A singular, high-dose beam of radiation could improve survival odds in patients with ventricular tachycardia, many of whom are too sick to undergo conventional therapy, researchers reported at the ASTRO meeting in Chicago Sept. 15.

The incidence of aborted procedures during transcatheter aortic valve replacement is falling, according to work published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, but centers with low institutional TAVR volume still struggle to keep up with bigger hospitals’ success.

Drugmaker Novartis is halting the distribution of generic Zantac, or ranitidine, while the drug is investigated for NDMA, a probable human carcinogen.

The opioid crisis is to blame for an “alarming” number of cases of infective endocarditis, according to the American Heart Association.

The need for surgical bailout in heart patients undergoing TAVR is low, according to research published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, but when it is performed outcomes are poor, reaching 50% mortality at 30 days.

The National Lipid Association has issued a position statement recommending the use of icosapent ethyl for treating patients with atherosclerotic CVD or type 2 diabetes, rooting its endorsement in the positive results of the REDUCE-IT study.

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine Sept. 17 suggests daily aspirin could result in a net benefit for some people without established CVD, further muddying the debate over whether aspirin is an effective preventive tool for those without heart disease.

The incidence of CIED infection in the U.S. has been increasing for the past two decades, according to work published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology this month.