Cardionerds: A Cardiology Podcast

Explore the role of palliative care in heart failure beyond end stages, challenging misconceptions. Learn about integrating palliative care into management for improved quality of life. Reflect on the importance of compassionate patient support in cardiology, emphasizing empathy over medical interventions.

Cardiologists discuss a challenging case of bacterial myocarditis in a young woman with history of drug use. Detailed analysis of differential diagnosis, cardiac involvement, and management of cardiogenic shock. Emphasis on avoiding cognitive bias and multidisciplinary approaches in diagnosis.

Discussing the importance of managing obesity to prevent cardiovascular disease, the podcast covers lifestyle recommendations, pharmacologic treatment options, and future therapies. Topics include tailored counseling, policy efforts to address obesity as a public health concern, advances in weight loss medications such as semaglutide, and the intersection of obesity medicine and heart failure.

Topics discussed include diagnosing and classifying heart failure, the diagnostic process for rapidly progressive heart failure in a younger patient, physical exam findings and classification of a heart failure patient, analysis of initial laboratory results and patient triage, evaluation and monitoring, treatment options for rapidly progressive heart failure, and imaging surveillance challenges for cardiac sarcoidosis.

Dr. Javed Butler, an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist, discusses the 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure. Topics include the management of cardiogenic shock, the use of intra-aortic balloon pump, and personalized care for patients with cardiogenic shock.

Dr. Juan Lopez-Mattei, an expert in cardio-oncology and director of cardiac imaging, discusses cardiac tumors, differentiating between primary and secondary tumors. They explore symptoms, diagnostic methods, and treatment options. They highlight the importance of imaging modalities and the necessity of tissue diagnosis for primary tumors. The speakers express their appreciation for cardio-oncology and emphasize the importance of collaboration in patient care.

Dr. José Joglar and Dr. Mina Chung discuss the key takeaways from the 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS Atrial Fibrillation Guidelines, including the updated staging scheme, the effects of alcohol and caffeine on AF, improving stroke prevention, the evolving importance of rhythm control, shared decision-making, and the process of developing clinical guideline documents.

CardioNerds podcast features Drs. Karishma Rahman, Shu Min Lao, and Constantine Troupes discussing a fascinating case of a 20-year-old woman with hypertension and possible mid-aortic syndrome. They explore the differential diagnosis of early-onset hypertension, imaging for diagnosis and surveillance, and treatment options. They also delve into large vessel vasculitis and the challenges in obtaining tissue diagnosis. Managing hypertension and IgG4-related disease, imaging results, and the importance of considering underlying causes of wall thickening are discussed.

Dr. Jamie Almandoz, an expert in obesity and cardiovascular disease risk, joins the hosts to discuss the impact of obesity on cardiovascular health. They explore the question of whether it is possible to be healthy at any size and highlight the biomechanical and psychosocial challenges of obesity. They also delve into the effects of different types of adipose tissue on metabolic health and organ systems. The speakers analyze the results of a semaglutide trial for obesity and cardiovascular disease, discussing the significant risk reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events. Lastly, they discuss the percentage of body weight reduction needed for cardiovascular disease benefits.

Dr. Ashley Lochman and Dr. Chris Domenico discuss anticoagulation pharmacology and clinical decision-making for atrial fibrillation. They explore topics such as when to use warfarin, choosing appropriate DOAC agents, managing therapy in patients on antiplatelets, and the challenges of clinical pharmacology in cardiology.