Mayo Clinic Talks

In the context of shrinking funds and an aging population (10 000 people turn 65 each day), what is the status of healthcare reform in the US? Guest host Dr Chet Rihal catches up with Dr Ray Gibbons for a frank discussion on where things stand, what we can do, and what lessons cardiologists—and society at large—can learn.

Dr Samuel Asirvatham joins the show to discuss arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD), the second most common cause of death in young athletes after hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Find out more about the morphological characteristics of ARVD, pattern of inheritance, diagnosis, and management.

Mayo Clinic cardiovascular fellow Dr Mackram Eleid joins Dr Bernard Gersh to discuss his research on the complicated subject of low flow, low gradient aortic stenosis, and particularly why it's important to examine the disease as systemic, involving the arteries as well as the valve.

In this second discussion on pericarditis, Dr Bernard Gersh is joined by Dr Jae Oh, professor of medicine and director of cardiac imaging and the pericardial diseases clinic at Mayo Clinic, to review the diagnostic evaluation of patients with constriction vs restriction.

Despite a significant body of trial data supporting the implantation of ICDs for secondary and primary prevention, controversies persist. Dr Paul Friedman joins Dr Bernard Gersh to discuss the issues that cloud patient selection and how to cope with ICD lead malfunction. They also review the future of subcutaneous lead-based ICD systems and how devices will be improved by new designs and technology.

The past year has brought an embarrassment of riches in the realm of anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation, as dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban vie to compete with warfarin. Dr Robert McBane reviews the most recent data with Dr Bernard Gersh, assessing whether one agent has "an edge" over the others and reviewing the appropriate patient set for the novel agents and warfarin.

The longevity of people with Marfan syndrome has dramatically improved in the past years thanks to improved diagnostics, pharmacological management, and timely intervention. Dr Charles Bruce joins Dr Bernard Gersh to discuss the latest research—including how genetics have informed our pathophysiological understanding of the syndrome—and guidelines for optimal management of patients.

An estimated 15% of patients in the cath lab are nonrevascularizable. Dr Bernard Gersh talks to Dr Amir Lerman about the therapeutic options for these people, how we define optimal medical therapy in this patient set, and what solutions the future might hold.

"They are about as heavy as a baby, but take about three times longer to produce!"

Dr Robert Simari asks Dr Bernard Gersh about the challenges and rewards of writing the 2011 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) guidelines—from the tough task of reaching consensus in an area that lacks clinical trials, to the satisfaction of finally publishing the first guideline document for HCM.

Dr Jae Oh, professor of medicine and director of cardiac imaging and the pericardial diseases clinic at Mayo, joins Dr Bernard Gersh for an update on the latest on acute pericarditis from etiology and diagnostic criteria to appropriate management for patients with recurrent pericarditis.