This Week in Cardiology

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Oct 09 2026 This Week in Cardiology Oct 09, 2026

Show notes

Listener feedback on POET II, sham control trials in atrial fibrillation, ICDs in HCM, and agenda laundering are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast.

This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.

To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:

https://www.medscape.com/twic

I Listener Feedback

POET II Response-Tailored or Standard-Duration ABX for Infectious Endocarditis

POET I Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1808312
POET II Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2607887

II PVI-SHAM-AF trial Back in the News

GAP-AF Trial https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circep.115.003337
PVI-SHAM-AF Trial 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)01558-8 External Link
Why Sham Studies Are a Sham in 2026 10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.09.056 External Link
The Indispensable Role of Sham Controls in Evaluating Interventional Therapies 10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.10.001 External Link

III ICDs in HCM

I CDs for the Prevention of SCD in High-Risk Patients with HCM https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.125.078597
ICDs in HCM: Editorial https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.126.079687

IV Agenda Laundering

How Commercial “Agenda Laundering” Shapes Critical Care https://www.bmj.com/content/395/bmj-2026-100963

The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington

Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

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Oct 02 2026 This Week in Cardiology Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

Listener feedback on DANISH-CRT, the POET II trial, a mechanistic study in obesity and AF, the DANCODE trial of slowing CAC progression, and more on GLP-1 drugs are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast.

This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.

To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:

https://www.medscape.com/twic

I Listener Feedback

DANISH-CRT Trial 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)01597-7
Identifying LV Posterior Wall Delay in RBBB Using Lead V8 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2026.03.009
Using Lead V8 as a Tool to Improve Patient Selection in CRT https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaf194

II POET II Response-Tailored or Standard-Duration Antibiotics for Endocarditis

POET I https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1808312
POET II https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2607887

III Obesity and AF – A Neat Study from the Team in Prague

LA Remodeling and Functional Maladaptations in Obesity https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.126.014509

IV Reducing CAC: The DANCODE Trial

DANCODE Trial https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.126.082363

V Two Big RCTs of New GLP-1 Drugs

TRIUMPH-1 Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2604169
SYNCHRONIZE-2 Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2607219

The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington

Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

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Sep 25 2026 This Week in Cardiology Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Listener feedback, pulmonary embolism intervention, simple vs complex in BiV pacing, exercise in AF, and TAVR for paradoxical low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast.

This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.

To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:

https://www.medscape.com/twic

I Listener Feedback LBBP ICD Lead

LEADR LBBAP Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41110529/

TRIC-I-HF trial

TRIC-I-HF Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2606934
Growth of Tricuspid Interventions in Germany https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jcin.2025.05.030

II Treatment of Acute Intermediate-High Risk PE – the PRAGUE-26 Trial

PRAGUE-26 Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2608012

III Targeting CS leads in CRT devices – DANISH-CRT Trial

DANISH-CRT Trial 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)01597-7

IV Exercise for AF, Especially When There Is LA Disease

Physical Activity and Risk of Incident AF in Atrial Cardiomyopathy https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102999

V Paradoxical Low-Flow, Low-Gradient AS – REBOOT-PARADOX

REBOOT-PARADOX trial 10.1016/j.jacc.2026.08.017
ROTAS Trial https://heart.bmj.com/content/110/20/1223

The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington

Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

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Sep 18 2026 This Week in Cardiology Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

Another ESC recap, listener feedback on two trials, and a paper on GLP-1 effects on inflammation from the SELECT trial are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast.

This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.

To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:

https://www.medscape.com/twic

I Correction on PROFID Trial

II Listener Feedback

III Fifth Universal Definition of MI

Fifth Universal Definition of MI https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag101
Foy/Mandrola Editorial on Troponin Use and Interpretation https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2777967

IV New ESC HF Guidelines

ESC Guidelines for Management of HF https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag100
Sanjay Kaul on X https://x.com/kaulcsmc/status/2094959683215958158?s=20
Geographic Disparities in TOPCAT https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5065247/

V AIR STEMI Trial

AIR-STEMI Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2605373
CR Strategies After MI https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2024.04.051
PRAMI Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1305520
COMPLETE Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1907775
FULL REVASC Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2314149

VI GLP-1 News – A SELECT Trial Secondary Analysis

Semaglutide and hsCRP in Patients with CVD and Obesity https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.125.074482

The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington

Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

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Sep 11 2026 This Week in Cardiology Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

A second ESC recap plus two breaking stories on the failure of an investigational Lp(a) reducing drug and a new FDA approval of an AI-ECG app are covered by John Mandrola, MD

This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.

