Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality in Australia, responsible for around one in four (24%) of all deaths. On average, around 120 people in Australia die from CVD each day - equivalent to one person every 12 minutes. 40% more men die from CVD compared to women. With these statistics in mind, it is perhaps as well that the field of cardiology appears to be galloping toward the future with exciting treatments to manage this substantial burden of disease. We are witnesses to the development of incredible percutaneous interventions, including coronary stenting, valve replacements and repairs, watchman devices, radio frequency ablations as well as enhanced diagnostic tools and pharmacologic choices. At times, I have found the pace of change difficult to stay current with and was interested in putting some questions forth to my colleague, Dr James Sapontis to clarify my understanding and build my knowledge base. I was curious about the protocols around dual platelet therapy and their combination with DOACS, a combination I have observed leading to increased occult and overt gastrointestinal bleeding and the escalating use of iron infusions to correct deficiency states and Capsule studies to determine oozing sites. I was also interested in the indication for the use of mitraclips, the place of B-type Natriuretic peptide test in the elucidation of heart failure, as well as many more developments that have solidified their place in the clinical world of cardiology.
Please join me with the ever-patient and erudite cardiologist James Sapontis as we explore these points in more detail.
References:
Dr James's Sapontis : www.jamessapontis.com
Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. Guidelines for the management of antiplatelet therapy in patients with coronary stents undergoing non-cardiac surgery.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
https://www.racgp.org.au › afp CSANZ
https://www.csanz.edu.au