Editor's Note A well-fitted bra dramatically cut post-sternotomy wound rates to zero at a Denver hospital, showing how nurse-driven innovation can improve outcomes and reduce costs, Critical Care Nurse May 28 reports. In the article, “The Bra Project: Preventing Wounds in Women After Sternotomy,” appearing in the journal’s June 2025…

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Editor's Note Copeptin levels surge during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), marking it as a potential biomarker for physiological stress in cardiac surgery, according to a May 13 article in Medical Dialogues. The article details a prospective cohort study, published in the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, involving 61 adult patients…

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Editor's Note Air quality in cardiac ORs may be a silent driver of surgical site infections (SSIs), with airborne contamination linked to significantly elevated infection risk and mortality—especially when ventilation is suboptimal. A newly published study covered by Medical Dialogues May 19 reveals that one-third of bacteria in cardiac procedures…

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Editor's Note The first study to evaluate percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in Medicare beneficiaries treated at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) found similar short-term safety outcomes as hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). As detailed in an announcement from The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI), the research was presented on May…

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Editor's Note Segmental spinal anesthesia (SSA) has emerged as a safe and effective anesthetic technique for high-risk obstetric patients, particularly those with underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD). A recent case series published on April 29 by Medical Dialogues highlights the successful use of SSA in five parturients undergoing cesarean sections, emphasizing…

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Editor's Note Same-day discharge following catheter ablation is both safe and increasingly standard in appropriately selected patients, according to a new joint scientific statement from the Heart Rhythm Society and the American College of Cardiology, TCTMD April 24 reports. The statement reflects growing evidence and clinical experience suggesting that, with…

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Editor's Note A low-cost blood test for troponin, a protein released during heart muscle damage, significantly improves long-term risk prediction for heart attacks and strokes—especially in patients with intermediate cardiovascular risk, according to an April 7 report from News-Medical.Net. The findings, based on a large-scale international study led by the…

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Editor's Note Researchers have developed a fully dissolvable, needle-injectable pacemaker that regulates heart rhythms without requiring surgical removal. As detailed in an April 2 article in Scientific American, the miniature device—just millimeters in size—can deliver electrical stimulation for days to weeks before safely breaking down in the body, potentially reducing…

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Editor's Note A nurse-coordinated prevention program significantly lowered the long-term risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in adults recovering from acute coronary syndrome (ACS), according to an April 2 article in Healio. The program, which focused on lifestyle and behavioral changes, led to a 30% reduction in adverse events,…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced significant updates taking effect immediately to the eligibility requirements for its cardiac and stroke certifications, developed in collaboration with the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA). According to the April 2 announcement,  key revisions involve the removal of percutaneous coronary…

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