Blood Clot News and Research

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A Blood Clot is a mass of blood that forms when blood platelets, proteins, and cells stick together. When a blood clot is attached to the wall of a blood vessel, it is called a thrombus. When it moves through the bloodstream and blocks the flow of blood in another part of the body, it is called an embolus.

New AAN guideline provides direction for use of blood thinners during surgery

A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology will help people who take blood thinners decide whether or not to take them during surgery or other medical procedures.

28 May 2013

Research findings may offer new hope to stroke victims

A study by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital found "substantial evidence" that a regenerative process involving damaged nerve fibers in the spinal cord could hold the key to better functional recovery by most stroke victims.

24 May 2013

American Heart Association: Costs to treat stroke may increase to $183.13 billion in 2030

Costs to treat stroke are projected to more than double and the number of people having strokes may increase 20 percent by 2030, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

23 May 2013

Experts develop new guidelines for safe and effective use of anticoagulants

Blood thinners are the preferred treatment option to prevent heart attacks, blood clots and stroke, but they are not without risk, and not just because of their side effects. These high-risk drugs, known as anticoagulants, account for nearly 7 percent of medication errors in hospitalized patients.

22 May 2013

Diachisis can occur during subacute phase of ischemic stroke, find USF researchers

While the effects of acute stroke have been widely studied, brain damage during the subacute phase of stroke has been a neglected area of research. Now, a new study by the University of South Florida reports that within a week of a stroke caused by a blood clot in one side of the brain, the opposite side of the brain shows signs of microvascular injury.

21 May 2013

Peripherally inserted central catheters increase risk of dangerous blood clots

Touted for safety, ease and patient convenience, peripherally inserted central catheters have become many clinicians' go-to for IV delivery of antibiotics, nutrition, chemotherapy, and other medications.

20 May 2013

Age not matter for stroke victims who receive after-stroke intervention strategies

Age has little to do with how patients should be treated after suffering a stroke, according to new research from the University of Georgia.

18 May 2013

Get With The Guidelines--Stroke program improves patient recovery

People with strokes caused by blood clots fared better in hospitals participating in the Get With The Guidelines--Stroke program according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions 2013.

17 May 2013

Study finds novel delivery method that helps dissolve stroke-causing clots

A new study from the University of Cincinnati has found that, when delivered via ultrasound, the natural enzyme plasmin is more effective at dissolving stroke-causing clots than the standard of care, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA).

16 May 2013

New 3-D technology to see precise source of atrial fibrillation in the heart

Researchers at the Intermountain Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center have developed a new 3-D technology that for the first time allows cardiologists the ability to see the precise source of atrial fibrillation in the heart - a breakthrough for a condition that affects nearly three million Americans.

13 May 2013

Gene offers new insights into treatment strategies for deep-vein thrombosis

A gene associated with both protection against bacterial infection and excessive blood clotting could offer new insights into treatment strategies for deep-vein thrombosis -- the formation of a harmful clot in a deep vein.

9 May 2013

New risk assessment scorecard helps physicians prevent blood clots in patients following childbirth

A new risk assessment scorecard helped physicians significantly improve their ability to identify at-risk patients following childbirth and provide preventive treatment options for life-threatening blood clots, according to a study conducted by researchers at Montefiore Medical Center.

8 May 2013

ECMO can be used on neonates with severe respiratory failure until lung transplantation, say scientists

Adults with end-stage respiratory failure and pulmonary hypertension requiring ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) have been "bridged" toward lung transplantation with novel lung assist devices such as the Novalung.

7 May 2013

Regional anesthesia improves outcomes in sleep apnea patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty

Using regional anesthesia instead of general anesthesia in patients with sleep apnea undergoing total joint replacement decreases major complications by 17%, according to a study published online, ahead of print, in the journal Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine.

3 May 2013

Kcentra gets FDA approval for adults with acute major bleeding

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Kcentra (Prothrombin Complex Concentrate, Human) for the urgent reversal of vitamin K antagonist anticoagulation in adults with acute major bleeding.

30 Apr 2013

Patient satisfaction does not reflect the quality of surgical care in hospitals

Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of a hospital's service quality, but new Johns Hopkins research suggests that it doesn't necessarily reflect the quality of the surgical care patients receive.

18 Apr 2013

Fully-retractable embolization coil introduced by Cook Medical

Cook Medical has launched a new fully-retractable .035 inch embolization coil, intended for peripheral arterial and venous embolization. Embolization is a nonsurgical, minimally invasive procedure performed by a physician to block or reduce blood flow in arteries and veins. Cook is showcasing the Retracta™ Detachable Embolization Coil at booth #1331 at the annual Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) meeting.

18 Apr 2013

Michigan's first cardio-oncology clinic launched to prevent heart problems

As cancer therapy becomes more effective and the number of cancer survivors increases, doctors are faced with a new challenge: ensuring patients have a healthy heart to enjoy the rest of their lives.

16 Apr 2013

Self-propelled microrockets using stomach acid as fuel may help perform microsurgery

An advance in micromotor technology akin to the invention of cars that fuel themselves from the pavement or air, rather than gasoline or batteries, is opening the door to broad new medical and industrial uses for these tiny devices, scientists said here today. Their update on development of the motors - so small that thousands would fit inside this "o" - was part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, being held here this week.

11 Apr 2013

Study: Using best-practice approach could lead to big cost reductions in hospitals nationwide

A major challenge facing today's health care community is to find ways to lower costs without compromising clinical quality. Taking that challenge to task, researchers at Medstar Health and Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington DC, report success in using a concept called "value-based analysis," which simultaneously measures quality and cost and addresses inefficiencies in care.