CardioExchange Archive

October 16th, 2012

FDA Warns About Fungal Meningitis in Transplant Patient Who Received NECC Cardioplegia Solution

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA said on Monday that it had identified a transplant patient with Aspergillus fumigatus infection who received cardioplegia solution during surgery. The solution was manufactured by the New England Compounding Center (NECC), which has been at the center of a broad investigation after the deaths of at least 15 patients from fungal meningitis due to contaminated vials […]

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October 12th, 2012

Free Cardiac And Spine Surgery For Walmart Employees At Six Hospitals

Larry Husten, PHD

Starting next year 1.1 million U.S. Walmart employees and their dependents will be eligible for free heart, spine, and transplant surgery at six highly regarded health care organizations. Walmart employees will have no out-of-pocket costs, including travel, lodging, and food for the patient and a caregiver. On Thursday the company announced that its “Centers of Excellence” program, which […]

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September 21st, 2012

News Flash! Company Issues Incredibly Boring Press Release

Larry Husten, PHD

A dull press release and dull scientific paper may, in this case, signify genuine progress.

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September 18th, 2012

Screening for AAA Comes Under Renewed Scrutiny and Criticism

Larry Husten, PHD

A 2007 Medicare initiative to increase AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm) screening in appropriate patients failed to prevent AAA rupture or reduce all-cause mortality, according to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The larger implications of the study are unclear, but two accompanying papers, an invited commentary and a perspective, emphasize the darker side […]

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September 7th, 2012

News Briefs: Cholesterol Trends, AHA Late-Breakers, FDA Updates On Rivaroxaban And Heartware HVAD

Larry Husten, PHD

Cholesterol Trends The Centers for Disease Control issued a new report with the latest details about the prevalence of cholesterol screening and high blood cholesterol in U.S. adults. Here is their summary of the key findings: …cholesterol screening increased from 72.7% in 2005 to 76.0% in 2009, whereas the percentage of those screened who reported being told […]

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September 5th, 2012

Databases and Decisions

Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

What’s an “excellent” mortality rate for elective ascending aorta/arch replacement, and how would we know?

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August 27th, 2012

ESC: No Benefit of Intraaortic Balloon Counterpulsation in Cardiogenic Shock

Larry Husten, PHD

Despite a lack of evidence, circulatory support with intraaortic balloon counterpulation (IABP) has a class 1 recommendation in the guidelines and is often used in patients in cardiogenic shock following myocardial infarction for whom early revascularization is planned. That situation may change soon, as no benefit was found for the use of IABP in the […]

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August 25th, 2012

New Universal Definition of MI Unveiled at ESC 2012

Larry Husten, PHD

The new definition specifies the troponin levels required to make a diagnosis of myocardial infarction in various situations.

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August 8th, 2012

Risks and Benefits of Pediatric VAD Explored

Larry Husten, PHD

Few options besides extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) have been available for children with systolic heart failure awaiting transplantation. Now, a report by Charles Fraser, Jr., and colleagues published in the New England Journal of Medicine provides important new information about a ventricular assist device (VAD) designed for children. Trial investigators implanted 48 patients with the Excor Pediatric VAD […]

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August 6th, 2012

TAVR and the Price of Innovation

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

In an article published in Circulation, Daniel Mark and Robert Mentz of the Duke Clinical Research Institute and University Medical Center examine the economic and policy implications of the recent validation of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in the PARTNER trials. CardioExchange is fortunate and pleased to present Dr. Mark’s responses to questions about his […]

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