Cardionerds: A Cardiology Podcast

CardioNerds

Welcome to CardioNerds, where we bring you in-depth discussions with leading experts, case reports, and updates on the latest advancements in the world of cardiology. Tune in to expand your knowledge, sharpen your skills, and become a true CardioNerd!

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    428. Atrial Fibrillation: The Impact of Modifiable Risk Factors and Lifestyle Management on Atrial Fibrillation with Dr. Prash Sanders

    Dr. Kelly Arps, Dr. Naima Maqsood, and Dr. Sahi Allam discuss modifiable risk factors and lifestyle management of atrial fibrillation with Dr. Prash Sanders. Atrial fibrillation is becoming more prevalent across the world as people are living longer with cardiovascular disease. While much of our current focus lies on the pharmacological and procedural management of atrial fibrillation, several studies have shown that targeted reduction of risk factors, such as obesity, sleep apnea, hypertension, and alcohol use, can also significantly reduce atrial fibrillation burden and symptoms. Today, we discuss the data behind lifestyle management and why it is considered the “4th pillar” of atrial fibrillation treatment. We also explore ways to incorporate prevention strategies into our general cardiology and electrophysiology clinics to better serve the growing atrial fibrillation population. Audio editing for this episode was performed by CardioNerds Intern, Julia Marques Fernandes.  CardioNerds Atrial Fibrillation PageCardioNerds Episode PageCardioNerds AcademyCardionerds Healy Honor Roll CardioNerds Journal ClubSubscribe to The Heartbeat Newsletter!Check out CardioNerds SWAG!Become a CardioNerds Patron! Pearls More people have atrial fibrillation because it is being detected earlier using wearable technology, and patients are living longer with subclinical or clinical cardiovascular disease  There are 3 components of atrial fibrillation: an electrical “trigger” + a susceptible substrate (due to age, sex, genetics) + “perpetuators” that cause the trigger to continue stimulating the substrate (lifestyle risk factors such as obesity, smoking, diabetes, etc.)  Obesity is the highest attributable risk factor for atrial fibrillation. Treating obesity often helps to treat other risk factors, such as hypertension and sleep apnea.  Counseling is patient-dependent. Most patients are unable to make major behavioral changes cold-turkey and will need to make small, incremental changes.  Dr. Sanders’ tip: He tells his own patients that “atrial fibrillation is the body’s response to stress.” The key to treating atrial fibrillation is to control your underlying stressors - procedures and medications are simply band-aids that do not fix the root of the problem.  Notes Notes drafted by Dr. Allam. 1. How common is atrial fibrillation?  Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia. Currently, an estimated 50-60 million individuals worldwide are estimated to have atrial fibrillation, or roughly 1 in 4 individuals over the age of 45.1  The rising global prevalence of atrial fibrillation can be attributed to the aging of the population, increased rates of obesity, and greater accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors and survival with clinical cardiovascular disease.2 Atrial fibrillation is also being detected earlier through digital and wearable devices.2  Annually, we spend approximately $5,312 per adult on the management of atrial fibrillation in the United States.3  2. What is the underlying pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation? How do risk factors like sleep apnea or obesity “trigger” atrial fibrillation?  For atrial fibrillation to occur, there is an electrical “trigger”, a susceptible substrate (due to age, sex, genetics), and “perpetuators” that allow the trigger to continue stimulating the substrate.2  90% of electrical “triggers” come from the pulmonary veins  “Perpetuators” influence how the autonomic nervous system interacts with the triggers and substrate to perpetuate atrial fibrillation. Sleep apnea, obesity, and other risk factors are the “perpetuators”  Over time, as atrial fibrillation recurs, the substrate remodels to result in persistent atrial fibrillation.  3. What are some of the risk factors for atrial fibrillation and what are the possible benefits of controlling them?

