This Week in Cardiology

Loperamide abuse, heart failure quality measures, and the CASTLE-AF ablation study are discussed in this week's podcast.

Surgical left atrial appendage closure, the effects of smoking and influenza on CV risk, acute stroke care, and why cardiologists are an unhappy bunch are discussed by Dr Mandrola this week.

MRI in patients with cardiac devices, bariatric surgery, statins, the LifeVest wearable defibrillator, and spontaneous coronary dissection are the topics discussed in this week's podcast.

Exercise effects on left ventricular compliance, CT in stable angina, MRI in patients with cardiac devices, a win for pharma, and ECG screening in adults are discussed in this week's podcast.

Noninvasive VT ablation, Riata leads, NOAC/DOAC therapies, HDL-C and infection risk, and fibrosis in triathletes are discussed in this week's podcast.

Mobile ECGs, PFO closure for migraine, AF care, lytic and mechanical removal of VTE and the PSCK9 inhibitor evolocumab are discussed in this week's podcast.

Sports preparticipation screening, cell therapy in PAD, exercise, supplements, and US healthcare policy are reviewed in this week's podcast.

New hypertension guidelines, BP measurement, DOACs during device surgery, a CANTOS substudy, and conflicting data on the heart-failure readmissions reduction program are discussed this week.

Dr John Mandrola discusses PCI in stable CAD, MR, exercise, AHA preview, and celebrities at medical meetings in this week's podcast.

The ORBITA sham-control PCI study, Watchman, revascularization in cardiogenic shock, Absorb BVS, quality-of-life outcomes after PCI or bypass, and chronic total occlusion PCI are discussed in this week's podcast.

Statins tied to diabetes risk and reduced bacterial infections, a novel use for hs-troponin, mitral-regurgitation management, and His-bundle pacing are reviewed in this week's podcast.

Secondary AF, Heart failure statistics, DOAC bleeding rates, uncontrolled hypertension and stroke risk factors are discussed by John Mandrola in this week's podcast.

Noninvasive tests for chest pain evaluation, the obesity epidemic, the costs of cardiac device recalls, and DOAC-drug interactions are reviewed in this week's podcast.

Stopping aspirin, TAVR durability, meditation, triathlon risk, and BP control in low-income patients are discussed by Dr Mandrola in this week's podcast.

Oxygen therapy in stroke, physical activity, hospital rankings, MRI labeling of cardiac devices, and PFO closure are discussed in this week's podcast.

PCSK9 drugs and diabetes, allegations against St Jude Medical, trends in carotid interventions, food as medicine, and death with dignity are discussed by Dr John Mandrola in this week's podcast.

PFO closure for recurrent stroke prevention, hormone replacement in women, DAPT, obesity, and fentanyl are discussed in this week's podcast.