Angioplasty News and Research

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In angioplasty procedures, a balloon is fed through a catheter and used to prop open an artery that has become narrowed or blocked. In cases where stenting is appropriate, a stent mounted on a balloon is inserted and inflation of the balloon expands the stent against the blocked artery wall to hold the vessel open. The balloon is then deflated and the catheter is withdrawn. Stent treatment of arteries holds them open and improves blood flow to the heart. In cases where post-dilatation is needed, a high-pressure balloon is inflated inside a stent to help better place the stent against the vessel wall.

Patients given six-month dual antiplatelet therapy have increased heart attack risk

The combined rate of death from any cause, heart attack or stroke within 18 months was not significantly different in patients with acute coronary syndrome who were randomly assigned to receive dual antiplatelet therapy for either six months or at least 12 months after receiving a drug-eluting stent.

13 Mar 2018

Four-step heart attack protocol can improve outcomes and reduce gender disparities in care

Cleveland Clinic researchers found that implementing a four-step protocol for the most severe type of heart attack not only improved outcomes and reduced mortality in both men and women, but eliminated or reduced the gender disparities in care and outcomes typically seen in this type of event.

12 Mar 2018

Technology-based program increases cardiac rehab referral rates

Simply changing cardiac referral processes to opt-out rather than opt-in significantly increased referral rates, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's NCDR Annual Conference in Orlando.

7 Mar 2018

Cardiologists succeed in localized cooling of the heart to limit damage from heart attack

Cardiologists at the Catharina hospital in Eindhoven have succeeded in the localized cooling of the heart during a heart attack, a world first. By cooling part of the heart prior to and following angioplasty, the cardiologists believe that the damage from a heart attack can be limited.

12 Jan 2018

New article demonstrates potential, feasibility of PlaqueTec Liquid Biopsy System to detect biomarkers for CAD

PLAQUETEC LTD today announced the publication of the first peer‐reviewed article demonstrating the feasibility and potential of the PlaqueTec Liquid Biopsy System™ to detect biomarkers for coronary artery disease (CAD).

5 Jan 2018

New long-term analysis at heart attack care in America shows more survival and spending

A new long-term look at heart attack care and spending in America since the turn of the century shows more survival, more spending, and more variation between hospitals on both scores.

22 Dec 2017

Heart attack linked to increased risk of developing vascular dementia

Heart attack increased the risk of vascular dementia by 35 percent, and the risk remains elevated for up to 35 years after the heart attack.

13 Nov 2017

Recommendations to prevent heart failure hospitalizations

Heart failure (HF) affects approximately 5.7 million adults in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If not properly managed, HF can lead to frequent hospitalizations.

10 Nov 2017

ORBITA trial on heart stents for stable angina indicates placebo effect potential

A new study conducted by researchers at the Imperial College London suggests that the placebo effect experienced by patients who receive coronary artery stents might be larger than expected, even though stents themselves are life-saving.

6 Nov 2017

Stents implanted in the coronary blood vessels may not provide extra benefit

Percutanous angioplasty involves insertion of a stent into a blocked or narrowed coronary artery that eases the blood flow and relieves the pain of severe angina or a heart attack. It is being routinely practiced worldwide. A new study called ORBITA, has revealed that not all patients who undergo this procedure benefit from it.

3 Nov 2017

Surgeries performed later in the day linked to increased risk of complications

A new study published in Neurosurgery finds that patients who undergo a neurosurgical procedure with surgical start times between 9 pm and 7 am are at an increased risk of developing complications compared to patients with a surgical start time earlier in the day.

13 Oct 2017

Biomaterial-mediated growth factor delivery can restore perfusion of blood vessels in animal models

Ischemia is a serious medical condition in which the flow of blood and delivery of oxygen to tissues is restricted, thus resulting in pain, weakness, and more seriously, tissue and organ damage. Ischemia in muscle tissue, most commonly as a result of atherosclerosis, leads to life-threatening diseases like coronary artery disease and stroke, but also to chronic peripheral artery disease (PAD).

26 Sep 2017

'Open gym' format reduces cardiac rehabilitation wait times, study reports

Changing from scheduled appointments to an "open gym" format can reduce waiting times for cardiac rehabilitation, reports a study in the September/October issue of Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention.

30 Aug 2017

Pre-hospital antiplatelet therapy offers no advantages for heart attack patients, study suggests

In contrast to European and American guidelines that recommend pre-hospital antiplatelet therapy for heart attack patients suffering from ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a new study presented at ESC Congress1 suggests this practice has no advantage over waiting for in-ho

29 Aug 2017

LSU Health New Orleans to receive $735,000 for improving heart attack recovery

LSU Health New Orleans will receive $735,000 over two years to study the effectiveness of the first patented drug-eluting guidewire in preventing a complication that can occur following treatment of heart attacks with angioplasty.

28 Aug 2017

Reducing inflammation without lowering cholesterol significantly lowers rate of recurrent cardiovascular events

The researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital this week have come up with a new study which shows that reducing the inflammation among patients who have already had a heart attack before could prevent the risk of getting more cardiovascular events. The study is published in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

28 Aug 2017

BU scientist wins $231,000 AHA award to improve cardiovascular therapies

Vijaya B. Kolachalama, PhD, assistant professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, has received a Scientist Development grant from the American Heart Association.

16 Aug 2017

Biological bypass found safe for patients with coronary artery disease

A new gene therapy that targets the heart and requires only one treatment session has been found safe for patients with coronary artery disease, according to a successful trial carried out in Finland.

8 Aug 2017

IBS scientists create first nanoparticle-based tissue adhesive to seal bleeding and guide surgery

As open surgery has gradually been replaced by minimally-invasive and image-guided procedures, tissue adhesives are taking the place of sutures and surgical staples.

19 Jul 2017

Calif. hits nerve by singling out cardiac surgeons with higher patient death rates

Michael Koumjian, a heart surgeon for nearly three decades, said he considered treating the sickest patients a badge of honor. The San Diego doctor was frequently called upon to operate on those who had multiple illnesses or who'd undergone CPR before arriving at the hospital.

17 Jul 2017