Dr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'
📘 New Evidence from NEJM In a large meta-analysis of 17,801 patients with preserved LVEF after MI, beta-blockers did not reduce death, recurrent MI, or heart failure. Event rates were low, and outcomes were similar with or without therapy. 🫀📊 This clarifies practice for a growing post-MI population with LVEF ≥50%—precision matters more than tradition. 🎯 Full study: New England Journal of Medicine (2025). #Cardiology 💙 #ClinicalEvidence #MI #HeartHealth
info_outlineDr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'
📢 ADAPT AF-DES Trial — A Safer Path Forward! In patients with atrial fibrillation beyond 1 year after drug-eluting stent implantation, NOAC monotherapy delivered striking benefits over combination therapy. ✅ Lower net adverse clinical events ✅ Marked reduction in major/CRNM bleeding ✅ Similar ischemic protection A beautifully simple strategy with meaningful impact. Published in NEJM (2025). 💊🛡️📉💓
info_outlineDr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'
🌊 OCEAN Trial offers fresh insight into antithrombotic therapy after successful AF ablation. In 1284 patients followed for 3 years, event rates were remarkably low 🌟. Rivaroxaban did not show superiority over aspirin for preventing stroke, systemic embolism, or covert embolic events, while bleeding risk was higher with anticoagulation. 🧠 96% had no new infarcts on MRI at follow-up. Published in NEJM (2025) — a valuable contribution to nuanced AF post-ablation care.
info_outlineDr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'
🧠 John Locke: Experience • Liberty • Toleration Born a physician-philosopher, Locke championed empiricism — the idea that knowledge begins with experience, not dogma. His tabula rasa shaped modern psychology, while his Two Treatises of Government defined rights, consent, and freedom that echo through modern democracies. For clinicians, his legacy reminds us to: 🔹 Trust observation and evidence over authority 🔹 Respect patient autonomy and informed consent 🔹 Foster pluralism and toleration in care His vision of reason and tolerance remains medicine’s...
info_outlineDr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'
🚀 VESALIUS-CV delivers powerful evidence: in high-risk patients without prior MI or stroke, evolocumab significantly reduced 3-point MACE by 25% and 4-point MACE by 19%, with LDL-C lowered to a median of 45 mg/dL. 💡 These results expand the horizon of prevention, showing that deep LDL reduction is both safe and effective in averting first cardiovascular events. 🫀 Strong science. Clear signal. A new chapter in preventive cardiology. #Cardiology #LDL #Prevention #VESALIUSCV
info_outlineDr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'
🫀 Septic Shock, Refined at the Fingertips ⏱️ A powerful new JAMA (2025) trial brings us one step closer to truly personalized resuscitation. The ANDROMEDA-SHOCK-2 study shows that targeting capillary refill time (CRT) — a simple bedside sign — can shorten time on organ support vs usual care, without increasing mortality. Key insight: Sometimes the most elegant solutions are low-tech, high-touch, and right at the bedside. 🧠 Precision 🤚 Physiology 💡 Pragmatism #Sepsis #CriticalCare #PersonalizedMedicine #JAMA #Hemodynamics #ICU #Shock
info_outlineDr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'
🚨 SOFA-2 arrives — a thoughtful evolution in critical care scoring 🧠🫁🫀 After nearly 30 years, the SOFA score has been modernized using data from >3.3 million ICU patients across 9 countries. The updated SOFA-2 incorporates contemporary respiratory and cardiovascular supports (HFNC, NIPPV, vasopressors, ECMO) and refines thresholds while preserving simplicity and bedside usability. A meaningful step forward in describing organ dysfunction — with room for future biologically grounded refinement. 📖 Published in JAMA
info_outlineDr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'
SOFA-2 is here — a major advance in assessing organ dysfunction in critical illness 🧠🫁❤️ Three decades after the original SOFA score, this updated framework reflects modern ICU practice — integrating contemporary organ support (ventilation, vasopressors, RRT), delirium recognition, and global feasibility across resource settings 🌍📊 Validated in 3.3M+ ICU patients across 9 countries — a remarkable effort in global critical care science 🏥📈 A powerful step forward in our shared language of severity and recovery. 🔗 JAMA Network Open, 2025
info_outlineDr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'
💔 Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: When a Mother’s Heart Fights for Two Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a leading yet often missed cause of maternal morbidity and mortality—striking late in pregnancy or months postpartum. Early suspicion, timely echo, and guideline-directed therapy save lives. 🩺 🧠 Bromocriptine, careful anticoagulation, and multidisciplinary care are reshaping outcomes, but global disparities persist. 🌍 Let’s amplify awareness, strengthen systems, and protect mothers everywhere. 🤝❤️ #HeartFailure #MaternalHealth #Cardiology...
info_outlineDr. Baliga's 'Podkasts for Curious Docs'
Rethinking “default lines” in the ICU 🧠🚑 A landmark NEJM trial shows that in patients with shock, deferring arterial catheterization and using automated cuff monitoring was noninferior for 28-day mortality — and reduced catheter-related complications. A gentle reminder: not every sick patient needs a needle to be well cared for. Precision isn’t only invasive — sometimes it’s thoughtful, measured, humane. 🌿💡 #CriticalCare #ICU #NEJM #Shock #Hemodynamics #PatientSafety
info_outline🔍 Two influential viewpoints just dropped in JAMA Cardiology on aortic valve replacement (AVR) in asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS).
🫀 Lindman, Braunwald & Pellikka argue that the time has come to move from “watchful waiting” to early intervention (SAVR/TAVR), citing RCTs showing reduced stroke, heart failure hospitalization, and unplanned CV events.
⚖️ Hillis, McCann & Newby counter that the evidence is not yet strong enough for a universal shift—pointing to trial limitations, competing risks in older patients, and the danger of unnecessary procedures.
✨ The debate is clear: Act early or wait carefully?
This conversation is shaping the future of valve guidelines and clinical practice.