Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine RSS feedThis is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Risk Stratification of Acute Pulmonary Embolism
AbstractPurpose of reviewAcute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a heterogeneous disease process whose presentation varies widely between individuals who are asymptomatic, develop cardiogenic shock, or experience acute PE-related mortality. The purpose of this review is to summarize the available tools used to risk stratify patients presenting with acute PE. We will particularly focus on the demographic, clinical, laboratory, imaging, and multifactor tools used to predict mortality, PE-related morbidity, and bleeding complications.Recent findingsEstablished risk assessment strategies incorporate clinical and demographic informati...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine - May 12, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

Contemporary Catheter-Based Treatment Options for Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism
AbstractIntroductionAcute pulmonary embolism (PE) remains an important cause of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in the USA and worldwide. Catheter-based therapies are emerging as a new armamentarium for improving outcomes in these patients.Purpose of reviewThe purpose of this review is to familiarize the clinicians with (1) various types of catheter-based modalities available for patients with acute PE, (2) advantages, disadvantages, and appropriate patient selection for the use of these devices, and (3) evidence base and the relevance of such therapies in the COVID-19 pandemic.Recent findingsThere are four main typ...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine - May 12, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

Contemporary Role of Intravascular Lithotripsy in the Management of Peripheral Artery Disease
AbstractPurpose of reviewCalcified peripheral arterial disease (PAD) poses a significant challenge to endovascular treatment. Traditional balloon angioplasty in these restrictive lesions often leads to suboptimal vessel expansion and thereby increased rates of restenosis and complications. Although several calcium-modifying and debulking technologies have been developed to help optimize management of these complex lesions, they have their own limitations. Recently, intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) has been established as an alternative versatile modality for treating a variety of lesions with minimal adverse events. Herein,...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine - May 12, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

Imaging in CABG Patients
AbstractPurpose of the reviewCoronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is one of the most common major surgical procedures performed. Atherosclerosis however is a progressive condition; it is probably therefore that patients with CABG will represent with ischemic symptoms. The purpose of this review is to provide familiarity with testing in CABG patients to assist clinicians in their decision-making.Recent findingsCT angiography of coronary arteries and grafts (CCTA) has evolved into an alternative approach to diagnose graft disease or occlusion. As such, CCTA may help risk stratify patients post-CABG. CCTA thus joins the arm...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine - May 12, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

Imaging of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Counseling Patients of Reproductive Age
AbstractPurpose of reviewThis review highlights issues relevant to women of reproductive age with a history of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).Recent findingsCurrent topics regarding the care of SCAD patients include multimodality imaging, pregnancy, lactation, SCAD recurrence, reproductive counseling, migraines, cardiac rehabilitation, and mental health. While no single disease-causing gene for SCAD has been discovered, recent genome-wide association studies show promise for future understanding of underlying mechanisms and risk for SCAD.SummaryPatients with history of SCAD require dedicated, multidisciplina...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine - May 12, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Managing Ischemic Wounds and Current Treatment Options
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe discuss management of arterial wounds pertaining to clinical evaluation, noninvasive diagnostic testing, and relevant classification systems of arterial wounds. In addition, we review recent literature regarding treatment modalities of arterial wounds.Recent FindingsTreatment of arterial wounds is multifactorial and can include the following: local wound care, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, skin grafting, and biologic and regenerative medicine including gene and cellular therapy. This paper is a discussion of the various treatment options for chronic arterial wounds with a review of recent literatur...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine - May 12, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

Evidence-Based Approach to Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
AbstractPurpose of reviewOut-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading cause of death. Despite improvements in the cardiac disease management, OHCA outcomes remain poor. The purpose of this review is to provide information on the management of OHCA survivors, evidence-based treatments, and current gaps in the knowledge.Recent findingsMost common cause of death from OHCA is neurological injury followed by shock and multiorgan failure. Prognostication tools are available to help with the clinical decision-making. Taking measures to improve EMS response time, encouraging bystander CPR, early defibrillation, and targeted ...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine - May 10, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

