The IC Chat

A critical appraisal of the CREST 2 clinical trial 4-year outcomes comparing carotid revascularization with current medical therapy in asymptomatic patients with high grade carotid artery stenosis. 

A critical appraisal of ENCIRCLE and a follow up interview with Encircle Co-PI David Daniels MD make for an interesting episode. 

A Critical appraisal of dedicated TAVR valve trials for AI and a general overview of the status of AI treatment in 2025. 

A deep dive into bicuspid aortic valve stenosis and the choice of BEV vs SEV- A propensity matched observational study critically appraised.

A deep dive into 2 network metanalysis looking at IVI in contemporary PCI. 

A critical appraisal of PLATO (Ticagrelor versus Clopidogrel) and the recent controversies 

A decades long practice of routinely tapping effusions upfront in patients with heart failure is challenged with this simple and elegantly conducted clinical trial from Denmark. The TAP IT clinical trial is critically appraised in this month's edition of IC CHAT

Critical appraisal of the FAME 3 Clinical Trial 5-year data presented at ACC 2025

A critical appraisal of the Protected TAVI trial, comparing Cerebral Embolic Protection with standard of care for routine TAVR cases.
Bibliography:
1. Kharbanda RK, Kennedy J, Jamal Z et al; BHF PROTECT-TAVI Investigators. Routine Cerebral Embolic Protection during Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Implantation. N Engl J Med. 2025 Mar 30.
2. Angrist JD, Gao C, Hull P, Yeh RW. Instrumental Variables in Randomized Trials. NEJM Evid. 2025 Apr;4(4).
3. Butala NM, Kapadia SR, Secemsky EA et al. Impact of Cerebral Embolic Protection Devices on Disabling Stroke After TAVR: Updated Results From the STS/ACC TVT Registry. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2024 Sep;17(9).

A critical appraisal of a RCT comparing transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement to medical treatment in patients with symptomatic severe tricuspid regurgitation.