This Week in Cardiology

Latest Episodes:

May 08 2026 This Week in Cardiology May 08, 2026

Show notes

Listener feedback from the DanGer Shock investigators, complete vs staged revascularization, polygenic risk scores, and quality improvement failure in an RCT 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

DanGer Shock Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2312572
CHIP-BCIS 3 Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2515704

II Immediate Complete vs Staged Revascularization in STEMI

Meta-analysis: Timing of Complete Revasc in Patients with STEMI and Multivessel Disease https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.126.016601
COMPLETE Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1907775 FULL REVASC Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2314149
iMODERN Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2512918

III Polygenic Risk Scores for Prediction

Polygenic Risk Report in US-Based Hospitals for 8 CV Conditions https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2026.03.035

IV Practice Improvement Policies Undergo the Proper Test – Randomization

Quality Improvement on Hospitalizations and Health Outcomes for People with CHD https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.125.012904

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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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May 01 2026 This Week in Cardiology May 01, 2026

Show notes

Time to quadruple therapy, the disappointing AVANT GUARD trial, PFA risks, the TREAT-PVC trial, and NSTEMI care in the frail elderly 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 Time to Quadruple Therapy in HFrEF

Time to Quadruple Therapy After Diagnosis of HFrEF https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2846899

II AVANT GUARD

PFA Bests Meds as First-Line Treatment for Persistent AF in Randomized Trial https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/pulsed-field-ablation-bests-meds-first-line-treatment-2026a1000dsm

Pulsed Field Ablation of AF Disappoints in Setup for Success: AVANT GUARD https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/pulsed-field-ablation-af-disappoints-setup-success-avant-2026a1000ddt

AVANT GUARD Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2600929
Persistent AF: Meta-analysis of Invasive Strategies 10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.11.127 External Link

III Speaking of Scary News on PFA – The TIFFANY Study

Abstract - The TIFFANY Study https://www.heartrhythmjournal.com/article/S1547-5271(26)01747-9/fulltext

Delayed Myocardial Ischemia and Malignant Arrhythmias After PFA https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.125.077983
Alberto Alfie Comment https://x.com/ALFIEEP1/status/2050029151315189774?s=20

IV TREAT PVC Trial

TREAT-PVC Trial https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2026.01.011
TREAT-AF Study 2020 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2019.11.008

V NSTEMI In Frail Older Patients

SENIOR-RITA Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2407791
Subanalysis of Senior RITA Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2847995
Timing of Invasive Strategy in Patients With Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome -- Meta-analysis https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31490-3

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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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Apr 24 2026 This Week in Cardiology Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

PCSK9 inhibitors in high-risk diabetes without ASCVD, the CAAN-AF trial, conduction system pacing vs biventricular pacing, PFA and stroke, and therapeutic fashion infects expert consensus 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 VESALIUS-CV

VESALIUS-CV Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2514428
JAMA Substudy https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2847162

II How Best to Maximize CRT Benefit in Patients with AF

CAAN-AF Trial https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag206/8654625?searchresult=1
Role of AV Node Ablation: Meta-analysis of Observational Studies https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2011.10.891

III Stroke Rates in PFA vs Thermal Ablation

Comparative Safety of RF versus PFA for AF in a High-Volume US Medical Center https://esc365.escardio.org/Ehra-congress/sessions/18281

IV Five New CSP Studies Presented and Published

HeartSync-LBBP Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2845803
PhysioSync-HF Trial

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2845802

LEFT-BUNDLE-CRT Trial https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag225
Long-Term Follow-up of His-Alternative I Trial https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacep.2026.02.016
LECART Trial https://esc365.escardio.org/Ehra-congress/sessions/17140

V New EP Training Document Published

Advanced Training Statement on Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2026.01.074

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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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Apr 17 2026 This Week in Cardiology Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

