This Week in Cardiology

Some great listener feedback, one of the best studies of the year in atrial fibrillation and heart failure, imaging to exclude left atrial thrombus, and a truly amazing first cardiac procedure 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 Fish Oil and AF
Links between omega-3 fatty acids and AF https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.058596
Omega-3 and risk of AF https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2024.11.003
DHA vs EPA in reducing vulnerability to AF https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCEP.112.971515
II Withdrawal of HF Therapy  AF rhythm control
The AF is Gone, the EF Is Up. Can You Stop the HF Meds?
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/af-gone-ef-can-you-stop-hf-meds-2024a1000h6o
Effect of beta-blockers in patient with HF plus AF -- meta-analysis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25193873/
TRED HF Trial 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32484-X External Link
WITHDRAW-AF Trial https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/47/2/250/8238240
III ICE or TEE Before AF Ablation
ICE vs TEE in Atrial Fibrillation Ablation https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2839370
IV The Vector Procedure
Percutaneous Aorto-Coronary Bypass Graft: the VECTOR procedure https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.125.016130
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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 [email protected]

The limits of knowing coronary artery disease anatomy, fish oil and AF risk, a new drug for PSVT, and maybe I was wrong about a drug for AF conversion (the RAFF4 trial). These 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 Prediction of CAD is hard — even if you have anatomy
CCTA in Prediction of First Coronary Events https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2841255
II Fish Oil and AF (and as a bonus we learn again about analytic flexibility)
Are Fish Oils on the Hook for AF Risk?
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/995290
Omega-3 and Fish Oil Use With Risk of AF  https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.125.043031
Effect of Long-Term Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acids on the Risk of AF https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.055654
RESPECT-EPA Trial https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.065520
Association Between Omega-3 Fatty Acids and AF: Meta Analysis https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10557-021-07204-z
Fish Oil Supplements and Risk of AF https://academic.oup.com/eurjpc/article/29/14/1911/6679610
Editorial: Fish Oil Supplements and AF Risk https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.057464
III A New Drug for PSVT
FDA Approval https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/fda-approves-drug-type-abnormally-fast-heart-rhythm
RAPID trial https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00776-6/fulltext
IV AF Conversion with Vernakalant
RAFF4 Trial https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj-2025-085632.long
Editorial: Rapid Cardioversion for Acute AF https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2264
VI A Quick Note on HFpEF
Med Op-Ed: Avalanche Survival, HFpEF Skepticism, and More
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/med-op-ed-avalanche-survival-hfpef-skepticism-and-more-2026a1000012
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 [email protected]

The MI paradox of risk scores, the CELEBRATE trial of a new subcutaneous glycoprotein IIb/IIIA inhibitor (with its funny endpoint), the SURPASS CVOT trial, and the bad story of andexanet alfa 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 What do risk scores mean for individuals? Or perhaps a better question: Is a first MI preventable?
Limitations of Screening in Predicting First MI https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.102361
Sudden Death Due to Cardiac Arrhythmias https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMra000650
UMC Amsterdam group (EHJ) https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/46/38/3762/8181058
II CELEBRATE Trial
CELEBRATE Trial https://evidence.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/EVIDoa2500268
III SURPASS CVOT Trial Published
Aug 01, 2025 This Week in Cardiology Podcast
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/1002781
SURPASS-CVOT Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2505928
REWIND Trial 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31149-3 External Link
IV FDA Pulls Andexanet Alfa From the Market
ANNEXA 4 https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1814051
ANNEXA I https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2313040
Richard Buka Tweet https://x.com/richardbuka/status/2001045834050216327?s=20
V Mandrola's Top Cardiovascular Stories of 2025
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/mandrolas-top-10-cardiovascular-stories-2025-2025a1000yuh
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 [email protected]

An elegant study in post-TAVI atrioventricular block, a PSA for my structural colleagues, revascularization in women, and a CTO PCI 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 AV Block After TAVR
Heart Blocks During vs After TAVR Show Distinct Patterns
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/heart-blocks-during-vs-after-tavr-show-distinct-patterns-2025a1000ypp
Mechanisms Underlying Alterations in Cardiac Conduction After TAVR https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2842748
II Related PSA Announcement to My Structural Colleagues
III Revascularization Strategies in Women with Severe Chronic CAD
Women With Chronic Severe CAD Fare Better With CABG vs PCI
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/women-chronic-severe-cad-fare-better-cabg-vs-pci-2025a1000ygd
PCI vs CABG in Women With Chronic CAD https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf806
PCI vs CABG - Meta-Analysis of 4 RCTs https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02334-5/abstract
CABG vs Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation for CAD - Meta-Analysis https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jcin.2016.10.008
RECHARGE trial https://therechargetrial.com/
IV A CTO PCI RCT – But don't get your hopes up
Early vs Late-Staged PCI After Subintimal Tracking and Re-entry for CTO https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.09.1598
DECISION CTO trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30813758/
National Inpatient Sample Database PCI CTO Associated With Higher Mortality https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37356643/
V Mandrola's Top 10 Stories
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 [email protected]

Less is more after PCI, the TARGET-FIRST trial, a negative blood pressure trial that is actually positive, aspirin vs OAC for bleeding, AEDs, and Factor XI is not dead yet are the topics discussed by John Mandrola, MD, on 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 Less is More: TARGET-FIRST
TARGET-FIRST Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2508808
STOPDAPT-2 ACS Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2789701
II A Negative Trial That Is Actually Positive
The RETREAT-FRAIL Study https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2508157
III Major Bleeding With Aspirin vs Apixaban
Subanalysis of ARTESiA https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2841075
ARTESiA Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2310234
AVERROES Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1007432
IV High Value Interventions – The AED
Experts Call for AED Placement on All Commercial Aircraft https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/experts-call-aed-placement-all-commercial-aircraft-2025a1000xzf
In-Flight Sudden Cardiac Arrest and AED Use 10.1016/j.cjca.2025.10.010 External Link
V Factor XI Inhibitors – OCEANIC STROKE trial
Bayer Press Release on Asundexian https://www.bayer.com/en/us/news-stories/oceanic-stroke
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 [email protected]