    18 min
  2. 8 SEPT

    426. Case Report: A Ruptured Saccular Aortic Aneurysm into the Right Ventricle – University of Tennessee, Nashville ​

    CardioNerds join Dr. Neel Patel, Dr. Victoria Odeleye, and Dr. Jay Ramsay from the University of Tennessee, Nashville, for a deep dive into cardiovascular medicine in the vibrant city of Nashville. They discuss the following case: A 57-year-old male with a history of prior cardiac surgery, hypertension, and polysubstance use presented with syncope and chest pain. Initial workup revealed a large saccular ascending aortic aneurysm. While under conservative management, he experienced acute hemodynamic collapse, leading to the discovery of an unprecedented aorto-right ventricular fistula. This episode examines the clinical presentation, diagnostic journey, and management challenges of this rare and complex aortic pathology, highlighting the role of multimodal imaging and the interplay of multifactorial risk factors. Expert commentary is provided by Dr. Andrew Zurick III. Episode audio was edited by CardioNerds Intern student Dr. Pacey Wetstein.   US Cardiology Review is now the official journal of CardioNerds! Submit your manuscript here. CardioNerds Case Reports PageCardioNerds Episode PageCardioNerds AcademyCardionerds Healy Honor Roll CardioNerds Journal ClubSubscribe to The Heartbeat Newsletter!Check out CardioNerds SWAG!Become a CardioNerds Patron! Pearls Saccular Aneurysm Risk: Saccular aortic aneurysms, though less common than fusiform, carry a higher inherent rupture risk due to concentrated wall shear stress, often exacerbated by prior cardiac surgery, chronic hypertension, and polysubstance use.     Unprecedented Rupture: The direct rupture of an aortic aneurysm into a cardiac chamber, specifically the right ventricle, is an exceedingly rare event, with no prior reported cases in the literature, highlighting the unpredictable nature of complex aortic pathology.     Hemodynamic Catastrophe: A large aorto-right ventricular fistula creates a massive left-to-right shunt, leading to acute right ventricular pressure and volume overload, culminating in rapid cardiogenic shock and refractory right ventricular failure.     Multimodal Imaging Imperative: Multimodal imaging (CT angiography for anatomy, TTE/TEE for real-time hemodynamics and fistula detection, CMR for tissue characterization) is indispensable for rapid diagnosis and comprehensive characterization of life-threatening cardiovascular emergencies.     High-Risk Intervention: Emergent surgical repair of a ruptured aortic aneurysm with an aorto-right ventricular fistula is a high-risk procedure associated with significant mortality, underscoring the need for prompt multidisciplinary care and realistic outcome expectations.     Notes - Notes (drafted by Dr Neel Patel):  What are the unique characteristics and rupture risk of saccular aortic aneurysms?  Saccular aortic aneurysms are less common than fusiform aneurysms.     They are generally considered more prone to rupture due to higher wall shear stress concentrated at the neck of the aneurysm, acting as a focal point of weakness.     Contributing Factors to Aneurysm Formation and Rupture in this Case:  Prior Cardiac Surgery: Aortic cannulation during the VSD/ASD repair decades ago likely created a localized structural weakness or predisposition.     Chronic, Poorly Controlled Hypertension: Imposed relentless systemic stress on the arterial walls, accelerating dilation and weakening.     Polysubstance Use: Particularly stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamines, which directly contribute to vascular damage by inducing severe, uncontrolled hypertension and direct arterial wall injury. This significantly increases the risk of aneurysm formation and rupture, especially with pre-existing conditions.     The direct rupture of an aortic aneurysm into a cardiac chamber, specifically the right ventricle, is an exceedingly rare event, with no prior reported cases in the literature,

    36 min
  3. 29 AUG

    425. Case Report: The Hidden Culprit – Unraveling the Cause of Malignant Ventricular Arrhythmias in a Young Adult – Trinity Health Livonia Hospital

