View of an Amulet left atrial appendage (LAA) occluder on 4D intra-cardiac echo (ICE) from a GE NuVision ICE catheter. Since ICE is operated by the interventionalist, it can be used to reduce the number of people needed to perform an LAA occlusion procedure.  

New LAA occluder technology and the debate on echo vs. CT image guidance

At TVT 2022, there was debate whether CT imaging is needed for preplanning LAA procedures, and several new devices in development were discussed.

American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) past president Jonathan Lindner, MD, FASE, is a newly named advisor to the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC), which advises the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on whether services and supplies are reasonable and necessary under Medicare.

Cardiologist Jonathan Lindner to advise influential Medicare committee

As a MEDCAC advisor, American Society of Echocardiography past president Jonathan Lindner, MD, will help decide whether services and supplies are reasonable and necessary under Medicare.

VIDEO: The state of TAVR in 2022

Michael Mack, MD, a key pioneer in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), explains the history of TAVR and where things are headed.

Biolimus-coated balloons can effectively treat small-vessel coronary artery disease, new first-in-human study confirms

Researchers compared the new-look drug coated balloon with an uncoated balloon, publishing their findings in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Big private payer reverses course on cardiac PET/CT coverage

One of the largest private health insurers in the U.S. has gone from considering hybrid PET/CT for cardiac indications “experimental/investigational” to displaying willingness to pay for the modality. 

Two examples of new left atrial appendage occluders (LAAO), the Conformal omn left and the Laminar on the right. evi Nair, MD, FACC, FHRS, director of cardiac electrophysiology at St. Bernard's Healthcare, Jonesboro, Arkansas, explains some of the recent advances in transcatheter left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion technology at the 2022 Transcatheter Valve Therapeutics (TVT) Structural Heart Summit. #TVT #TVT2020 #LAA #LAAO #EPeeps

VIDEO: Advances in left atrial appendage occlusion technology

Devi Nair, MD, director of cardiac electrophysiology at St. Bernard's Healthcare, Jonesboro, Arkansas, explains some of the recent advances in transcatheter left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion technology at the 2022 Transcatheter Valve Therapeutics (TVT) Structural Heart Summit.

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Cardiologists push back on FDA’s thyroid monitoring/contrast media proposal

According to a new SCAI statement, the FDA's recommendation would result in "far-reaching consequences" across multiple specialties. 

Azeem Latib explains advances in transcatheter mitral and tricuspid valve therapies at TVT 2022. #TVT #TVT22 #TVT2022 #TMVR #TTVR

VIDEO: Transcatheter tricuspid devices likely to gain FDA clearance before new mitral advances

It was clear at TVT that tricuspid valve therapies will likely move ahead of new mitral therapies coming to market. Azeem Latib, MD, explained why.

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.