Over the last 12 months the Parent Bodies and Conjoint Committee for CTCA Training Guidelines have reviewed and approved changes to the requirements for CTCA recognition.
The changes come into effect on 1 July 2024 and can be found on the CTCA Recognition of Training Guidelines website.
A separate email will be sent to you confirming when these changes apply to you. If you have any queries you may have after checking the website, please contact [email protected]
Update to Safety Net Early Supply Rule for 60-day prescriptions of PBS medicines.
Following the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee’s recommendation, from 1 December 2023, the PBS Safety Net early supply rule will be updated to a 50 day interval (currently 20 days) to discourage stockpiling and reduce the quantity of unused medicines in the community.
The early supply interval for the following 3 items will be updated on 1 January 2024:
• 13550E / nicorandil 10 mg tablet, 60
• 13551F / nicorandil 20 mg tablet, 60
• 13552G / moxonidine 400 microgram tablet, 30
Changes to Online PBS Authorities system
When you use the Services Australia Online PBS Authority system, you will notice changes to the way the system looks and performs – it has improved functionality with the latest updates being made in December 2023. For more information about the Online PBS Authorities system visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/hppbsauthorities
Anticoagulation During PCI: Is It Time for RCTs?
Unfractionated heparin (UFH) has been the preferred anticoagulant in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for over 40 years, say Al-Mukhtar and colleagues. Recently, they surveyed interventional cardiologists in Australia and New Zealand and found that, while this practice is indeed standard, there’s a lot of variation in not only how much (and when) UFH is used in PCI, but also whether (and when) activated clotting time is measured. Al-Mukhtar et al. say their survey results reflect variations in international guidelines and the findings of past studies and meta-analyses. They call for further randomised controlled trials to guide clinical practice and optimise the clinical outcomes of contemporary PCI. https://www.heartlungcirc.org/article/S1443-9506(23)04362-7/fulltext
Sudden Death in the Young: Autopsies for Underlying Causes?
One in four cases of young sudden death have more than one potential primary cause of their death identified, according to Paratz and colleagues. In an analysis of 3 years of data from the End Unexplained Cardiac Death (EndUCD) Registry, they determined, among other things, that comprehensive autopsy remains the gold standard investigation in this circumstance, complemented by other data such as, from post-mortem whole-body CT scanning, and biochemical and toxicological assessment. Paratz et al. say identifying all contributors to a sudden death is important, especially as diagnoses may carry important implications for surviving family members. https://www.heartlungcirc.org/article/S1443-9506(23)04398-6/fulltext
After SCAD: What Could Standard Care in Recovery Look Like?
Not only physical but also emotional recovery is important for patients after spontaneous coronary artery dissection. So say Turner and colleagues, who conducted a comprehensive literature review that identified, and then examined the findings of, five studies involving 447 patients after SCAD. They suggest that the ideal recovery program would reflect the patients’ preference for tailored cardiac rehabilitation and web-based resources, both specifically designed for SCAD. For example, with respect to emotional recovery, cognitive behavioural therapy-based groups and online peer support have been shown to benefit patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and could be integrated into standard care. https://www.heartlungcirc.org/article/S1443-9506(23)04367-6/fulltext
These highlights and more are available online now in the December 2023 edition of Heart, Lung and Circulation.
Commencing 1 July 2024, two new diagnostic imaging MBS abdominal MRI items will be available for patients with a defined rare inherited condition associated with an increased risk of renal tumours, as well as ongoing assessment of changes over time to an existing renal tumour. This implements a recommendation from the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC):
The MBS listing for cardiac MRI for myocarditis associated with mRNA COVID-19 immunisation (Item 63399) has been extended until 31 December 2024. MSAC is currently considering cardiac MRI in the diagnosis of myocarditis more broadly, which is anticipated to be considered in April 2024:
In this issue:
Download the Heart_Failure_Research_Review_Issue_82 with commentary by Dr Mark Nolan.
Incorrect dates are displayed on certain pacemaker models using the Model 3120 Zoom (TM) programmer following January 10, 2024.