SPIRIT-HF, another spironolactone trial in HFpEF; the ESSENCE imaging study of the drug olezarsen; the SirPAD trial in peripheral artery disease; and ultrasound-guided femoral venous access 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 ACC: SPIRIT-HF Trial

FINEARTS-HF Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2407107
TOPCAT Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1313731

TOPCAT Americas Trial https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circulationaha.114.013255

II A New Class of Lipid Lowering Drug Has a Dubious Debut At ACC

ESSENCE-TIMI 73b Imaging Study https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.126.080012
ESSENCE-TIMI 73b Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2507227
IMPROVE IT Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1410489

III Drug-Coated Balloons Looked Quite Good in PAD interventions

Sirolimus-Coated Balloon Reduces Amputation Risk in Peripheral Artery Disease

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/sirolimus-coated-balloon-reduces-amputation-risk-peripheral-2026a1000a83

SirPAD trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2600360

IV Another Vascular Story from the European Heart Rhythm Association

ULYSSES Trial https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag291
ULTRA-FAST Trial https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/eux175

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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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Apr 10 2026 This Week in Cardiology Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

Three imaging-guided PCI trials (two with surprising results), LDL targets, an oral PCSK9 inhibitor, and another beta-blocker withdrawal 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 IVUS-Guided PCI

OPTIMAL Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2600440
IVUS-CHIP Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2601521
ILUMIEN IV Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2305861
DKCRUSH VIII Trial https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2026.01.081

II Ez-PAVE Trial — Low vs Very Low LDL-targets

Does Ez-PAVE Support 'Lower Is Better' for LDL-C? https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/does-ez-pave-support-lower-better-ldl-c-2026a1000akx

Ez-PAVE Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2600283
2026 ACC/AHA Lipid Guidelines https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001423

III CORALreef AddOn

CORALreef AddOn Trial https://www.jacc.org/doi/abs/10.1016/j.jacc.2026.03.036
This Week in Caardiology 2-6-26 https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/1003240
CORALreef Lipids Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2511002

IV Another Post-MI Beta-blocker Withdrawal Study: SMART-DECISION

SMART-DECISION Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2601005
ABYSS Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2404204

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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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Apr 03 2026 This Week in Cardiology Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

John Mandrola offers an ACC recap of 5 big trials—Hi-PEITHO, PROTAVI, ORBITA-CTO, CHIPS-BCIS3 and CHAMPION AF

This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.

To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit:

https://www.medscape.com/twic

I Catheter Based Fibrinolysis of Pulmonary Embolism –Hi PEITHO

Fibrinolysis Treatment Validated in Large Trial for Acute Intermediate-Risk PE https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/fibrinolysis-treatment-validated-large-trial-acute-2026a10009im
Ultrasound-Facilitated, Catheter-Directed Fibrinolysis for Acute Pulmonary Embolism (HI PEITHO) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2516567
National Early Warning Score (NEWS) https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/clinical-policy/sepsis/nationalearlywarningscore/

II PRO-TAVI trial

Deferral of percutaneous coronary intervention in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (PRO-TAVI) 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00308-9 External Link
PCI in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Implantation (Notion 3) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2401513

III ORBITA CTO Sham vs PCI for Angina Relief

Tightly Blinded Trial Confirms PCI Reduces Angina in Obstructive Occlusion https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/tightly-blinded-trial-confirms-pci-reduces-angina-2026a10009ob

A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Stable Angina - ORBITA-CTO https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2026.03.027
ORBITA 1 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32714-9 External Link
ORBITA 2 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2310610
DECISION CTO https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.031313
EuroCTO https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehy220

IV CHIPS BCIS3 Impella Supported High-Risk PCI

Adoption Before Evidence: CHIP-BCIS3 Humbles Impella https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/adoption-before-evidence-chip-bcis3-humbles-impella-2026a10009jh

Left Ventricular Unloading in High-Risk PCI (CHIP BCIS3) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2515704
Microaxial Flow Pump or Standard Care in Infarct-Related Cardiogenic Shock (DanGer Shock) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2312572

