynamics and heart failure diagnostics, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about the agency's perspective on AI-enabled cardiovascular devices and many other topics.

Video of Clyde Yancy, MD, explaining new directions in treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Exploring the 'new era' of HFpEF treatment: More options exist, but challenges remain

Clyde Yancy, MD, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about how the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has evolved in recent years.

The Vanderbilt Transplant Center, part of Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), has set a world record by performing 174 adult and pediatric heart transplants in a single year.

‘A team effort’: VUMC sets world record for heart transplants in a single year

The center's 2024 total of 174 heart transplants represents an increase of 36% compared to 2023, and 10 of the patients receiving a new heart were young children. 

Alleviant Medical, a Texas-based medical device company, has received the FDA’s breakthrough device designation and an investigational device exemption (IDE) for its new atrial shunt that treats heart failure without leaving a permanent implant in the body.

FDA sees value in no-implant heart failure device

The new atrial shunt from Alleviant Medical was designed to treat heart failure without leaving a permanent implant behind. The FDA granted the technology its breakthrough device designation and approved additional research. 

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.