“We are up against an enormous financial juggernaut”: Experts discuss back surgery overuse at Lown event
Watch the video recording and see our key takeaways from the latest Lown Institute event on back surgery overuse. More
The prevalence and harm of unnecessary stents
A new report from the Lown Institute finds that U.S. hospitals performed more than 229,000 unnecessary stents on Medicare patients from 2019-2021. Here's what overuse experts had to say about the issue... More
Private equity in cardiology raises overuse concerns
As private equity’s infiltration into cardiology expands, what does this mean for the cost and quality of care? More
Stents don’t work? A look back at the research
What's the evidence behind PCI, and why do hospitals keep doing these procedures? We revisit this issue with a look back at research and interviews over last few years to give you the answers. More
Medical device industry spends more on physician payments than pharma
A recent study finds that medical device companies spend more than pharma on payments to physicians, but spend it in different ways. More
The cardiac implant you get may depend on the company paying your doctor
Does receiving money from medical device companies impact the devices doctors implant in patients? A recent study in JAMA suggests that it does. More
Two ways to stop unnecessary stenting
Many cardiologists recognize that placing coronary stents for stable heart disease has limited clinical benefit for patients. But low-value stents are still common -- how can we change this practice? New research in JAMA Internal Medicine provides some suggestions. More
A silver lining to COVID-19: Fewer low-value elective procedures
A potential silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic? An opportunity to permanently stop doing unnecessary elective procedures. More
FDA’s proposed reform for medical devices lacks teeth
In a recent Washington Post op-ed, Shannon Brownlee and Jeanne Lenzer explain why the FDA's proposed changes are unlikely to make a real difference in medical device safety. More
The real reason why ORBITA is groundbreaking
If you thought the only takeaway from ORBITA was "stents don't work," you're missing the point, says Dr. Vikas Saini in Health Affairs. More
The ORBITA debate continues: Authors refute letters in The Lancet
The ORBITA debate continues as the study authors respond to critical letters in The Lancet. More
The CABANA trial: Another cardiac procedure bites the dust?
Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation has been used for 20 years, and grown into a $4.5 billion industry. But is the procedure actually effective? More
Can one study change clinical practice?
Professor Doug McKell explains why ORBITA might not be enough to reduce unnecessary stents. More
INTERVIEW: Dr. David Brown on startling stent study
Cardiologist David Brown addresses some of the criticisms of the controversial ORBITA trial. More
Lown president, cardiologist, reacts to stent controversy
A study in The Lancet this week has rocked the world of cardiology by showing that stents are no better than a placebo in relieving chest pain. More