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).

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Study the signs: The most common symptoms of 6 cardiovascular diseases

A new scientific statement details the most common symptoms associated with heart attacks, heart failure and other cardiac conditions. Importantly, the authors wrote, clinicians must remember that symptoms can vary between men and women. 

The most successful case to date of a pig organ being transplanted into a human occurred back in January, when specialists at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) in Baltimore transplanted a modified pig heart into 57-year-old David Bennett. The FDA approved the heart transplant transplant through an emergency authorization typically reserved for experimental procedures seen as a patient’s last chance at survival. Bennett did die of heart failure two months later, but UMMC specialists had been “

Surgeons behind historic pig heart transplant to share their story at HFSA annual meeting

Multiple specialists involved in the procedure, including the surgeon who transplanted the pig heart, are scheduled to speak at the conference. 

Cardiovascular deaths are on the decline—but there is still a lot of work to do

Three recent NIH-supported studies took a close look at disparities in cardiovascular care.

‘Virtual wards’ could boost outcomes, save up to $10K per heart failure patient

Following medical discharge, a program consisting of at-home visits, telehealth appointments and clinic visits resulted in better outcomes and lower healthcare costs than typical post-discharge care.

cardiac scale bodyport fda clearance

Cardiac scale gains FDA clearance, putting patients 1 step away from a heart assessment

The newly cleared device works like a traditional scale, but it captures more data than just the user's weight. 

The Harmony pulmonary valve was among the devices involved with the FDA Breakthrough Device Designation program that gained more rapid market clearance. The FDA graph shows cardiovascular devices leading the types of devices involved in the program.

Cardiovascular devices lead FDA Breakthrough Device Designation program

The FDA said cardiovascular devices make up the largest number of technologies accepted into the Breakthrough Devices Program, and several are on the list of the first 50 in the program to gain market clearance.

This latest shortage involves dobutamine, an injectable medication often prescribed for advanced heart failure and cardiogenic shock. It is also a central component of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE), a test used to evaluate patients with severe aortic stenosis.

A new supply issue hits cardiology: 5 recommendations for cardiologists during the dobutamine shortage

The shortage could lead to significant issues for cardiologists. The American College of Cardiology provided some words of wisdom on the ongoing issue.  

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Cardiologists sound the alarm as ‘staggering’ new data suggest CVD rates in the U.S. will rise dramatically

New data from the CDC and U.S. Census Bureau show just how bad CVD rates could get in the next few decades. Specialists agree that a lot of work is needed to help keep these estimates from becoming a reality. 

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Around the web

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Use of AI opportunistic screening in CT for cardiovascular disease

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

Health Imaging
New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.