    CardioNerds guest host Dr. Colin Blumenthal joins Dr. Juma Bin Firos and Dr. Aishwarya Verma from the Trinity Health Livonia Hospital to discuss a fascinating case involving malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Expert commentary is provided by Dr. Mohammad-Ali Jazayeri. Audio editing for this episode was performed by CardioNerds Intern,Julia Marques Fernandes.  This case explores the puzzling presentation of exercise-induced ventricular tachycardia in a young, otherwise healthy male who suffered recurrent out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. With no traditional risk factors and an unremarkable ischemic workup, the challenge lay in uncovering the underlying cause of his malignant arrhythmias. Electrophysiology studies and advanced imaging played a pivotal role in systematically narrowing the differentials, revealing an unexpected arrhythmogenic substrate. This episode delves into the diagnostic dilemma, the role of EP testing, and the critical decision-making surrounding ICD placement in a patient with a concealed but life-threatening condition.  US Cardiology Review is now the official journal of CardioNerds! Submit your manuscript here. CardioNerds Case Reports PageCardioNerds Episode PageCardioNerds AcademyCardionerds Healy Honor Roll CardioNerds Journal ClubSubscribe to The Heartbeat Newsletter!Check out CardioNerds SWAG!Become a CardioNerds Patron! Pearls- Malignant Ventricular Arrhythmias This case highlights the challenges and importance of diagnosing and managing ventricular arrhythmias in young, seemingly healthy individuals. Here are five key takeaways from the episode:  Electrophysiology (EP) studies play a crucial role in identifying arrhythmogenic substrates in patients with exercise-induced ventricular tachycardia (VT) without obvious structural heart disease. In this case, substrate mapping revealed late abnormal ventricular afterdepolarizations in the basal inferior left ventricle, providing valuable insights into the underlying mechanism.  Cardiac MRI can be a powerful tool for detecting subtle myocardial abnormalities. The subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in the lateral and inferior LV walls suggested an underlying myocardial process, even when other imaging modalities appeared normal.  The VT morphology can provide clues about the underlying mechanism. In this case, the right bundle branch block pattern with a northwest axis and shifting exit sites pointed towards a scar-mediated mechanism rather than a channelopathy or idiopathic VT.  Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement is crucial for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias, even in young individuals. The patient's initial deferral of ICD implantation highlights the importance of shared decision-making and patient education in these complex cases.  "Scar-mediated VT introduces the risk of new arrhythmogenic substrates over time, reinforcing the need for ICD therapy even when catheter ablation is considered." This pearl emphasizes the dynamic nature of the arrhythmogenic substrate and the importance of long-term risk mitigation strategies.  Notes - Malignant Ventricular Arrhythmias Notes were drafted by Juma Bin Firos.  1. What underlying pathologies cause ventricular arrhythmias in young patients without overt structural heart disease? Myocardial fibrosis: Detected via late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac MRI Present in 38% of nonischemic cardiomyopathy cases Increases sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk 5-fold Often localized to subepicardial regions, particularly in the inferolateral left ventricle (LV) May precede overt systolic dysfunction by years Subclinical cardiomyopathy: 67% of young VT patients show subtle cardiac dysfunction Suggests VT may be the first manifestation of cardiomyopathy

