This Week in Cardiology

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
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]

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
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]

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
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]

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
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]

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
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]