David Bluemke, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, professor of radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, incoming editor of RSNA’s journal Radiology and previously the radiologist in chief of imaging services at the NIH, at the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) 2017 meeting. Watch the related VIDEO “The Future of Cardiac CT in the Next Decade,” an interview with Leslee Shaw, Ph.D. Read the related article “Advances in Cardiac CT Technology.”

Rami Doukky, M.D., system chair, Division of Cardiology, professor of medicine, Cook County Health and Hospitals System, Chicago, discusses the new CMS requirements for clinical decision support (CDS) appropriate use criteria (AUC) documentation in cardiac imaging starting on Jan. 1, 2018. He spoke at the 2017 American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) meeting. Read the article "CMS to Require Appropriate Use Criteria Documentation for Medical Imaging Orders."

This video, provided by Ekos, demonstrates the EkoSonic endovascular System thrombolytic system to treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT), chronic deep vein thrombosis (Chronic DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The Ekos system delivers catheter-directed fibrinolytics with the aid of high-frequency, low-energy ultrasound, which allows penetration of the drug deeper into the clot. Read the article “Acute Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: A High-Stakes Conundrum.” Read the article “Aggressive Pulmonary Embolism Response and Evolving Technologies.” Read the article “Ultrasound-assisted Catheter-directed Thrombolysis Reduces Treatment Risks for Pulmonary Emboli.”

Shimadzu Medical Systems highlighted new features of its Trinias Interventional X-ray line at the America College of Cardiology (ACC) 2017. A key feature of Trinias, is the ability to image from fingertip to fingertip during a transradial approach, which makes for much shorter hospital stay with the patient up and moving almost immediately after the procedure. Features Like RSM-DSA, a type of motion correction subtraction, eliminating the artifacts from the patient motion during acquisition while STENTVIEW, is an enhanced visualization during stent placement in real-time. Shimadzu also highlighted its partnership with Raysafe and its real-time staff radiation dose monitoring solution. For more information: http://shimadzu.com/med/products/angio/index.html

Madhav Swaminathan, M.D., FASC, FAHA, clinical director of cardiothoracic anesthesiology, at Duke University Medical Center, discusses use of cardiac ultrasound in cardiac surgery and interventional structural heart procedures at the 2017 American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) annual meeting. Watch the related VIDEO "What is Required for Interventional Echo - Discussion With Rebecca Hahn," or read the article “Requirements for Interventional Echocardiographers.” 

A discussion with Rebecca Hahn, M.D., FASE, director of interventional echocardiography and professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center / New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York. She is the national principal investigator for the SCOUT I Trial for the Trialign Percutaneous Tricuspid Valve Annuloplasty System. For information on the development of transcatheter mitral valve  technologies read the article "Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement Devices in Development." Watch a video with Hahn explaining the requirements for creating an interventional echo program to support structural heart interventions.

Andrea Natale, M.D., FACC, FHRS, FESC, executive medical director, Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center, discusses how to build an electrophysiology (EP) program at the 2017 Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) annual meeting.

He explains what centers need to consider when creating an EP program, including what is required for device programs that include pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), as well as the technologies and know-how for catheter ablation programs. He discusses who should be involved in creating an EP program and how EP needs to interface with other departments and subspecialties around the hospital.

Natale is a world recognized leader in the field of electrophysiology. Prior to the establishment of Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center, Natale was a member of the Cardiovascular Medicine Department at the Cleveland Clinic from 1999 to 2007, and served as section head for the Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology and as medical director for the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Atrial Fibrillation. In 2006, Dr. Natale was named to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Task Force on Atrial Fibrillation.

Read the article "Growing a Cardiac Rhythm Program in a Community Setting."
 

DAIC Editor Dave Fornell takes a tour of some of the most innovative new electrophysiology (EP) technology at the 2017 Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) annual meeting. This included new ablation and electromapping systems to improve cardiac ablation effectiveness, new wearable monitoring technologies that are replacing traditional Holter monitors, implantable cardiac monitors, new pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), and other EP lab technologies. 

Find links and more news from the Heart Rhythm Society 2017 late-breaking electrophysiology trials.
 

This video, provided in partnership with the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), is titled "Strain Fundamentals Made Easy - Strain in Routine clinical Practice: Knobology and Beyond." It is presented by Teerapat Yingchocharoen, M.D., FASE, from Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. He is also a co-director of the Echo ASE ASEAN conference. This is one of the sessions presented at the ASE 2016 annual scientific sessions, one of the premier meetings for cardiac ultrasound education. For more information, visit asescientificsessions.org.

Vivek Reddy, M.D., director of cardiac arrhythmia services and professor of medicine, cardiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, N.Y., discusses advancements in leadless pacemaker technology at the 2017 Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) annual meeting. He explains the pros and cons of leadless pacemaker technology as it stands today. One of the issues is that leadless pacing is currently limited to single chamber pacing, while most patients require dual chamber pacing. Reddy discusses the technology that currently has U.S. FDA market clearance, the Medtronic Micra, and new technologies in development to overcome the limitations the Micra.

Read the related articles “Leadless Endocardial CRT Pacing Effective for Heart Failure Patients,” and “New Data Showcases Long-term Benefits of Nanostim Leadless Pacemaker.”