Current Perspective on Menopause Hormone Therapy and Cardiovascular Risk
AbstractPurpose of reviewIn past decades, there has a been a paradigm shift concerning menopause, hormone therapy (HT), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). While initial observational studies suggested hormone replacement to provide a cardioprotective benefit for all menopausal women, subsequent large randomized trials have not confirmed these benefits and furthermore brought to light the risks of HT with regard to CVD, venous thrombosis, and stroke. The goal of this review is to summarize current recommendations regarding HT as it pertains to cardiovascular risk.Recent FindingsMenopause HT remains the most effective treatme...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine - May 5, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

Chronic Total Occlusion PCI Techniques in 2020
AbstractPurpose of reviewChronic total occlusions (CTO) represent a frequently encountered subset of coronary lesions, where percutaneous coronary intervention is considered particularly challenging. Recent advances in equipment dedicated for CTO have resulted in improved outcomes and have inspired the discovery of several novel techniques.Recent findingsThe most significant advancement in the field of CTO interventions is the incorporation of the available techniques in integrated algorithms. These algorithms are tailored to lesion characteristics and allow for prompt and seamless transition across the available treatment...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine - May 5, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

Acute Thoracic Complications of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Procedures
AbstractPurpose of reviewComplications of minimally invasive cardiac procedures range from self-limiting to life-threatening. This review article will highlight the incidence, risk factors, and imaging features of acute thoracic complications of three of the most common minimally invasive cardiac procedures encountered in practice: transcatheter aortic valve replacement, cardiac implantable electronic devices, and pulmonary vein isolation.Recent findingsMost minimally invasive cardiac procedures have a relatively low risk profile. Acute thoracic complications are usually detected during the procedure; however, delayed pres...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine - May 5, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

The New Role of Cardiac Imaging Following the ISCHEMIA Trial
AbstractPurpose of reviewThis review is aimed at summarizing the recently published ISCHEMIA trial (International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness with Medical and Invasive Approaches) and how its findings may impact cardiac imaging for stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD) moving forward.Recent findingsThe ISCHEMIA trial compared an initial invasive management strategy with goal of complete coronary revascularization versus an initial medical therapy strategy among stable patients with newly diagnosed moderate to severe myocardial ischemia on non-invasive testing. The trial results showed that an early invasive st...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine - May 5, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

Imaging the Coronary Venous System: Current Trends and Risk Stratification
AbstractPurpose of reviewThe coronary venous system has been a rather unique source of investigation over the last 20  years in regard to cardiac imaging, with primary focus/attention on variant anatomy, pre-ablative planning imaging, as well as congenital heart evaluation. Progressive advances in fast imaging using both MDCT and CMR have made the techniques shared below become more widely available. This review h ighlights the advances in coronary venous imaging over the last 10 years with emphasis on the most up to date clinical treatment options given the advancements in the various imaging modalities. These pre-inter...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine - May 5, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

The Role of Biomarkers and Imaging to Predict Preeclampsia and Subsequent Cardiovascular Dysfunction
AbstractPurpose of reviewPreeclampsia is a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite decades of research, the ability of clinicians to accurately predict the onset of preeclampsia prior to the manifestation of symptoms has not significantly improved. In this review, we will examine the pathophysiology underlying preeclampsia and discuss the role of potential biomarkers for early prediction and diagnosis. In addition, we will explore imaging modalities in the detection of early myocardial and vascular endothelial dysfunction associated with preeclampsia.Recent findingsCirculating angiogenic and anti...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine - May 5, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

New Advances and Ongoing Challenges in the Use of Biologic Agents in Cardiac Sarcoidosis and Other Inflammatory Cardiomyopathies
AbstractPurpose of reviewInflammatory cardiomyopathies encompass several different conditions revolving around inflammation. Experts, supported primarily by experience, have utilized immunosuppression as a treatment option to halt the inflammation and prevent the common end result of dilated cardiomyopathy. Very limited evidence exists to support a uniformed approach.Recent findingsStandard immunosuppression protocols are typically used to treat inflammatory cardiomyopathies associated with systemic inflammatory diseases. However, specific features such as eosinophilic infiltration or fulminant course merit a more aggressi...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine - May 5, 2021 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research