The Medtronic Symplicity Spyral Renal Denervation system uses a catheter that curls in the renal artery to place radiofrequency electrodes against the vessel wall to ablate the nerves that control vasodilation, so the artery can be propped in the fully open position.

SPYRAL HTN-ON MED renal denervation study did not meet primary endpoint

The SPYRAL HTN-ON MED renal denervation trial failed to show that renal denervation was superior to sham control at improving ambulatory blood pressure (ABPM), but that might have been due to patient lifestyle changes during COVID-19.

Brian Lindman, MD, MSCI, medical director of the Structural Heart and Valve Center and an associate professor of medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explains the new American Heart Association (AHA) Target Aortic Stenosis (AS) program. It was announced at the AHA 2022 meeting and is designed to help screen with echo to find more AS patients.

VIDEO: AHA says aortic stenosis is undertreated and underdiagnosed

Brian Lindman, MD, medical director of the Structural Heart and Valve Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explains the new American Heart Association (AHA) Target Aortic Stenosis (AS) program to screen with echo to find more AS patients. 

The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) launched its new, interactive EchoGuide mobile and web application for healthcare professionals last week, and the society said it already has about 15,000 downloads.

American Society of Echocardiography releases new EchoGuide clinical calculator app

The ASE launched its new, interactive EchoGuide mobile and web application, and already has about 15,000 downloads.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, who is a cardiologist, spoke at the opening session of the American Heart Association (AHA) last week about the need for doctors and health systems to step up to address two major problems - misinformation and health disparities.

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf calls on cardiology to address health inequities and combat misinformation

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, who is a cardiologist, spoke at the opening session of the American Heart Association about the need to step up and address two major problems in the American healthcare system. 

Image from the American Heart Association (AHA) annual scientific sessions where a large amount of late-breaking cardiology science is presented. #AHA #AHA22 #AHA2022

Links to the American Heart Association 2022 late-breaking studies

The American Heart Association 2022 Scientific Sessions included 35 late-breaking studies and 39 featured science sessions presented at the meeting in Chicago, Nov. 5-7. Here is the list of all these studies with links to more information on the data.

Late-breaking cardiovascular study presentation at AHA 2022. #AHA22

VIDEO: Key takeaways from AHA 2022

Manesh R. Patel, MD, chair of AHA Scientific Sessions program, explains what he saw as the top takeaways from AHA 2022.

Medtronic’s Arctic Front cryoballoon catheters

Treating AFib early with cryoablation reduces risk of disease progression, repeat hospitalization

“The evidence shows increasingly that it’s time to rethink how we approach the treatment of AFib,” one researcher said.

ACC President Ed Fry, MD, an interventional and general cardiologist at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, and chair of the Ascension National Cardiovascular Service Line, says Medicare cuts for 2023 are a tipping point that need to be a call to action across medicine. #AHA22 #ACC

VIDEO: ACC president says Medicare cuts should be a call to action across healthcare

American College of Cardiology President Edward Fry, MD, spoke about recent Medicare cuts at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions conference in Chicago. 

Around the web

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

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