Cardiac Consult: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast for Healthcare Professionals

Heart transplantation is a chance at life for patients. Natalie Salvatore, RN, interviews Eileen Hsich, MD, Medical Director for the Heart Transplant Program at Cleveland Clinic, about caring for patients who might require heart transplantation, next steps if they are not a candidate and her biggest piece of advice.

Faisal Bakaeen, MD, provides an update on Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute Coronary Artery Disease Center's 2022 results.

In 2020, same day discharge and next day discharge accounted for 22.1 percent (n = 114 of 516) and 63.8 percent (n = 329 of 516) of outpatient TF-TAVR. Samir Kapadia, MD, Chairman of Cardiology, and Amar Krishnaswamy, MD, Head of Interventional Cardiology, discuss discharge planning considerations for patients having TAVR and the benefit of same day discharge if appropriate.

Eric Roselli, MD, provides an update on Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute Aorta Center's 2022 results.

A Cleveland Clinic-led trial found that testosterone-replacement therapy did not result in a higher incidence of major adverse cardiac events in middle-aged and older men with hypogonadism (also known as low testosterone) who also had preexisting or a high risk of cardiovascular disease. However, researchers still urge caution when considering testosterone therapy. Dr. Steve Nissen discusses the results of the TRAVERSE trial.

Thomas Callahan, MD, electrophysiologist and Co-Director, Lead Extraction Program, discusses the incidence of sudden cardiac death in athletic populations. Dr. Callahan reviews how often SCD occurs in athletes, the etiology and survival, drawing from studies in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom and France.

Aortopathies can have implications for patients who are athletes. Sagar Kalahasti, MD, Director of the Marfan Syndrome and Connective Tissue Disorder Clinic and member of the Aorta Center, discusses etiologies and evaluation of aortopathies in the athletic heart.

Cleveland Clinic is dedicated to providing a world-class experience to students, residents, and fellows. Frank Caputo, MD, Program Director of the Vascular Surgery Training Programs and staff vascular surgeon in the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, highlights benefits of the vascular surgery program, including tools, opportunities and leadership roles.

Life after a cardiac event can be difficult for patients to adjust to, especially for athletes. The decision to return to play is important and must be made by weighing the risks and benefits for each person. Michael Emery, MD, Co-Director of the Sports Cardiology Center, talks about considerations for return to play and the shared decision-making process.

Ayman Hussein, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist renowned for his expertise in atrial fibrillation ablation, delves into the intricacies of single-shot radiofrequency techniques. He discusses the challenges of RF catheter navigation and highlights innovations like the phased RF circular catheters and their clinical outcomes. Hussein also covers the safety concerns around silent cerebral emboli and recalls the N-Contact/N-Mark catheter due to complications. He introduces the Heliostar RF balloon system and reviews early trial results, emphasizing the need for further research.