Hugh Calkins, M.D., FACC, FAHA, FHRS, director of cardiac arrhythmia services and professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital, discusses advancements in AF ablation at the 2017 Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) annual meeting. Read about the new AF expert consensus statement released at HRS 2017.

Related Content:

VIDEO: Current State of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Technologies — Interview with Hugh Calkins, M.D.,

New Technologies to Improve Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

Landmark CABANA Trial Confirms Ablation Equal To or Superior to Drug Therapy

VIDEO: Cryoballoon Ablation Best Practice Guidelines — Wilber Su, M.D.

This video, provided by Medtronic, demonstrates the implantation of Micra transcatheter pacing system (TPS). The device is a leadless pacemaker for single chamber pacing and eliminated the need for a surgical pocket or transvenous leads. The design concept is to simplify pacemaker implantation and eliminate the need for leads, which open the patient up to additional device and infection complications. 

Watch the VIDEO “Current State of Leadless Pacemaker Technology,” an interview with Vivek Reddy, M.D., at the Heart Rhythm Society 2017 meeting.

Related Micra Leadless Pacemaker Content:

FDA Clears Medtronic Micra AV to Treat AV Block

New Pacemaker Technologies

Novel Mechanical Sensor in Medtronic Micra Transcatheter Pacing System Detects Atrial Contractions, Restores AV Synchrony

New Algorithms in Medtronic Micra Pacemaker May Improve Synchrony and Cardiac Function in AV Block

FDA Approves World's Smallest Pacemaker for U.S. Patients

Safety, Performance of the World's Smallest Pacemaker Reinforced in Real-world Patients

One-Year Results for Micra TPS Pacemaker Trial Presented at ESC 2016

Leadless Pacemaker Gains Medicare Reimbursement

Wireless and Leadless Pacemaker Being Developed by Texas Heart Institute With Federal Grant

Tom Kloetzly, sales and marketing VP for Shimadzu Medical Systems USA, explains the evolution of Shimadzu Corporation since its founding 142 years ago. Kloetzly focuses on the Trinias Interventional X-ray line shown at RSNA 2016. Kloetzly states “A key feature of Trinias, is the ability to image from fingertip to fingertip during a transradial approach which makes for much shorter hospital stay with the patient up and moving almost immediately after the procedure. Features Like RSM-DSA, a type of motion correction subtraction, eliminates patient movement during acquisition while STENTVIEW, is an enhanced visualization during stent placement in real-time." For more information: www.shimadzu.com/med/products/angio/index.html.

David Wolinsky, M.D., director of nuclear cardiology at Cleveland Clinic Florida and past-president of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC), discusses advancements in nuclear imaging and some of the issues facing the subspecialty. 

Read the article “PET vs. SPECT — Will PET Dominate Over the Next Decade?”

6 Trends in Cardiac Nuclear Imaging at the ASNC 2019 Meeting

How to Start a Cardiac PET-CT Imaging Program

Find more content from the ASNC
 

The shift to value-based payment models requires focused attention on quality and cost. Lumedx’s Cardiovascular Performance Program offers a new approach to managing this transition so hospitals can improve outcomes — and dramatically reduce costs. See how complications reduction, cost-per-case variations and other key metrics delivered in real-time can drive radical change.  For more information, visit www.lumedx.com.

DAIC Editor Dave Fornell takes a tour of some of the interesting new technologies from the vendor booths on the expo floor at the 2017 meeting of the American College of Cardiology (ACC). For key technology trends at ACC.17, watch the VIDEO "Cardiac Technology Trends at ACC.17."

MDBuyline analyst Tom Watson shares some of the most important trends in cardiac technology he saw at the 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Sessions. For a list of late-breaking trials and links to related articles read "ACC 2017 Late-Breaking Trials." Watch a VIDEO of Watson's assessment of trends at ACC.16.

Justin Davies, MBBS, of Imperial College London, and Matthias Götberg, M.D, Ph.D., of Skane University Hospital, detail the positive results of the DEFINE-FLAIR and IFR-SWEDEHEART trials presented at 2017 American College of Cardiology annual meeting.

Related iFR Technology Content:

Easier to Use iFR Equal to Outcomes of FFR in Coronary Lesion Evaluation

How Interventionalists Can Keep From Missing Coronary Stenoses

Updated SCAI Expert Consensus Says Either FFR, iFR Can Be Used

New Technology Directions in Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR)

iFR More Cost-Effective Than FFR in PCI Guidance, DAIC 

VIDEO: iFR Found More Cost Effective Over Standard FFR — Interview with Manesh Patel, M.D.

One in Four Patients Have Residual Ischemia Following PCI

Pam Rush, RN, MS, clinical program director, cardiovascular service line, and Craig Strauss, M.D., MPH, medical director, explain how Minneapolis Heart Institute (MHI) achieved significant savings by leveraging analytics software for reductions in patient complications, better vendor negotiations and other areas. Read the article “Advanced Analytics Software for Cardiology.”

Learn more about the different aspects of the structural heart team at Minneapolis Heart Institute in these videos:

VIDEO: Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement Planning — Interview with Joao Cavalcante, M.D., director of structural heart CT and cardiac MRI

VIDEO: Conscious Sedation for TAVR Procedures — Interview with  Mario Goessl, M.D., Ph.D., director of research and education at the Minneapolis Heart Institute