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 The balloon is then deflated and the catheter is withdrawn.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.

South Asian patients with CAD more likely to need repeat PCI procedures

South Asian patients with coronary artery disease were almost three times as likely to be readmitted to hospital for further interventional treatment to arterial plaque than their White European counterparts, according to research in the December issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice. They were also more likely to present as an emergency and require urgent treatment.

22 Nov 2011

South Asian cardiac patients three times as likely to require repeat treatment following PCI

21 Nov 2011

Research roundup: The effect of heart drug costs; Doctors' financial incentives when ordering stress tests

The researchers examined whether drug costs for heart attack patients affects health. Half of a group of more than 5,000 patients were given prescription coverage that eliminated co-payments and expanded drug choices. The others had "usual prescription coverage."

18 Nov 2011

Tripling clopidogrel dosage improves platelet reactivity in cardiac patients

Among patients with stable cardiovascular disease who have a genetic variation that diminishes the response to the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel, tripling the standard daily dosage of this medication resulted in improved platelet reactivity, according to a study appearing in JAMA.

17 Nov 2011

Cholesterol drugs clash head on

Major cholesterol lowering drugs are being pitched against each other. The cheaper ones are more likely to win say experts.

16 Nov 2011

Eliminating drug co-pays improves medication adherence in heart attack patients

The use of specific medications following a heart attack has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, however; while highly effective, the rate of adherence to these medications is poor. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) evaluated whether eliminating co-payments for these medications would increase adherence and improve outcomes in patients who have had a heart attack.

15 Nov 2011

Study compares safety of procedures at hospitals with and without cardiac surgery backup

Hospitals that do not have cardiac surgery capability can perform nonemergency angioplasty and stent implantation as safely as hospitals that do offer cardiac surgery. That is the finding of the nation's first large, randomized study to assess whether patients do just as well having nonemergency angioplasty performed at smaller, community hospitals that do not offer cardiac surgery.

15 Nov 2011

Bone-marrow derived cells do not improve heart function after attack

NIH-funded trial shows that therapy with bone-marrow derived cells does not improve heart function after six months; future clinical benefits still possible.

14 Nov 2011

FDA clears IDEV 6Fr SUPERA VERITAS Transhepatic Biliary Stent System

IDEV Technologies, Incorporated, today announced the FDA has granted 510(k) clearance for the company's 6 French (6Fr) SUPERA VERITAS Transhepatic Biliary Stent System.

10 Nov 2011

World-renowned cardiologist receives 2011 TCT Career Achievement Award

Eric J. Topol, MD, a world-renowned cardiologist and physician-scientist, was presented the 2011 TCT Career Achievement Award in a ceremony held today during the 23rd annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium, sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation.

10 Nov 2011

Cordis receives FDA 510(k) clearance for EMPIRA Balloon Catheters

Cordis Corporation today announced EMPIRA and EMPIRA NC RX PTCA Dilatation Catheters have received 510(k) regulatory clearance for the treatment of coronary artery disease.

8 Nov 2011

DSM and Svelte Medical Systems enter into license and supply agreement

DSM, and Svelte® Medical Systems, Inc., a privately held company developing next generation endovascular therapies, today announced they have entered into a license and supply agreement granting Svelte the right to use DSM’s proprietary bioerodible amino acid based drug carrier in the design of their All In One non-thrombogenic, non-inflammatory drug-eluting stent system.

7 Nov 2011

Dual imaging approach could improve diagnosis, treatment of coronary artery disease

A new device that combines two microimaging technologies can reveal both the detailed anatomy of arterial linings and biological activities that, in coronary arteries, could indicate the risk of heart attacks or the formation of clots in arterial stents.

7 Nov 2011

Riverview to participate in Atlantic C-PORT-E Elective Angioplasty trial

In May 2009, Riverview Medical Center became part of a research study sponsored by Johns Hopkins University called the Atlantic C-PORT-E Elective Angioplasty trial. Riverview was selected to participate in this research study for its high level of experience and outstanding cardiovascular services.

4 Nov 2011

Gender not an independent predictor of mortality post-PCI

New research shows that women undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as angioplasty, exhibit more co-morbidities and cardiovascular risk factors than men. Risk-adjusted analyses have now indicated that, in the contemporary era, gender is not an independent mortality predictor following PCI according to the study now available in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.

1 Nov 2011

Toshiba’s Infinix DP-i cardiovascular X-ray system to be used in eight live cases

Enabling clinicians to seamlessly transition between cardiac and peripheral intervention during a single procedure, Infinix DP-i cardiovascular X-ray system from Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. will be used in eight live cases at Peripheral Angioplasty and All That Jazz conference, Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 2011, New Orleans.

31 Oct 2011

Clinical and genetic risk factors associated with early stent thrombosis

Patients with certain genes or specific factors related to use of the anti-clotting drug clopidogrel are more likely to experience a blood clot within a coronary stent shortly after placement, according to a study in the October 26 issue of JAMA.

27 Oct 2011

Covidien releases results from largest global post-market P.A.D. device study

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, today released the six-month results of the DEFINITIVE LE (Determination of Effectiveness of SilverHawk Peripheral Plaque Excision System for the Treatment of Infrainguinal Vessels/Lower Extremities) study, the largest global post-market peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D.) device study ever undertaken.

21 Oct 2011

Advances in yttrium-90 radioembolization for liver cancer

Finding innovative, minimally invasive ways to treat liver cancer-and being able to tailor that treatment individually to patients-are hallmarks of interventional radiologists. Advances in yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization for liver cancer, a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, are reported in studies in the October Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology.

20 Oct 2011

BIOTRONIK introduces line extension to its popular 4 F compatible, self-expanding stent system

BIOTRONIK AG, a leading manufacturer of vascular interventional devices, announced the introduction of a line extension to its popular 4 F compatible, self-expanding stent system dedicated for the treatment of long disease segments in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) and infrapopliteal arteries.

18 Oct 2011