V CHAMPION AF – Watchman vs DOAC in Patients With AF

CHAMPION-AF Trial Finds LAAC an Alternative for NOAC in Lower-Risk Patients https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/champion-af-trial-finds-laac-alternative-noac-lower-risk-2026a10009ij
Six Reasons Why CHAMPION-AF Should Not Change Practice https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/six-reasons-why-champion-af-should-not-change-practice-2026a10009i7

Left Atrial Appendage Closure or Anticoagulation for Atrial Fibrillation (CHAMPION AF) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2517213
Left Atrial Appendage Closure or Medical Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation (CLOSURE AF) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2513310

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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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Mar 27 2026 This Week in Cardiology Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

Early aortic valve replacement in aortic stenosis, left atrial appendage occlusion in JAMA Cardiology, and a big preview of the upcoming American College of Cardiology meeting 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 Early AVR

RECOVERY Trial at 10 Years https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2511920

II Major Bleeding with Amulet and Watchman in JAMA Cardiology

Amulet IDE Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2847047
5-year Results From Amulet IDE https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2024.10.101

III ACC Preview

Mandrola's Top 4 Trials from ACC 2026: Details Matter

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/mandrolas-top-4-trials-acc-2026-details-matter-2026a10008ti

CHIB-BCIS3 Trial https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.123.013367
Champion-AF Protocol https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2023.05.022
ORBITA-CTO Protocol Paper https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1172763/full
SPIRIT-HF Clinical Trials.gov https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04727073

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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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Mar 20 2026 This Week in Cardiology Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

Listener feedback, the huge CLOSURE-AF trial of LAAC vs best medical therapy, previews of CHAMPION AF, and the controversial ACC/AHA lipid treatment guidelines 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

COBRRA Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2510703

Closure AF published in NEJM

CLOSURE-AF Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2513310
CHAMPION AF Rationale - Watchman FLX vs DOACs in Patients With AF https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37279840/

LIPID Guidelines

ACC/AHA Joint Committee Guideline on Management of Dyslipidemia https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.11.016

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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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Mar 13 2026 This Week in Cardiology Mar 13, 2026

Show notes

Beta-blocker in non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a head-to-head apixaban vs rivaroxaban RCT, diltiazem vs metoprolol combined with DOAC, and the accuracy of smart watches for AF 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

EMPATICC trial https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/47/9/1034/8242490

II Beta-blocker in Non-obstructive HCM

BB vs Calcium Channel Blocker in Non-obstructive HCM https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.11.028
RCT of Metoprolol in Patients With Obstructive HCM https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2021.07.065

III Apixaban vs Rivaroxaban for Bleeding Risk

COBRRA Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2510703
AMPLIFY Trial (Apixaban) https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1302507
EINSTEIN Trial (Rivaroxaban) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1007903

IV Diltiazem vs Metoprolol When Combined with DOAC

Risk for Bleeding in AF Patients Using Apixaban or Rivaroxaban With Diltiazem https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-01408

V Actual Clinical Use of Smart Watches

CIRCA-DOSE Original Trial https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.042622
Wearable Smartwatches for AF Detection After Ablation https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaf280

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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Mar 06 2026 This Week in Cardiology Mar 06, 2026

Show notes

Listener feedback, urgent AF ablation, AF ablation as a stroke-reducing therapy, implantable loop recorder accuracy, and HF management in the setting of serious disease 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 Urgent AF ablations

Urgent vs Elective AF Ablation in the US https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacep.2025.12.030

II AF Ablation Is Not Likely a Good Therapy for Stroke Reduction

STABLED Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2845745
Catheter Ablation for AF Associated With Lower Incidence of Stroke https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehw087

III Loop Recorders

ILR Accuracy - Multicenter, Multidevice Comparison https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2025.12.039

IV Heart Failure Therapy when there is Cancer

EMPATICC Trial https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf705

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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