Welcome to Cardiology Today – Recorded January 04, 2026. This episode summarizes 5 key cardiology studies on topics like quantitative flow ratio and sinus rhythm. Key takeaway: Thromboaspiration Not Routine in STEMI.

Article Links:

Article 1: Selective Use of Thromboaspiration in STEMI: CMR Evidence Against Routine Practice. (The American journal of cardiology)

Article 2: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement for Mixed Aortic Valve Disease Versus Predominant Aortic Stenosis. (The American journal of cardiology)

Article 3: Comparison of Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation Following Transcatheter Atrial Septal Defect Closure in Adult Patients With Sinus Rhythm, Post-ablation Sinus Rhythm, and Permanent Atrial Fibrillation. (The American journal of cardiology)

Article 4: Persistent Racial Disparities in Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia Outcomes and Utilization Among US Medicare Patients. (The American journal of cardiology)

Article 5: Unmasking Myocardial Bridge-Related Ischemia by Quantitative Flow Ratio Functional Evaluation. (The American journal of cardiology)

Full episode page: https://podcast.explainheart.com/podcast/thromboaspiration-not-routine-in-stemi-01-04-26/

Journal: The American journal of cardiology

PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41483841

Summary: This study provided cardiac magnetic resonance imaging evidence against the routine use of thromboaspiration as an adjunct to primary percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The data demonstrated concerns about thromboaspiration’s potential to aggravate microvascular injury. The study confirmed that the effect of thromboaspiration on microvascular perfusion remains uncertain, leading to the conclusion that routine application is not supported.

Journal: The American journal of cardiology

PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41138981

Summary: This meta-analysis compared the survival of patients with mixed aortic valve disease versus predominant aortic stenosis following transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The study found that patients with mixed aortic valve disease demonstrated distinct survival outcomes compared to those with predominant aortic stenosis. This research provides crucial insights into differential survival rates for specific aortic valve pathologies undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Journal: The American journal of cardiology

PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41061875

Summary: This study compared the sequential changes in functional tricuspid regurgitation following transcatheter atrial septal defect closure across different preprocedural cardiac rhythms. The research categorized patients into groups with sinus rhythm, sinus rhythm after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, and permanent atrial fibrillation. The data demonstrated differential changes in tricuspid regurgitation based on the patient’s baseline and post-ablation cardiac rhythm status after atrial septal defect closure.

Journal: The American journal of cardiology

PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41052695

Summary: This study demonstrated persistent racial disparities in chronic limb-threatening ischemia outcomes and healthcare utilization among U.S. Medicare patients. The data showed that Black patients continued to experience higher amputation rates and reduced access to vascular care compared to White beneficiaries. Despite national campaigns aimed at improving peripheral arterial disease outcomes, these disparities were found to persist over time.

Journal: The American journal of cardiology

PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40914220

Summary: This study found that quantitative flow ratio functional evaluation effectively unmasked myocardial bridge-related ischemia. The data demonstrated that this functional assessment method is crucial for identifying the hemodynamic impact of myocardial bridges, which are segments of epicardial coronary arteries passing through myocardial muscle. The findings highlight the utility of quantitative flow ratio in assessing myocardial bridge severity for informed treatment decisions, particularly in cases where these bridges are associated with cardiovascular conditions.

Today’s date is January 04, 2026. Welcome to Cardiology Today. Here are the latest research findings.

Article number one. Selective Use of Thromboaspiration in STEMI: CMR Evidence Against Routine Practice. This study provided cardiac magnetic resonance imaging evidence against the routine use of thromboaspiration as an adjunct to primary percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The data demonstrated concerns about thromboaspiration’s potential to aggravate microvascular injury. The study confirmed that the effect of thromboaspiration on microvascular perfusion remains uncertain, leading to the conclusion that routine application is not supported.

Article number two. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement for Mixed Aortic Valve Disease Versus Predominant Aortic Stenosis. This meta-analysis compared the survival of patients with mixed aortic valve disease versus predominant aortic stenosis following transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The study found that patients with mixed aortic valve disease demonstrated distinct survival outcomes compared to those with predominant aortic stenosis. This research provides crucial insights into differential survival rates for specific aortic valve pathologies undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Article number three. Comparison of Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation Following Transcatheter Atrial Septal Defect Closure in Adult Patients With Sinus Rhythm, Post-ablation Sinus Rhythm, and Permanent Atrial Fibrillation. This study compared the sequential changes in functional tricuspid regurgitation following transcatheter atrial septal defect closure across different preprocedural cardiac rhythms. The research categorized patients into groups with sinus rhythm, sinus rhythm after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, and permanent atrial fibrillation. The data demonstrated differential changes in tricuspid regurgitation based on the patient’s baseline and post-ablation cardiac rhythm status after atrial septal defect closure.

Article number four. Persistent Racial Disparities in Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia Outcomes and Utilization Among US Medicare Patients. This study demonstrated persistent racial disparities in chronic limb-threatening ischemia outcomes and healthcare utilization among U.S. Medicare patients. The data showed that Black patients continued to experience higher amputation rates and reduced access to vascular care compared to White beneficiaries. Despite national campaigns aimed at improving peripheral arterial disease outcomes, these disparities were found to persist over time.

Article number five. Unmasking Myocardial Bridge-Related Ischemia by Quantitative Flow Ratio Functional Evaluation. This study found that quantitative flow ratio functional evaluation effectively unmasked myocardial bridge-related ischemia. The data demonstrated that this functional assessment method is crucial for identifying the hemodynamic impact of myocardial bridges, which are segments of epicardial coronary arteries passing through myocardial muscle. The findings highlight the utility of quantitative flow ratio in assessing myocardial bridge severity for informed treatment decisions, particularly in cases where these bridges are associated with cardiovascular conditions.

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quantitative flow ratio, sinus rhythm, atrial fibrillation, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, Chronic limb-threatening ischemia, Medicare patients, mixed aortic valve disease, peripheral arterial disease, catheter ablation, Transcatheter aortic valve replacement, coronary artery disease, meta-analysis, microvascular obstruction, survival outcomes, atrial septal defect closure, ischemia, hemodynamic assessment, aortic stenosis, racial disparities, Thromboaspiration, Tricuspid regurgitation, amputation rates, ST-elevation myocardial infarction, Myocardial bridge, percutaneous coronary intervention.

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