    27 min
  4. 19 AUG

    424. Treatment of Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) with Dr. Justin Grodin

    CardioNerds (Drs. Rick Ferraro and Georgia Vasilakis Tsatiris) discuss ATTR cardiac amyloidosis with expert Dr. Justin Grodin. This episode is a must-listen for all who want to know how to diagnose and treat ATTR with current available therapies, as well as management of concomitant diseases through a multidisciplinary approach. We take a deep dive into the importance of genetic testing, not only for patients and families, but also for gene-specific therapies on the horizon. Dr. Grodin draws us a roadmap, guiding us through new experimental therapies that may reverse the amyloidosis disease process once and for all.  Audio editing by CardioNerds academy intern, Christiana Dangas. This episode was developed in collaboration with the American Society of Preventive Cardiology and supported by an educational grant from BridgeBio.  Enjoy this Circulation Paths to Discovery article to learn more about the CardioNerds mission and journey.  US Cardiology Review is now the official journal of CardioNerds! Submit your manuscripts here.  CardioNerds Cardiac Amyloid PageCardioNerds Episode Page Pearls: You must THINK about your patient having amyloid to recognize the pattern and make the diagnosis. Start with a routine ECG and TTE, and look for a disproportionately large heart muscle with relatively low voltages on the ECG.  Before you diagnose ATTR amyloidosis, AL amyloidosis must be ruled out (or ruled in) with serum light chains, serum/urine immunofixation, and/or tissue biopsy.  Genetic testing is standard of care for all patients and families with ATTR amyloidosis, and the future is promising for gene-specific treatments. Current FDA-approved treatments for TTR amyloidosis are TTR stabilizers and TTR silencers, but TTR fibril-depleting agents are on their way.  Early diagnosis of ATTR affords patients maximal benefit from current amyloidosis therapies.   TTR amyloidosis patients require a multidisciplinary approach for success, given the high number of concomitant diseases with cardiomyopathy.  Notes: Notes: Notes drafted by Dr. Georgia Vasilakis Tsatiris.  What makes you most suspicious of a diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis from the typical heart failure patient?  You must have a strong index of suspicion, meaning you THINK that the patient could have cardiac amyloidosis, to consider it diagnostically. Some characteristics or “red flags” to not miss:   Disproportionately thick heart muscle with a relatively low voltages on EKG   Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome – estimated that 1 in 10 people >65 years old will have amyloidosis   Previously tolerated antihypertensive medications  Atraumatic biceps tendon rupture   Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome  Spinal stenosis   Concomitant with other diseases: HFpEF, low-flow low-gradient aortic stenosis  How would you work up a patient for cardiac amyloidosis?   Start with a routine ECG (looking for disproportionally low voltage) and routine TTE (looking for thick heart muscle)  CBC, serum chemistries, hepatic function panel, NT proBNP, and troponin levels  NOTE: It is critical to differentiate between amyloid light chain (AL amyloidosis) and transthyretin ATTR amyloidosis, as both make up 95-99% of amyloidosis cases.   Obtain serum free light chains, serum & urine electrophoresis, and serum & urine immunofixation to rule out AL amyloidosis. (See table below)  AL Amyloidosis ATTR Amyloidosis  → Positive serum free light chains and immunofixation (Abnormal M protein) → Tissue biopsy (endomyocardial, fat pad) to confirm diagnosis → Negative serum free light chains and immunofixation (ruled out AL amyloidosis) → Cardiac scintigraphy (Technetium pyrophosphate with SPECT imaging)  What treatment options do we have to offer now for ATTR CM, and how has this compared to prior years?   Before 2019, treatment options were limited outside of cardiac tr...

    45 min
  5. 3 AUG

    423. Case Report: The Malignant Murmur – More Than Meets the Echo in Nonbacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis – Baylor College of Medicine

    CardioNerds (Dr. Rick Ferraro and Dr. Dan Ambinder) join Dr. Sahar Samimi and Dr. Lorraine Mascarenhas from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, at the Houston Rodeo for some tasty Texas BBQ and a tour of the lively rodeo grounds to discuss an interesting case full of clinical pearls involving a patient with nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE). Expert commentary is provided by Dr. Basant Arya. Episode audio was edited by CardioNerds Intern Dr. Bhavya Shah. (Photo by Xu Jianmei/Xinhua via Getty Images)Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images We discuss a case of a 38-year-old woman with advanced endometrial cancer who presents with acute abdominal pain, found to have splenic and renal infarcts, severe aortic regurgitation, and persistently negative blood cultures, ultimately diagnosed with nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE). We review the definition and pathophysiology of NBTE in the context of malignancy and hypercoagulability, discuss initial evaluation and echocardiographic findings, and highlight important management considerations. Emphasis is placed on the complexities of anticoagulation choice, the role of valvular surveillance, and the need for coordinated, multidisciplinary care.   US Cardiology Review is now the official journal of CardioNerds! Submit your manuscript here. CardioNerds Case Reports PageCardioNerds Episode PageCardioNerds AcademyCardionerds Healy Honor Roll CardioNerds Journal ClubSubscribe to The Heartbeat Newsletter!Check out CardioNerds SWAG!Become a CardioNerds Patron! Pearls- Nonbacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis Eliminate the Usual Suspects. NBTE is a diagnosis of exclusion! Always rule out infective endocarditis (IE) first with serial blood cultures and serologic tests.  More than Meets the Echo. Distinguishing NBTE from culture-negative endocarditis can be tricky. Look beyond the echo—focus on clinical context (underlying malignancy, autoimmune issues) and lab findings to clinch the diagnosis.  TEE for the Win... Mostly. While TEE is more sensitive than TTE, NBTE vegetations can be sneaky and may embolize quickly. Don’t hesitate to use advanced imaging (i.e., cardiac MRI, CTA) or repeat imaging if you still suspect NBTE.  Choose your champion. In cancer-associated NBTE, guideline recommendations for anticoagulation choice are lacking. Consider DOACs and LMWH as agents of choice, but ultimately use shared decision-making to guide management.  No obvious trigger? Go hunting for hidden malignancies or autoimmune disorders. A thorough workup is essential to uncover the driving force behind NBTE.  Check out this state-of-the-art review for a comprehensive, one-stop summary of NBTE: European Heart Journal, 46(3), 236–245. Please note that the figures and tables referenced in the following notes are adapted from this review.  notes- Nonbacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis Notes were drafted by Dr. Sahar Samimi.  What is nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE)?   NBTE, previously known as marantic endocarditis, is a rare condition in which sterile vegetations form on heart valves.1  It occurs most commonly in association with malignancies and autoimmune conditions (i.e, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome or systemic lupus erythematosus).1 In addition, NBTE has been reported in association with COVID-19 infection, burns, sepsis, and indwelling catheters.2  Precise mechanisms remain unclear, but an interplay of endothelial injury, hypercoagulability, hypoxia, and immune complex deposition contributes to the formation of these sterile vegetations. 1  How do we diagnose NBTE?  Physicians should have a high level of suspicion for NBTE in at-risk patients (e.g., with active malignancy) who present with recent or recurrent embolic events (i.e., stroke, splenic, renal, or mesenteric infarct, and acute coronary syndrome).1

