The so-called "weekend effect" seen with other cardiovascular diseases appears to exist for patients with severe aortic stenosis as well. 

Scott Lim, MD, details his experience using intracardiac echo to help guide structural heart procedures with or without traditional TEE. One key benefit of ICE, he explained, is its ability to overcome imaging challenges posed by prior cardiac surgeries.

Many PAD patients do not even know they have the disease until it is too late, leading to unnecessary amputations and increasing the risk of other adverse patient outcomes. Awareness is especially limited among Black and Hispanic adults, experts warn, creating an added sense of urgency when looking to accelerate patient education efforts.

Researchers explored data from more than 50,000 TAVR patients who presented with both severe aortic stenosis and stable coronary artery disease, sharing their findings in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Boston-based Amplitude Vascular Systems is busy investigating the performance of its Pulse IVL platform in a wide variety of patient populations.

Frank J. Hildner, MD, is remembered by colleagues for his significant contributions to the field of interventional cardiology as well as his positivity, warmth and generosity. 

Multiple studies over the years have linked PVL to an increased risk of adverse outcomes. New research out of Italy, however, suggests that device improvements made by Medtronic, Edwards Lifesciences and Boston Scientific may have reduced PVL's influence.

Surgery offers multiple long-term benefits when compared to a more interventional approach, though it is still associated with certain risks of its own. In the end, researchers agree, the decision is one that should involve input from surgeons, cardiologists and others.