ANZCDACC management recommendations for Boston Scientific Zoom programmer alert (December 2023)
Device:
Boston Scientific Model 3120 ZoomTM Programmer running software Model 2892
TGA Reference: RC-2023-RN-01030-1
Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG): 123599
Medsafe Notification Reference: 32214
Advisory grade TGA: Class II
Here’s a snapshot of some of the most recent Heart, Lung and Circulation Journal articles for December 2023.
Anticoagulation During PCI: Is It Time for RCTs?
Unfractionated heparin (UFH) has been the preferred anticoagulant in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for over 40 years, say Al-Mukhtar and colleagues. Recently, they surveyed interventional cardiologists in Australia and New Zealand and found that, while this practice is indeed standard, there’s a lot of variation in not only how much (and when) UFH is used in PCI, but also whether (and when) activated clotting time is measured. Al-Mukhtar et al. say their survey results reflect variations in international guidelines and the findings of past studies and meta-analyses. They call for further randomised controlled trials to guide clinical practice and optimise the clinical outcomes of contemporary PCI. https://www.heartlungcirc.org/article/S1443-9506(23)04362-7/fulltext
Sudden Death in the Young: Autopsies for Underlying Causes?
One in four cases of young sudden death have more than one potential primary cause of their death identified, according to Paratz and colleagues. In an analysis of 3 years of data from the End Unexplained Cardiac Death (EndUCD) Registry, they determined, among other things, that comprehensive autopsy remains the gold standard investigation in this circumstance, complemented by other data such as, from post-mortem whole-body CT scanning, and biochemical and toxicological assessment. Paratz et al. say identifying all contributors to a sudden death is important, especially as diagnoses may carry important implications for surviving family members. https://www.heartlungcirc.org/article/S1443-9506(23)04398-6/fulltext
After SCAD: What Could Standard Care in Recovery Look Like?
Not only physical but also emotional recovery is important for patients after spontaneous coronary artery dissection. So say Turner and colleagues, who conducted a comprehensive literature review that identified, and then examined the findings of, five studies involving 447 patients after SCAD. They suggest that the ideal recovery program would reflect the patients’ preference for tailored cardiac rehabilitation and web-based resources, both specifically designed for SCAD. For example, with respect to emotional recovery, cognitive behavioural therapy-based groups and online peer support have been shown to benefit patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and could be integrated into standard care. https://www.heartlungcirc.org/article/S1443-9506(23)04367-6/fulltext
These highlights and more are available online now in the December 2023 edition of Heart, Lung and Circulation.
Compiled by Dr Ann Gregory, Commissioning Editor, Heart, Lung and Circulation. ([email protected])
In this edition:
– Economic evaluation of sacubitril-valsartan for heart failure management
– Coronary atheroma regression and stabilisation in response to lipid-lowering therapy
– Stopping aspirin within a month after stenting for ticagrelor monotherapy in ACS
– High-risk plaques on CTCA: Correlation with optical coherence tomography
– Five-year outcomes after transcatheter aortic-valve replacement in low-risk patients
– Mavacamten in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy referred for septal reduction
– Lipid-lowering therapy for primary prevention in older individuals
– Oral step-down antibiotic therapy in patients with infective endocarditis
– Effect of dietary sodium on blood pressure
– Enteric-coated vs uncoated aspirin in patients with cardiovascular disease
The World Heart Federation (WHF) 2023 guidelines for the echocardiographic diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease were presented at the World Congress on Rheumatic Heart Disease in Abu Dhabi in November and simultaneously published in Nature Reviews Cardiology.
The 2023 revision of the WHF guidelines defines the minimum criteria for diagnosing RHD based on the best-available evidence. They introduce two new sets of diagnostic criteria, screening, and confirmatory criteria, and outlines best application of each. In addition, a stage-based classification of RHD, based on the risk of disease progression has been presented. The guidelines also provide recommendations for the management of early stages of RHD, offering comprehensive guidance to healthcare professionals in RHD-endemic regions worldwide.
Start planning your trip to Perth, WA for the 2024 CSANZ ASM and ANZET24 Meeting.
An exciting Program is coming together, the Named Lecturers and the International Faculty are confirming their spots at the podium and Abstract Submission is open for an exciting 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.
Click on the video to see what Perth has in store for you!
Read more about the INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL FACULTY as they confirm.
Watch this space for the launch of the program when it is confirmed.