    16 min
  6. 25 JUL

    422. Diagnosis of Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) with Dr. Venkatesh Murthy

    Drs. Rick Ferraro and Sneha Nandy discuss ‘Diagnosis of ATTR Cardiac Amyloidosis’ with Dr. Venkatesh Murthy.  In this episode, we explore the diagnosis of ATTR cardiac amyloidosis, a condition once considered rare but now increasingly recognized due to advances in imaging and the availability of effective therapies. Dr. Venkatesh Murthy, a leader in multimodality imaging, discusses key clinical and laboratory features that should raise suspicion for the disease. We also examine the role of nuclear imaging and genetic testing in confirming the diagnosis, as well as the importance of early detection. Tune in for expert insights on navigating this challenging diagnosis and look out for our next episode on treatment approaches for cardiac amyloidosis! Audio editing for this episode was performed by CardioNerds Intern, Julia Marques Fernandes. Enjoy this Circulation Paths to Discovery article to learn more about the CardioNerds mission and journey.  US Cardiology Review is now the official journal of CardioNerds! Submit your manuscripts here.  CardioNerds Cardiac Amyloid PageCardioNerds Episode Page Pearls: - Diagnosis of Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy 1. Recognizing the Red Flags – ATTR cardiac amyloidosis often presents with subtle but telling signs, such as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, low-voltage ECG, and a history of lumbar spinal stenosis or biceps tendon rupture. If you see these features in a patient with heart failure symptoms, think amyloidosis!    2. “Vanilla Ice Cream with a Cherry on Top” – On strain echocardiography, apical sparing is a classic pattern for cardiac amyloidosis. While helpful, it’s not foolproof—multimodal imaging and clinical suspicion are key!   3. Nuclear Imaging is a Game-Changer – When suspicion for cardiac amyloidosis is high à a positive PYP scan with SPECT imaging (grade 2 or 3 myocardial uptake) in the absence of monoclonal protein (ruled out by SPEP, UPEP, and free light chains) is diagnostic for ATTR amyloidosis—no biopsy needed!   4. Wild-Type vs. Hereditary? Know the Clues – Older patients (70+) are more likely to have wild-type ATTR, while younger patients (40s-60s), especially those with neuropathy and a family history of heart failure, should raise suspicion for hereditary ATTR. Genetic testing is crucial for distinguishing between the two. Note that some ATTR variants may predispose to a false negative PYP scan!  5. Missing Amyloidosis = Missed Opportunity – With multiple disease-modifying therapies now available, early diagnosis is critical. If you suspect cardiac amyloidosis, don’t delay the workup—early treatment improves outcomes!   Notes - Diagnosis of Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy What clinical features should raise suspicion for ATTR cardiac amyloidosis?   ATTR cardiac amyloidosis is underdiagnosed because symptoms overlap with other forms of heart failure.   Red flags include bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (often years before cardiac symptoms), low-voltage ECG despite increased LV wall thickness, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) with a restrictive pattern, and history of lumbar spinal stenosis, biceps tendon rupture, and/or peripheral neuropathy, including possible autonomic dysfunction (e.g., orthostatic hypotension).  Remember: If an older patient presents with heart failure and unexplained symptoms like neuropathy or musculoskeletal issues, think amyloidosis!   What is the differential diagnosis for a thick left ventricle (LVH) and how does ATTR amyloidosis fit into it?    Hypertension: Most common cause of LVH, typically with a history of uncontrolled high blood pressure.   Aortic stenosis: May present with concentric LVH.   Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM): Genetic disorder typically presenting with asymmetric LVH, especially in younger patients.   Infiltrative cardiomyopathy: Often due to amyloidosis, sarcoidosis,

