Stroke

Cardiovascular departments are playing a role in stroke interventions at numerous health systems, working as part of the stroke care team with neurologists, radiology and the emergency department. Stroke first has be be classified as ischemic or hemorrhagic. These have very different care pathways. Ischemic strokes are increasingly being treated with neurological-interventional therapy that includes catheter based mechanical thrombectomy to remove the clot. This is a more aggressive treatment compared to traditional IV administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) thrombolytic therapy to dissolve the clot. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and  intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) brain bleeds can also be treated in some cases stent flow diverters and embolization coils. 

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TAVR patients face a higher risk of stroke for up to 2 years

A majority of strokes after TAVR occur in the first 48 hours, but patients remain at a significantly higher risk for much longer. 

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Learning more about AFib: 19 important topics for cardiologists, other heart specialists to investigate

New AFib recommendations from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association covered significant ground—but there is still much more to learn, experts explained. 

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New AFib guidelines include higher recommendations for catheter ablation, LAAO

Cardiologists, electrophysiologists, surgeons and patient representatives all worked together on the updated guidelines, which were published in both the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Circulation.

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Private equity-backed pharmaceutical company acquires stroke drug from Bayer

The drug, nimodipine, is a second-generation calcium channel blocker designed to prevent and treat cerebral vasospasm following an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Regularly eating avocados is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.

Portfolio diet—which focuses on plant-based, cholesterol-lowering foods—reduces risk of heart disease and stroke

While it is not as well-known as some other heart-healthy diets, the portfolio diet is linked to key cardiovascular benefits. "We need to get the word out," one dietitian said. 

Ken Rosenfield, MD, Mass General Hospital, explains the impact wider CMS reimbursement for carotid artery stenting will have on patient stroke care and interventional cardiology. CAS

Q&A: Ken Rosenfield explains the impact of new reimbursement coverage for carotid stenting 

Ken Rosenfield, MD, helped spearhead the recent Medicare policy change that made carotid stenting procedures available to more patients.

CMS changes coverage policy for carotid stenting to make it more widely available

A group of interventional cardiologists, neurologists and vascular surgeons successfully petitioned Medicare to change its coverage determination for carotid stenting procedures.

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Stroke after TAVR: New research helps cardiologists detect early warning signs

Post-TAVR stroke is rare, but it can be fatal. A new study in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions examined the issue in great detail, focusing on more than 2,700 patients treated over a two-year stretch. 

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New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

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