September 13th, 2011
Is Most Research Done Today a Waste?
Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
Richard Smith (@Richard56), the former editor of BMJ, sent out a tweet earlier today that is worth some reflection. Here it is: 85% of clinical research is waste because the question is unimportant, the design is not right, nothing is published, or the paper is biased What do you think? Is most research done today […]
September 13th, 2011
Follow the Fellows: A Series from the Front Lines
William Kent Cornwell, MD, Aaron C. Earles, DO, Kathryn Jesseca Lindley, MD and Erica Sarah Spatz, MD, MHS
Fellowship is such a unique experience that we at CardioExchange have wished for it to be documented from the front lines. And so we are introducing a new series, “Follow the Fellows.” We have invited fellows from various fellowship programs around the U.S. to document their course through their training over the next three years. […]
September 13th, 2011
HHS Announces Initiative to Prevent One Million Heart Attacks and Strokes
Larry Husten, PHD
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is launching a campaign to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes in the next 5 years.
September 12th, 2011
Global Monitor: Early Signs of Possible Problems with ICD Leads, Dabigatran
Larry Husten, PHD
Reports from Ireland and New Zealand may herald new concerns about Riata defibrillator leads (St. Jude Medical) and dabigatran (Pradaxa). A poster presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting last month by researchers at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast found that 15% of 212 patients who received Riata leads had an insulation breach on screening. The researchers reported […]
September 12th, 2011
Study Finds Risks and Costs Associated with Infection After Device Implantation
Larry Husten, PHD
A large new study has found significant risks and costs associated with infections following the implantation of CIEDs (cardiovascular implantable electronic devices), including ICDs, CRT-Ds, and pacemakers. In a paper published in Archives of Internal Medicine, Muhammad Sohail and colleagues analyzed Medicare data from more than 200,000 patients admitted for CIED implantation, replacement, or revision in 2007, including 5817 admissions with […]
September 12th, 2011
Arrest: When to Check the Rhythm?
Daniela J Lamas, MD
Editor’s Note: The following guest post by Daniela Lamas is reprinted with permission from Now@NEJM, a blog for physicians about NEJM. The woman slumps to the floor beside her office desk… No one sees her go down… A colleague hears a thud and rushes in….. He calls her name… No response… He checks for a […]
September 9th, 2011
Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis: Medical Management or Revascularization?
Allan Brett, MD
Every so often, one of my patients with no history of stroke or transient ischemic attack asks my opinion on what to do about a carotid ultrasound — not ordered by me — showing high-grade stenosis. I am a general internist, and I don’t obtain these studies in patients without a history of cerebrovascular symptoms. Guidelines […]
September 8th, 2011
FDA Advisory Panel Gives Yellow Light to Rivaroxaban
Larry Husten, PHD
The FDA Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee voted 9-2 (with 1 abstention) in support of rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Johnson & Johnson) for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation, but the vote did not represent a ringing endorsement of the drug. The committee wrestled throughout the day with the numerous concerns raised by FDA reviewers, […]
September 8th, 2011
When Is the Patient “Too Old” for an ICD?
Tariq Ahmad, MD, MPH and James Fang, MD
Discuss whether to implant an ICD near the end of a patient’s life.
September 7th, 2011
Medical Therapy Wallops Stenting for Intracranial Stenosis
Larry Husten, PHD
In recent years stenting for intracranial arterial stenosis has become widespread. Now, however, a trial testing the procedure has been terminated early, raising serious questions about both the safety and efficacy of the technique. In the SAMMPRIS (Stenting and Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent Stroke in Intracranial Stenosis) trial, which has now been published […]