    14 min
  7. 10 JUL

    421. Case Report: Switched at Birth: A Case of Congenital Heart Disease Presenting in Adulthood – New York Presbyterian Queens 

    CardioNerds (Dr. Claire Cambron and Dr. Rawan Amir) join Dr. Ayan Purkayastha, Dr. David Song, and Dr. Justin Wang from NewYork-Presbyterian Queens for an afternoon of hot pot in downtown Flushing. They discuss a case of congenital heart disease presenting in adulthood. Expert commentary is provided by Dr. Su Yuan, and audio editing for this episode was performed by CardioNerds Intern, Julia Marques Fernandes. A 53-year-old woman with a past medical history of hypertension visiting from Guyana presented with 2 days of chest pain. EKG showed dominant R wave in V1 with precordial T wave inversions. Troponin levels were normal, however she was started on therapeutic heparin with plan for left heart catheterization. Her chest X-ray revealed dextrocardia and echocardiogram was suspicious for the systemic ventricle being the morphologic right ventricle with reduced systolic function and the pulmonic ventricle being the morphologic left ventricle. Patient underwent coronary CT angiography which confirmed diagnosis of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA) as well as minimal non-obstructive coronary artery disease. Her chest pain spontaneously improved and catheterization was deferred. Patient opted to follow with a congenital specialist back in her home country upon discharge.   US Cardiology Review is now the official journal of CardioNerds! Submit your manuscript here. CardioNerds Case Reports PageCardioNerds Episode PageCardioNerds AcademyCardionerds Healy Honor Roll CardioNerds Journal ClubSubscribe to The Heartbeat Newsletter!Check out CardioNerds SWAG!Become a CardioNerds Patron! Pearls- A Case of Congenital Heart Disease Presenting in Adulthood Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries (CCTGA) is a rare and unique structural heart disease which presents as an isolated combination of atrioventricular and ventriculoarterial discordance resulting in physiologically corrected blood flow.   CCTGA occurs due to L looping of the embryologic heart tube. As a result, the morphologic right ventricle outflows into the systemic circulation, and the morphologic left ventricle outflows into the pulmonary circulation.   CCTGA is frequently associated with ventricular septal defects, pulmonic stenosis, tricuspid valve abnormalities and dextrocardia.   CCTGA is often asymptomatic in childhood and can present later in adulthood with symptoms of morphologic right ventricular failure, tricuspid regurgitation, or cardiac arrhythmias.   Systemic atrioventricular valve (SAVV) intervention can be a valuable option for treating right ventricular failure and degeneration of the morphologic tricuspid valve.  notes- A Case of Congenital Heart Disease Presenting in Adulthood Notes were drafted by Ayan Purkayastha.  What is the pathogenesis of Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries?   Occurs due to disorders in the development of the primary cardiac tube   Bulboventricular part of the primary heart forms a left-sided loop instead of right-sided loop, leading to the normally located atria being connected to morphologically incompatible ventricles   This is accompanied by abnormal torsion of the aortopulmonary septum (transposition of the great vessels)   As a result, there is ‘physiologic correction’ of blood flow. Non-oxygenated blood flows into the right atrium and through the mitral valve into the morphologic left ventricle, which pumps blood into the pulmonary artery. Oxygenated blood from the pulmonary veins flows into the left atrium and through the tricuspid valve to the morphologic right ventricle, which pumps blood to the aorta. Compared with standard anatomy, the flow of blood is appropriate, but it is going through the incorrect ventricle on both sides.  Frequent conditions associated with CCTGA include VSD, pulmonic stenosis and dextrocardia

