Patient Care

This page includes news coverage of various aspects of patient healthcare, including new technology innovations, what is working, what is not, personalized medicine and remote and telemedicine delivery. Find specific news in the areas of Care Delivery, Digital Transformation, Precision Medicine, Remote Monitoring and Telehealth.

Timing is everything: Delaying noncardiac surgery after a heart procedure reduces risks
When patients require subsequent noncardiac surgery after a major heart operation, waiting at least 100 days is one way to limit the risk of an adverse event. Read the full analysis in JACC: Advances.
Direct marketing to cardiologists increases uptake of some, but not all, heart failure drugs
Researchers tracked three years of CMS data to explore how meal-based marketing may influence the habits of general and advanced heart failure cardiologists.
Safety update: FDA announces Class I recall due to atherectomy devices breaking during use
The FDA shared a warning about these safety issues in February, but said it was still reviewing the evidence. The agency is now saying the devices “may cause serious injury or death” if used without following the updated instructions for use.
Choosing left radial access in the cath lab helps cardiologists limit radiation exposure
Using a left radial artery approach in the cath lab exposes interventional cardiologists to significantly less radiation than a hyper-adducted right radial artery approach. The difference is substantial enough for researchers to declare LRA "the primary access site for cardiac catheterization."
Enabling X-ray-free ablation procedures in the EP lab
Exposure to scatter radiation and orthopedic issues related to years of wearing lead aprons during long EP procedures has led electrophysiologists to seek out new ways to reduce the need for angiographic X-ray.

Capstan Medical robotic transcatheter mitral valve replacement

Cardiologists make history, complete world’s first robotic transcatheter mitral valve replacements

One of the cardiologists involved in the procedures said they represent "a significant leap forward in structural heart intervention."

self-centering guide catheter (SCGC) for TAVR from Boston Scientific

Cardiologists are first in world to use new TAVR catheter from Boston Scientific

The new Self-Centering Guide Catheter was designed to help care teams with the retrograde crossing of the aortic valve during TAVR. Researchers evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the catheter, sharing their experience in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Philips pulls endovascular devices from market after safety issues prompt Class I recall

Philips is recalling all sizes of its Tack Endovascular System after 20 patient injuries were reported. Interventional cardiologists are urged to stop using the device immediately.

Cardiologists recommend complete revascularization, intravascular imaging in new ACS guidelines

The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association published the new guidelines with assistance from other leading U.S. medical societies.

FDA clears Google smartwatch tech that calls 911 when a user’s heart stops

Google worked with AI specialists, cardiologists and even stunt performers to develop its new smartwatch feature.

The Medtronic CoreValve Evolut and the Edwards Lifesciences Sapien 3 TAVR valves.

Second-generation TAVR valves from Medtronic, Edwards Lifesciences and Boston Scientific are all associated with similar seven-year outcomes, according to a new retrospective study out of Italy.

Wearable heart device company to go public, raise up to $155M

Kestra Medical Technologies, known for its wearable heart monitors and defibrillators, intends to sell 10 million common shares priced somewhere between $14 and $16 per share.

Charalambos Antoniades, MD, the British Heart Foundation Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Oxford, is a co-founder of the company Caristo, which has developed technology to image coronary inflammation on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) scans to visualize a key factor of residual cardiovascular risk.

Detecting coronary inflammation on CT imaging could reshape preventive cardiology

New technology now being considered by the FDA for approval can capture coronary inflammation on CCTA images and provide risk assessments. What could this mean for the future of cardiac care? We spoke to one researcher to learn more.

Around the web

Radiology Business

The impact of Trump tariffs on iodine contrast media costs

GE HealthCare said the price of iodine contrast increased by more than 200% between 2017 to 2023. Will new Chinese tariffs drive costs even higher?

Radiology Business

Key takeaways from RSNA 2024 for AI, CT, MRI and the radiology staffing shortage

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.

Patient Care

Timing is everything: Delaying noncardiac surgery after a heart procedure reduces risks

Direct marketing to cardiologists increases uptake of some, but not all, heart failure drugs

Safety update: FDA announces Class I recall due to atherectomy devices breaking during use

Choosing left radial access in the cath lab helps cardiologists limit radiation exposure

Enabling X-ray-free ablation procedures in the EP lab

Around the web