In the Thick of It

How can echocardiographers improve the accuracy and confidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy diagnosis? In this episode of In the Thick of It, sonographers Amy Dillenbeck and Brad Mehl explore the essential role of echocardiography in evaluating HCM, sharing best practices for optimizing imaging techniques, Doppler assessment, and contrast use. They discuss the most common challen

How do we determine which hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients are at the highest risk for sudden cardiac death? In this episode of In the Thick of It, Dr. Steve Ommen and Dr. Mark Link take a deep dive into the role of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) in risk assessment and ICD decision-making. They discuss how age, VT duration, and other clinical factors influence ris

How can late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac MRI help predict sudden cardiac death risk in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? In this episode of In the Thick of It, Dr. Christopher Kramer and Dr. Raymond Chan explore the clinical significance of LGE, from its role in ICD decision-making to the challenges of scar quantification. They discuss how to differentiate true myocardial sc

How do hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and aortic valve disease intersect, and what makes managing these patients so challenging? In this episode of In the Thick of It, Dr. Srihari Naidu and Dr. Megan Coylewright explore the complexities of aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with HCM. What challenges arise when HCM patients undergo aortic valve replacement, and how can these r

How has genetic testing transformed the understanding and care of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? In this episode of In the Thick of It, Dr. Victoria Parikh and genetic counselor Tia Moscarello from the Stanford Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease explore the powerful role of genetics in HCM diagnosis, family screening, and treatment. They discuss groundbreaking advancements l

What are left ventricular apical aneurysms, and why do they pose such a high risk in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients? In this episode of In the Thick of It, Dr. Ethan Rowin and Dr. Jeffrey Geske delve into this rare but critical HCM phenotype. They discuss how to accurately define and detect apical aneurysms, the importance of advanced imaging techniques like contrast echocard

Why is early detection of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in children so critical for effective treatment? In this episode of In the Thick of It, Dr. Matthew Martinez sits down with pediatric cardiologist Dr. Tess Saarel to explore the unique challenges of managing HCM in young patients. They discuss the importance of personalized risk assessments, the role of genetics in tailoring car

What makes managing common conditions like hypertension and sleep apnea uniquely challenging in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients? In this episode of In the Thick of It, Dr. Michael Ayers and Dr. Robyn Bryde tackle the complexities of treating comorbidities such as obesity and type 2 diabetes within the context of HCM. They delve into how obstructive physiology impacts treatment

What does it take for healthcare providers to meet the unique needs of HCM patients experiencing AFib? In this episode, Dr. Ethan Rowin and Dr. Jose Joglar delve into the critical topic of atrial fibrillation (AFib) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). They discuss the heightened risk of stroke associated with AFib, the necessity for prompt anticoagulation, and the c

In today’s episode of In the Thick Of It, Dr. Anna Woo is joined by Dr. Sharon Cresci for a conversation on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and its genetic implications. What role does genetic testing play in identifying familial variants and whether inheriting a pathogenic variant will lead to disease? Learn about the importance of genetic testing, lifelong serial screening, collabo