    29 min
  8. 20 JUN

    420. Cardio-Rheumatology: Cardiovascular Multimodality Imaging & Systemic Inflammation with Dr. Monica Mukherjee

    In this episode, CardioNerds Dr. Gurleen Kaur, Dr. Richard Ferraro, and Dr. Jake Roberts are joined by Cardio-Rheumatology expert, Dr. Monica Mukherjee, to discuss the role of utilizing multimodal imaging for cardiovascular disease risk stratification, monitoring, and management in patients with chronic systemic inflammation. The team delves into the contexts for utilizing advanced imaging to assess systemic inflammation with cardiac involvement, as well as the role of imaging in monitoring various specific cardiovascular complications that may develop due to inflammatory diseases. Audio editing by CardioNerds academy intern, Christiana Dangas. CardioNerds Prevention PageCardioNerds Episode PageCardioNerds AcademyCardionerds Healy Honor Roll CardioNerds Journal ClubSubscribe to The Heartbeat Newsletter!Check out CardioNerds SWAG!Become a CardioNerds Patron! Pearls - Cardiovascular Multimodality Imaging & Systemic Inflammation Systemic inflammatory diseases are associated with an elevated CVD risk that has significant implications for early detection, risk stratification, and implementation of therapeutic strategies to address these risks and disease-specific complications. As an example, patients with SLE have a 48-fold increased risk for developing ASCVD compared to the general population. They may also develop disease-specific complications, such as pericarditis, that require focused imaging approaches to detect. In addition to increasing the risk for CAD, systemic inflammatory diseases can also result in cardiac complications, including myocardial, pericardial, and valvular involvement. Assessment of these complications requires the use of different imaging techniques, with the modality and serial studies selected based on the suspected disease process involved. In most contexts, echocardiography remains the starting point for evaluating cardiac involvement in systemic inflammatory diseases and can inform the next steps in terms of diagnostic study selection for the assessment of specific cardiac processes. For example, if echocardiography is completed in an SLE patient and demonstrates potential myocardial or pericardial inflammation, the next steps in evaluation may include completing a cardiac MRI for better characterization. While no current guidelines or standards of care directly guide our selection of advanced imaging studies for screening and management of CVD in patients with systemic inflammatory diseases, our understanding of cardiac involvement in these patients continues to improve and will likely lead to future guideline development. Due to the vast heterogeneity of cardiac involvement both across and within different systemic inflammatory diseases, a personalized approach to caring for each individual patient remains central to CVD evaluation and management in these patients. For example, patients with systemic sclerosis and symptoms of shortness of breath may experience these symptoms due to a range of causes. Echocardiography can be a central guiding tool in assessing these patients for potential concerns related to pulmonary hypertension or diastolic dysfunction. Based on the initial echocardiogram, the next steps in evaluation may involve further ischemic evaluation or right heart catheterization, depending on the pathology of concern. Show notes - Cardiovascular Multimodality Imaging & Systemic Inflammation Episode notes drafted by Dr. Jake Roberts. What are the contexts in which we should consider pursuing multimodal cardiac imaging, and are there certain inflammatory disorders associated with systemic inflammation and higher associated CVD risk for which advanced imaging can help guide early intervention? Systemic inflammatory diseases are associated with elevated CVD risk, which has significant implications for early detection, risk stratification, prognostication, and implementation of therapeutic strategies to address CVD risk and complicat...

    18 min

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Welcome to CardioNerds, where we bring you in-depth discussions with leading experts, case reports, and updates on the latest advancements in the world of cardiology. Tune in to expand your knowledge, sharpen your skills, and become a true CardioNerd!

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