To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:

https://www.medscape.com/twic

I Lp(a) Disappointment

HORIZON https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04023552
Press Release https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-announces-lpahorizon-phase-iii-topline-results-pelacarsen-patients-elevated-lpa-and-established-cardiovascular-disease-cvd
Rationale paper https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2025.03.019

II FDA Clears AI-ECG for Acute MI Detection

Accuracy of cath lab activation decisions for STEMI-equivalent and mimic ECGs: Physicians vs. AI (Queen of Hearts by PMcardio) 10.1016/j.ajem.2025.07.061
AI-Enabled ECG Analysis Improves Diagnostic Accuracy and Reduces False STEMI Activations: A Multicenter U.S. Registry https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jcin.2025.10.018
Queen of Hearts™ AI ECG App https://www.powerfulmedical.com/pmcardio-stemi/

III TARGET CTCA Trial

Targeted Use of Computed Tomographic Coronary Angiography in Acute Chest Pain https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2608903

IV CorCal trial

Press release https://www.escardio.org/news/press/press-releases/new-data-presented-on-the-use-of-coronary-artery-calcium-for-cardiovascular-risk-assessment/
CorCal Outcomes: A randomized trial using the pooled cohort equation or coronary artery calcium to select statin therapy in primary prevention patients. Study design and baseline characteristics https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2026.107473

V AMUNDSEN Trial

LDL Cholesterol Lowering With Evolocumab Before Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Myocardial InfarctionThe AMUNDSEN Randomized Clinical Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2853274

VI TRIC-I-HF trial

Tricuspid Repair Cuts Death, HF Hospitalization in Severe TR https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/tricuspid-repair-cuts-death-hf-hospitalization-severe-tr-2026a1000wvk
Tricuspid-Valve Intervention in Heart Failure https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2606934

You May Also Like:

The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington

Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

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Sep 04 2026 This Week in Cardiology Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

ESC recaps on the SINGLE-AF trial, CMR Guide trial, two ATTR studies, PVI-SHAM-AF, STAREE, and an observational study of ICD benefit over the past decades are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast.

This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.

To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:

https://www.medscape.com/twic

I SINGLE-AF Trial

To Anticoagulate or Not in Intermediate-Risk AF: The SINGLE-AF Trial https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/anticoagulate-or-not-intermediate-risk-af-single-af-trial-2026a1000uko

SINGLE-AF https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2607978

II Scar as an ICD risk stratifier

Is Scar on CMR an Indication for ICD? CMR Guide Leaves Doubts

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/scar-cmr-indication-icd-cmr-guide-leaves-doubts-2026a1000ukq

CMTR GUIDE Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2853395
MADIT II Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa013474

III Single vs Dual Therapy in ATTR-CM

HELIOS-B Trial Sub-analysis https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109726072086
HELIOS-B Sub-analysis Editorial https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109726073766#bib8
HELIOS-B main trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2409134
CARDIO-TTRansform Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2608510

IV A Stunning Result of another Sham-controlled AF ablation trial

Does AF Ablation Work? That's in Question After PVI-SHAM-AF https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/does-af-ablation-work-s-question-after-sham-pvi-af-2026a1000uli

PVI-SHAM-AF Trial 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)01558-8 External Link
SHAM-PVI Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2823283
PFA-Sham Trial https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.126.079484

V Should Older Adults Take Statins: The STAREE trial.

STAREE Strengthens Case for Over-the-Counter Statins https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/staree-strengthens-case-over-counter-statins-2026a1000vrw

STAREE Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2607314

VII Declining ICD Benefit After MI

Mortality Reduction with ICD for Prevention of SCD Post-MI https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag706/8768943
CONTEMP-ICD Trial https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06543446
PROFID-EHRA Trial https://profid-project.eu/profid-ehra-trial/

The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington

Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 28 2026 This Week in Cardiology Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Listener feedback on mechanical CPR devices, PFA and stroke, the Lindy effect in adopting new technology, and an ESC preview are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast.

This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.

