News • Hypothermic oxygenated perfusion
‘Heart-in-a-box’ to improve organ transport
Not just a Nirvana song, but also an effective way to keep a donor heart fresh for transplantation: New research shows the benefits of “heart-in-a-box” storage.
Cardiology
News • Cardiovascular magnetic resonance
Non-invasive MRI technique to predict heart failure risk
New resesarch suggests a new way of assessing the risk of heart failure without invasive diagnostic tests. The method involves MRI to measure heart pressure as a predictive factor.
News • Research on fitness training
Exercise after stroke: intensity matters
Extensive and moderate, or short and intense? New research suggests which approach to physical exercise is more effective for improving fitness among people recovering after a stroke.
News • Highly entangled polymer networks
3D printing heart bandages, custom implants and more
A band-aid for the heart? US researchers have developed a new way to 3D print material that is at once elastic, tough, and shapable enough to fit a patient’s unique heart or joint defects.
News • ICD usage in HF patients
Kidney dysfunction as a predictor of sudden cardiac death
A prospective study has revealed that kidney dysfunction may be a powerful predictor of sudden cardiac death. Findings could lead to revisions in the guidelines for ICD usage.
News • Effects of smartwatch alerts
Heart rate monitoring: wearable devices can drive anxiety, possibly affect health
For patients with atrial fibrillation, using a wearable device can lead to higher anxiety about symptoms and treatment, doctor visits, and use of informal healthcare resources, a new study finds.
News • Successful treatment of congenital heart disease
First “Double-decker” surgery for scimitar syndrome
Surgeons have performed an unprecedented procedure on a two-year-old child diagnosed with scimitar syndrome. This marks the world’s first successful application of the “Double-decker Technique”.
News • Biomaterial-based device
Heart valve made of human collagen opens up new treatment avenues
A new heart valve comprised of biological material obtained from human cells, opens up new therapeutic avenues for patients with paediatric heart diseases, such as tetralogy of Fallot.
News • Cardiac imaging analysis
AI greatly speeds up heart chamber segmentation from MRI scans
From 45 minutes to just a few seconds: A new computer model utilises AI to examine cardiac MRI scans in the four-chamber plane, potentially offering speedy and dependable heart health evaluation.
News • Improved detection of heart failure
New MRI model for better imaging of women's hearts
Researchers have been able to fine-tune how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to detect heart failure in women’s hearts, making it more accurate for female patients.
Video • Transthoracic ultrasound localization microscopy
Super-resolution imaging of microscopic heart vessels
Researchers were able to produce sub-millimetre resolution images of cardiac micro-vessels. This non-invasive new technique could allow scientists to study the physiology of the heart in more detail.
News • Cardiac arrhythmia treatment
Stop the shocks: developing 'gentle' defibrillation for the heart
Using a defibrillator can save lives in case of cariac arrhythmia – however, the strong electrical pulses are painful and may have negative side effects. A light-based approach aims to fix this.
News • Atrial fibrillation early warning
Deep learning predicts heart arrhrythmia 30 minutes in advance
Researchers have developed a deep-learning model that predicts the transition from a normal cardiac rhythm to atrial fibrillation 30 minutes before onset, with an accuracy of around 80%.
News • Research on syndrome correlation
Finding the link between Guillain-Barré and Takotsubo
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (‘broken heart syndrome’) is a known complication of Guillain-Barré, but not much is known about the association between the two. New research aims to change this.
News • Machine learning assessment
Heart transplantation: AI can provide decision-making support
Matching the right donor heart to the right recipient at the right time is a complex task. Now, experts point out how AI can provide unbiased decision-support for transplantation process.
News • Minimally invasive procedure
Aortic valve replacement: TAVR on par with surgical approach
Decreased rates of death and stroke: new research shows the validity of transcatheter aortic valve replacement in low-risk patients. This advocates a less invasive alternative to surgical options.
News • Cardiology consensus update
Atrial fibrillation: Agreement on standards for catheter ablation
Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is an important treatment option for heart rhythm maintenance and symptom reduction. Now, an international consensus statement reflects new techniques.
Article • Photon-counting CT, strain imaging, 4D flow MRI
How new technologies shape the future of cardiovascular radiology
New approaches to cardiovascular radiology are evolving to help clinicians gain an increasingly better insight into heart conditions. Latest developments in cardiovascular radiology include myocardial strain imaging, 4D flow and photon-counting CT technology. An ECR 2024 session shone the spotlight on these areas of cardiovascular imaging with expert speakers outlining the pros and cons of each.
News • Heart rhythm disorder
Stroke prevention: experts recommend routine atrial fibrillation testing
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder globally. Patients at high risk for AF, such as those with heart failure or prior stroke, should be tested at every GP visit, experts say.
News • Warfarin, personalised
AI helps dosing anticoagulation meds in heart surgery patients
Warfarin is sometimes prescribed after heart surgery, but getting the dose right requires a personalised approach for each patient. A new AI tool is designed to help with this complex task.
News • Chemotherapy and cancer drugs
‘Heart-on-a-Chip’ to test cardiotoxicity of treatments
Chemotherapy can be toxic to heart cells. To help protect the hearts of cancer patients, Cedars-Sinai investigators have created a three-dimensional “heart-on-a-chip” to evaluate drug safety.
Article • Men are from Mars, women are from Venus
Sex differences in imaging cardiovascular disease
An interplanetary title for a quite down-to-earth topic: The symposium "Men are from Mars, women are from Venus" at the EACVI congress (European Association of Cardiovascular imaging) launched into the differences between the hearts of men and women. While the speakers could firmly establish that both sexes share the same home world, variations in their cardiac anatomy warrant a more…
News • Cardiac valve simulator
A biorobotic heart for better valve stimulation
Combining a biological heart and a silicone robotic pump, researchers created a biorobotic heart that beats like a real one, with a focus on a valve on the left side of the heart.
News • Promising prototype solution
An artificial heart valve that grows with the child
Many children born with heart problems receive prosthetic valves, but the valves cannot grow with them. A prototype expanding artificial heart valve could greatly reduce the number of surgeries.
News • Coronavirus research
Increased risk of heart rhythm disruption after Covid-19
A new, large-scale study from Sweden underlines the importance of vaccination against Covid-19: The research shows that an infection raises the risk of heart rhythm disturbances.
