Cardiology Topics
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Detecting Left Ventricular Thrombi
A study of early post-ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients who underwent echocardiographic testing and cardiac MRI showed echo misses about two-thirds of cardiac MRI-discovered left ventricular thrombi. However, an echo apical wall motion score can identify most patients in whom echo may miss thrombi for the selective use of cardiac MRI.
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Clinical Outcomes of Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing vs. Biventricular Pacing
Researchers compared biventricular pacing to left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) for cardiac resynchronization among patients living with heart failure caused by reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, along with either LBB block or need for ventricular pacing. The combined endpoint of all-cause mortality rates or heart failure hospitalizations was significantly lower with LBBAP.
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Researchers Report on the Efficacy of the Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator
An FDA-mandated post-approval study of the subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator system in a real-world population revealed excellent safety and efficacy over five years.
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This Leadless Dual-Chamber Pacing System Is Coming
The initial 90-day experience with a dual-chamber leadless pacemaker system showed reliable atrial pacing and atrioventricular synchrony, with complication rates similar to conventional lead-based systems.
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Alcohol: Double-Edged Sword, or Hatchet?
Researchers reported consuming two to 14 alcoholic drinks per week was associated with fewer major adverse cardiovascular events, which the authors noted could be explained in part by less stress-related neural activity demonstrated on PET and CT scans.
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Can Physical Activity Thwart the Negative Cardiometabolic Effects of Obesity?
Compared to normal-weight workers, overweight or obese employees in Spain exhibited a higher prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which can be partially mitigated by regular exercise.
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Cardiologists Consolidate, Update Guidance for Chronic Coronary Disease Management
Researchers incorporated shared decision-making, social determinants of health, and team-based care principles.
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What Kind of Bundle Branch Block?
Assuming QRS widening in a supraventricular rhythm is not the result of hyperkalemia or other toxicity, and assuming the patient has not been diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, classification of 12-lead ECG conduction disturbances can be simplified into one of three basic categories. The tracing in the figure illustrates this concept.
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Angiographic Fractional Flow Reserve Is Useful, But Not Ready for Prime Time
Using a blinded, independent core laboratory, researchers compared five commercially available angiographic fractional flow reserve (FFR) methods to the pressure wire-based FFR technique. The authors found the diagnostic accuracy of these software techniques surpassed that of two-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography, but fell short of what has been reported in validation trials run by individual vendors.
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The Value of the GRACE Risk Score for Triaging Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients
A prospective, pragmatic, cluster, randomized clinical study of using the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score and standard care for the management of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes failed to demonstrate more use of guideline-recommended care or better outcomes.