CardioExchange Archive

January 3rd, 2012

Bariatric Surgery Cuts Cardiovascular Deaths and Events

Larry Husten, PHD

Bariatric surgery results in significant reductions in cardiovascular deaths and events, according to a new study from Sweden published in JAMA. But one expert cautions that the results do not mean that obese patients without other weight-related complications should undergo surgery. Analyzing data from more than 4000 obese patients enrolled in the ongoing Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) […]

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December 28th, 2011

No Mortality Benefit of Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin in Acutely Ill Patients

Larry Husten, PHD

Although venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious problem for acutely ill patients in the hospital, a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine failed to find any improvement in mortality associated with thromboprophylaxis. Ajay Kakkar and the LIFENOX investigators randomized 8307 acutely ill patients to receive enoxaparin or placebo for 10 days. All patients wore elastic […]

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December 15th, 2011

PCI and On-Site CABG: Out of Site, Out of Mind?

L. David Hillis, MD and Richard A. Lange, MD, MBA

According to a recent meta-analysis of studies in patients undergoing PCI, rates of in-hospital mortality and emergency CABG for primary and non-primary PCI were similar at centers with and without on-site surgery.  At least, that’s the story the press is spreading around. However, several caveats should be noted . . . 1. The study included patients undergoing […]

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December 1st, 2011

ACC and STS Announce Launch of TAVR Registry

Larry Husten, PHD

Following the approval of the first device for transcathether aortic valve replacement therapy (TAVR) earlier this month, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) have announced the launch of the TVT Registry, a joint initiative that will monitor the rollout of the new technology. The registry was created in response to the […]

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December 1st, 2011

Heart Over Head or Head Over Heart?

Anju Nohria, MD and James Fang, MD

A 52-year-old man presented with 3 episodes of transient dysarthria and right-sided facial numbness within a 2-week period. A carotid ultrasound revealed >70% stenosis of the left-internal carotid artery and 50%–69% stenosis of the right coronary artery. At age 40, the man had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which was treated with cranial radiation and anthracyclines, […]

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November 22nd, 2011

Study Examines Role of Surgery for Infective Endocarditis and Heart Failure

Larry Husten, PHD

Although current guidelines recommend valve surgery for patients with infective endocarditis and heart failure (HF), a large prospective registry finds that many of these patients do not undergo surgery — and have much worse outcomes. In a paper published in JAMA, Todd Kiefer and colleagues report on 4166 patients with infective endocarditis enrolled in the International Collaboration on Endocarditis […]

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November 15th, 2011

Hype Aside, Hope for Stem Cell Therapy May Be Emerging from Hibernation

Larry Husten, PHD

Two small studies of cardiac stem cells for the treatment of heart failure have shown promise, but ABC News, CBS News, and other media outlets are throwing around words like “medical breakthrough” and “heart failure cure.” ABC News correspondent Richard Besser was so enthusiastic that anchor Diane Sawyer commented that she had never seen him “so excited.” […]

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November 11th, 2011

TAVI at TCT: Enthusiasm Tempered by Poor Transapical Outcomes

Larry Husten, PHD

Continued enthusiasm for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with the Edwards’ Sapien device was tempered somewhat by poor outcomes observed in the group of patients for whom the procedure was performed using the transapical instead of the transfemoral approach. Results of 3 new studies from the PARTNER trials and a controversial new trial, STACCATO, were […]

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November 7th, 2011

ACC and AHA Release New PCI and CABG Guidelines

Larry Husten, PHD

The AHA and the ACC have released updated 2011 guidelines for PCI and CABG. The guidelines are available online on the JACC website (here and here) and on the Circulation website. The new guidelines include for the first time a strong recommendation that hospitals adopt a “heart team” approach in choosing a treatment strategy for patients with coronary […]

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November 7th, 2011

TAVI Approval: An Alternate Perspective

Norman Silverman, md

The FDA’s decision to release for general use the Sapien transcatheter aortic heart valve implantation (TAVI) technology ends the conflicting reports of either imminent approval or six months delay for further evaluation. This had created quite a stir. Self-proclaimed patient advocates aver that enough vetting has occurred and decry that excessive regulatory obstruction is denying the American […]

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