Cardiac Consult: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast for Healthcare Professionals

Steven Nissen, MD, and Ashish Sarraju, MD, discuss early clinical data on Kylo-11, a novel therapy that produced substantial reductions in lipoprotein(a) for up to one year after a single injection. Lowering lipoprotein(a), a genetically determined cardiovascular risk factor linked to atherosclerotic disease and aortic stenosis, remains an important focus for preventive cardiology. Learn about the new drug's mechanism and safety findings. Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Marc Gillinov, MD, and Per Wierup, MD, discuss the evolution of robotic valve surgery, including advanced mitral valve repair techniques, patient selection and expanding applications for aortic valve and coronary procedures. They examine how enhanced visualization, instrument dexterity and a mature robotic program support excellent safety, durability and clinical outcomes.Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Bo Xu, MD, and Shinya Unai, MD, discuss approaches to diagnosing and treating infective endocarditis, including indications for surgical intervention. The conversation highlights the role of multimodality imaging , individualized surgical planning and multidisciplinary care strategies to improve patient outcomes.Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Donna Kimmaliardjuk, MD, and Gianluca Torregrossa, MD, discuss the expanding role of robotic coronary artery bypass grafting, including total endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB). They explore how a tailored surgical approach can improve long-term patient outcomes.Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Faisal Bakaeen, MD, and Grant Reed, MD, discuss recent advances in the treatment of coronary artery disease, including drug-coated balloons, intravascular imaging, calcium modification and evolving PCI strategies. They also examine innovations in coronary artery bypass grafting, multi-arterial revascularization, minimally invasive and robotic techniques and the growing role of heart team collaboration in selecting surgical, percutaneous and hybrid treatment approaches.Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Luke J. Laffin, MD, and Vikas Sunder, MD, discuss the evolving role of aspirin in primary prevention, emphasizing individualized assessment of each patient's cardiovascular and bleeding risk. They explore how coronary artery calcium scores, lipoprotein(a) levels and comorbid conditions factor into aspirin recommendations in contemporary preventive cardiology practice.Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Kenneth McCurry, MD, and Gregory Jones, MD, discuss the development of robotic lung transplantation, including candidate selection, operative considerations and early clinical experience with this minimally invasive approach. The conversation explores protocol development and future applications of robotic technology in lung transplantation.Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Courtney Hanak, MD, and Ravi Ambani, MD, discuss limb preservation and amputation prevention in patients with peripheral arterial disease and chronic limb-threatening ischemia. They review diagnostic approaches to assess perfusion and tissue viability, current revascularization strategies for limb salvage,  wound care, factors that influence amputation decisions and emerging technologies shaping the future of limb preservation.Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Ashish Sarraju, MD, and Leslie Cho, MD, discuss key updates in the 2026 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines, including earlier LDL screening and integration of the PREVENT risk calculator. They explore clinical implications of Lp(a) testing, risk stratification and expanding therapeutic options to help patients achieve evidence-based lipid goals.Read more about the guidelines: https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/counseling-patients-on-the-new-cholesterol-guidelineLooking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Michael Zhen-Yu Tong, MD, and Sanjeeb Bhattacharya, MD, discuss the clinical management of heart transplant patients during the first year, including immunosuppression strategies, rejection surveillance and complication recognition. They also highlight evolving technologies, donor expansion and collaborative care approaches that are improving outcomes in advanced heart failure and transplantation.Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Oussama Wazni, MD, MBA, and Mohamed Kanj, MD, discuss the clinical rationale and outcomes behind combining atrial fibrillation ablation with left atrial appendage closure, including insights from the OPTION trial. They examine patient selection, procedural considerations and the impact of pulsed field ablation on safety, efficiency and long-term stroke prevention strategies.Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Grant Reed, MD, and Laura Young, MD, discuss contemporary decision making in percutaneous coronary intervention, including patient selection, ischemia assessment and the role of medical therapy. They explore advances in imaging, plaque modification and hybrid revascularization strategies for complex coronary artery disease.Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Gayan De Silva, MD, and Kathleen Boyle, DO, discuss clinical evaluation and treatment of patients with spider veins, including differentiation from underlying venous and arterial disease and appropriate patient selection. Learn about technique considerations for foam and liquid sclerotherapy, expected outcomes, and long-term management.Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Samir Kapadia, MD, and Ohad Oren, MD, examine clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) and its role as a causal driver of cardiovascular disease. They discuss mutation-specific risk, implications for prevention and how CHIP informs cardiovascular genomics and precision medicine.Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Walid Saliba, MD, and Oussama Wazni, MD, discuss the design and outcomes of the AVANT GUARD study evaluating first-line pulsed field ablation in drug-naive patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. The conversation explores efficacy endpoints, safety findings, and the implications for early rhythm control and disease progression.Read more about the study. https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/pulsed-field-ablation-for-initial-treatment-of-persistent-afLooking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Milind Desai, MD, and Nicholas Smedira, MD, review contemporary diagnostic pathways and surgical decision making for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The discussion examines advanced imaging, outcomes from high volume centers, emerging surgical techniques and the evolving role of myosin inhibitors in obstructive and non-obstructive disease.Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Lee Kirksey, MD, and J. Eduardo Corso, MD, examine the clinical impact of smoking on peripheral artery disease, aneurysmal disease and outcomes after vascular intervention, with emphasis on risk modification and evidence-based decision-making. The discussion highlights practical strategies for integrating smoking cessation conversations into patient visits, screening considerations and how nicotine use alters long-term procedural durability.View smoking cessation resources. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/heart/patient-education/hvti-resources/smoking-and-your-healthLooking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

This episode examines the clinical utility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing with emphasis on cardiac output, ventilatory efficiency, and metabolic responses to exercise. Cleveland Clinic experts discuss how CPET informs diagnosis, risk stratification and longitudinal management in pulmonary hypertension, complex cardiovascular disease and athletic populations.Meet the presenters: J. Emanuel Finet, MD - Principles of Metabolic Exercise TestingSanjeeb Bhattacharya, MD - Pulmonary HypertensionTamanna Singh, MD - Athlete’s HeartLooking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Thomas Callahan, MD, and Shinya Unai, MD, discuss the role of  cardiac surgical backup during transvenous lead extraction. The conversation examines risk stratification, preoperative planning and rescue strategies for vascular and cardiac injury.  Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.Learn more at leadconnection.org.

Allan Klein, MD, and Deborah Kwon, MD, discuss contemporary guidance on pericarditis with emphasis on evolving diagnostic criteria, inflammatory syndromes and the role of multimodality imaging. The conversation explores risk stratification, medical treatment options and surgical decision-making in complex and recurrent disease.Looking to refer a patient? Please reach out to our Physician Referral team Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) at 855.751.2469.

Point – Counterpoint: A lively debate covers the pros and cons involved with endoscopic vs surgical resection, followed by a summary and discussion including recent advances and research on the topic.