Albert Lin, MD

Cardiac Electrophysiology at Northwestern Medicine. My personal views are personal and not institutional. @AlbertLinMD1 at other places.

[NYTPitchbot @DougJBalloon]

I’m Kid Rock.”
“I’m Naomi Wolf.”
“I’m Kanye West.”
“I’m Matt Taibbi.”
“I’m Catturd. Those stories, plus Rob Schneider, tonight on 60 Minutes.”

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

@SeanTrende Thank you for writing and sharing Judson’s story.

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

@RadioFreeTom For sure, but what about Hannity?! There’s something really wrong with sucking up to that drivel with that degree of enthusiasm.

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

🙄 what a novel concept that something as complex as healthcare decisions has many interests and incentives affecting decision making. That said, I think the overwhelming majority of MDs make decisions at the patient care level patient centered.

[John Mandrola, MD @drjohnm]

The dynamics of why things are done (or not done) in the healthcare system are shockingly complex and involve far more than medical matters

Do listen...below is the tip of the iceberg

If only we had recordings of conversations before LAAO

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

Truly one of the greatest tweets ever.

[Ben Sasse @BenSasse]

i can still live another 50 years if @Mike_Pence has the courage

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

I’m neither a Christian nor a conservative. But, I have a deep respect for Ben Sasse and Ross Douthat and greatly appreciate their touching conversation. Thank you.

[Ross Douthat @DouthatNYT]

This week's episode of "Interesting Times" is a conversation with Ben Sasse, who is dying in public:
https://t.co/MNMur4FB1V

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

@atrupar

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

@EsotericCD It’s ok. You can do it out loud too. I do.

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

😂
What is the definition of flailing? Trump’s foreign policy and healthcare “reform”

[Jonathan Karl @jonkarl]

This morning, I asked President Trump if he’s okay with the Iranians charging a toll for all ships that go through the Strait of Hormuz, he told me there may be a Joint US-Iran venture to charge tolls:

“We’re thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It’s a way of securing it — also securing it from lots of other people.”

“It’s a beautiful thing”

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

Are we so far gone as a society that we will dismiss genocidal threats as either bluster from a conman or ravings from a madman? Deep into 25th amendment territory.

[Jake Tapper 🦅 @jaketapper]

The president of the United States, 8:06 am ET, threatens Iran: “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.“

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

This is exactly why we’re in the mess we’re in. Trump’s capricious, consequence free erratic and non-strategic whims as official US policy. We have 3 more years of this…

[Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum]

Trump has insulted and tariffed his European allies, persuaded Denmark to prepare for a US invasion and, by pressuring Ukraine and not Russia, encouraged Putin to keep fighting. All of which he has forgotten.
https://t.co/GhDO27FyxK

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

@JonahDispatch GOP controlled Senate confirmed RFKjr as Sec of HHS is evidence to the contrary.

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

@drjohnm in both directions IMO rather than purely one sided.

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

@drjohnm Which is exactly my point. It’s why I’m super skeptical about the mortality “benefit” of LAAO vs warfarin give the number of ICH that occurred in the warfarin arm. Just as I am skeptical of the increased number of CVD in LAAO as a real signal in CL-AF. Worthwhile to be skeptical

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

For some reason, the post on CVD in LAAO trial included Protect/Prevail and P17, but truncated the Champion-AF results which show 36 in the LAAO arm and 38 in the DOAC arm (2.7%). Using an adjudicated mortality is grist for another post...

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

Some additional thoughts on CLOSURE-AF and CHAMPION-AF.
1. An interesting aspect of CLOSURE-AF is that the main driver of not meeting NI was NOT a difference in stroke/SE between LAAO and BMC (2.9% vs 2.8%), but an increase in major bleeding with LAAO and CV/unexplained death.

[Albert Lin, MD @AlbertLinMD1]

However, the 4% vs 0.4% incidence of major periprocedural bleeds is an intriguing finding and driving the failure to prove NI. Definitional? Technique differences in fem venous access to explain this? The routine use of ultrasound or micropuncture needles?