To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:

https://www.medscape.com/twic

I Listener Feedback on Mechanical Compression Devices for OHCA

Mechanical CPR Device Use and Cardiac Arrest Survival

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.126.079272

PARAMEDIC trial https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(14)61886-9/fulltext
CIRC trial https://www.resuscitationjournal.com/article/S0300-9572(14)00128-2/fulltext
LINC trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1774037
Cochrane Review – Mechanical vs Manual Chest Compressions for Cardiac Arrest https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6953326/

II PFA and Stroke

Risk of Stroke and TIA With PFA vs RF Ablation https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/epub/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.126.081092
AVANT GUARD Trial https://www.nejm.org/do/10.1056/NEJMdo008538/full/
EMBOL-AF Registry https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag217/8566008

III A New ICD Lead

LEADR LBBAP Trial https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.08.030

IV ESC Preview

Mandrola's Preview of the European Society of Cardiology 2026 https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/mandrolas-preview-european-society-cardiology-2026-2026a1000tfi

You may also like:

The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington

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August 21 2026 This Week in Cardiology Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

Mechanical CPR devices, the dangers of AF performance measures, two scholarly articles on CLOSURE and CHAMPION, and a little ESC preview are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast.

This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:

https://www.medscape.com/twic

I Mechanical Compression Devices for OHCA

· Mechanical CPR Device Use Cardiac Arrest Survival

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.126.079272

· PARAMEDIC Trial https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(14)61886-9/fulltext

· CIRC Trial https://www.resuscitationjournal.com/article/S0300-9572(14)00128-2/fulltext

· LINC trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1774037

· Cochrane Review of Mechanical vs Manual Chest Compressions for Cardiac Arrest https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6953326/

II ACC AF Performance Measures

· 2026 AHA/ACC Clinical Performance for Patients With AF https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2026.05.032#sec-3

III Two Critical Appraisals of the recent LAAC trials

· Reappraising CHAMPION-AF 10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.07.048 External Link

· CHAMPION and CLOSURE: Reconciling Contrast Results https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag608

ESC Early Preview

· CMR Guide trial https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6931571/

· SINGLE AF Trial 10.1016/j.hroo.2025.12.008 External Link

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The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington

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Aug 14 2026 This Week in Cardiology Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

Listener feedback, the ZEUS trial fails, a fascinating statin trial, more on GLP-1 drugs, and radiation safety in the EP lab are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast.

This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.

To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:

https://www.medscape.com/twic

I ZEUS Fails

Rethinking Inflammation and ASCVD: Four Lessons From the ZEUS Trial

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/rethinking-inflammation-and-ascvd-four-lessons-zeus-trial-2026a1000rlm

ZEUS Trial https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2025.4491

II Statins and the Elderly

SAGA/SITE trial 10.1016/j.lanhl.2026.100884 External Link

III GLP-1 and CV Risk

SURMOUNT-1 Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038
SURMOUNT-1 Post Hoc Analysis https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2026.04.044
Reframing GLP-1s as Cardiometabolic Health Drugs: Editorial https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2026.06.039

IV Radiation Exposure to the Uterus in the EP Lab

Occupational Radiation Safety in EP During Pregnancy https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/epub/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.126.080556
Survey: Working in Cath Lab During Pregnancy https://www.surveymonkey.com/share/d5c1edf7-6d99-49d4-a9fa-e9168f63ab55

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The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington

Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

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Jul 31 2026 This Week in Cardiology Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

Another failure of LA posterior wall isolation, first-line AF ablation, a revelation on EAST-AFNET 4 trial, an LAAC meta-analysis, and preventing AKI post-cardiac surgery are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast.

This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.

To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:

https://www.medscape.com/twic

I Listener Feedback

DAPT-MVD Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2517588

II Another Failure of Posterior Wall Isolation

CORNERSTONE-AF Trial https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag486
CAPLA Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2800186
PVIOTAL IDE Trial 10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.08.018 External Link

III First Line AF ablation – One new study and a discovery about a second one

Catheter Ablation vs AAD for First-line Treatment of AF 10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.07.061 External Link

EAST-AFNET 4 Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2019422
Cardiology Trials Substack https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/p/summary-and-discussion-of-east-afnet

IV Left Atrial Appendage Closure Meta-analysis

Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of LAAC vs OAC -- Meta-analysis https://academic.oup.com/europace/article/28/7/euag159/8739567

V Prevention of AKI after Cardiac Surgery: MERCURI-2

MERCURI-2 Study https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2852324

You may also like:

The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington

Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

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