Cardiac Consult: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast for Healthcare Professionals

Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Dr. Milind Desai discusses a paper published in JACC Imaging studying 865 patients who underwent aortic valve surgery with severe aortic regurgitation. Baseline ejection fraction and LV strain were studied pre-procedure and post procedure to look at the impact of these values and overall mortality. Dr. Desai discusses the findings of the study and implications for future evaluation of patients with aortic regurgitation. The study can be reviewed in JACC Imaging.

Dr. Lars Svensson, Chairman of the Sydell and Arnold Miller Heart and Vascular Institute discusses a recently published paper with Dr. Milind Desai, Medical Director of the Aorta Center, looking at a series of 491 Marfan Syndrome (MFS) patients who presented for both emergent and/or prophylactic aorta surgery. Dr. Svensson provides a review of the MFS guidelines regarding when to operate. Dr. Desai explains multi-modality imaging including echo, MRI and CT scan when determining timing for surgery. The findings of the study are reviewed as well as implications for future care of patients with MFS. Read the study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and learn more about Marfan syndrome at the Marfan Foundation.

In honor of Heart Failure Awareness Week, Steven Nissen, MD, Chairman of the Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic talks with Randall Starling, MD, MPH, President of the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) and Jerry Estep, MD, Section Head of Heart Failure at Cleveland Clinic about what we need to know about heart failure – whether a patient or provider; including the extent that heart failure affects us, treatment options – from medications – to the newest devices and transplant, and differences in causes and/or presentation based on gender and race.

Dr. Steven Nissen discusses talks with Jerry Estep, MD, Section Head, Heart Failure and Transplantation and Edward Soltesz, MD, Surgical Director of the Kaufman Center for Heart Failure and Recovery about innovations in heart failure surgery, including changes in LVAD therapy and heart transplant making an impact on patient outcomes, when patients should be referred for advanced heart failure therapy, LVAD back-up strategies for traditional cardiac surgery, the newest medications and when to prescribe, and the new technologies for pulmonary pressure monitoring.

Dr. Steven Nissen discusses talks with Harvard Business School Professor Michael Tushman, and Cleveland Clinic cardiologists Dr. Samir Kapadia, Section Head, Interventional Cardiology, and Dr. Grant Reed, authors of a recently published paper focused on operational efficiency in the cath lab. They provide guidance on how to deliver high quality care in a cost effective manner.

Steven Nissen, MD discusses with Christine Jellis, MD, PhD the wide array of multi-modality imaging including the various types nuclear, echo, CT and MRI testing; the advantages and best use cases of each and how to manage special populations.

Oussama Wazni, MD, Section Head, Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing and electrophysiologist Walid Saliba MD discuss atrial fibrillation stroke prevention, and the role of left atrial appendage occlusion: outcomes noted at Cleveland Clinic, what to do in patients that are unable to take Coumadin due to risk of bleeding, FDA indications, new technology available and the role of LAA occlusion in light of the newer anticoagulants.

Dr. Leslie Cho, Section Head, Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation and Director of Women’s Cardiovascular Center discusses tips for health care providers in treating statin intolerance. She covers common issues such as symptom management, medication choices, titration of meds, monitoring patients on statins, and the role of PCSK9 medications.

After the results of the COAPT trial were released, Dr. Kapadia, joined a panel of experts in imaging Dr. Griffin, heart failure Dr. Starling, heart surgery Dr. Mick, and structural intervention Dr. Krishnaswamy to discuss best practices in the treatment of functional mitral regurgitation in heart failure patients. Read more about key findings of the COAPT trial.

Dr. Erik Van Iterson, Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Cleveland Clinic describes the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation for various patient populations, current enrollment statistics, factors that play into enrollment, tips for health care providers, what is included in cardiac rehab and new trends in cardiac rehabilitation programming.