Balloon Angioplasty News and Research

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Balloon Angioplasty is a procedure to enlarge the opening in a blood vessel that has become narrowed or blocked by plaque (a buildup of fat and cholesterol on the inner wall of the blood vessel). A small balloon is filled with air inside the blood vessel to push the plaque against the blood vessel wall and increase the opening.

CYP2C19 gene variant can increase risk of cardiovascular events in patients treated with clopidogrel

An analysis of data from previously published studies indicates that use of the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel for patients who have common genetic variants of a certain gene and are undergoing a procedure such as coronary stent placement have an associated increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events, particularly development of blood clots in stents, according to a study in the October 27 issue of JAMA.

27 Oct 2010

Hospitalizations and associated costs with peripheral artery disease increase as condition progresses

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a progressive and costly disease, but remains under-diagnosed and under treated. While current PAD treatments are effective at clearing artery blockages in the lower leg, high recurrence rates and the subsequent need for repeat procedures are costly. Even after initial procedures to clear blockages in leg arteries, hospitalizations and associated costs in patients with peripheral artery disease increase as the condition progresses, according to research reported in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal.

13 Oct 2010

New balloon angioplasty device could trigger a 'paradign shift' in PAD treatment

A balloon angioplasty device that sucks up dangerous plaque debris could trigger a "paradign shift" in how physicians treat peripheral artery disease, researchers write in the current issue of Endovascular Today.

6 Oct 2010

Ore. hospitals with most clout command higher prices

The (Portland) Oregonian: Prices vary radically for similar procedures at Oregon hospitals. "A balloon angioplasty to unclog heart arteries costs about $52,000 at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, more than three times the typical amount insurers paid Tuality Community Hospital in Hillsboro, according to hospital payment comparisons posted online today by Oregon health officials."

6 Oct 2010

IN.PACT drug-eluting balloons show promising results for superficial femoral artery disease treatment

Advancing research on drug-eluting balloons for the treatment of coronary and peripheral artery disease, Medtronic, Inc., today announced the latest results from the IN.PACT drug-eluting balloon (DEB) clinical program presented last week at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2010 conference.

29 Sep 2010

Cook Medical submits PMA to FDA for new balloon expandable stent for renal artery disease

Cook Medical has submitted its Pre-Market Approval (PMA) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its new balloon expandable stent for renal artery disease. Intended for patients suffering from renal artery stenosis, a narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys, the new device features a low profile design and does not shorten upon expansion.

24 Sep 2010

Lutonix presents data on Moxy Drug Coated Balloon Catheter at TCT meeting

Lutonix, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, today announced six-month data from three separate drug coated balloon studies presented at the TransCatheter Therapeutics (TCT) meeting this week demonstrated the ability of the Moxy Drug Coated Balloon Catheter to inhibit restenosis in both peripheral and coronary arteries.

24 Sep 2010

CSI to present CALCIUM 360° Study results at TCT symposium

Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., announced today that its CALCIUM 360° Study, the first-of-its kind prospective, randomized feasibility study, demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of plaque modification with the Diamondback 360 PAD System versus the standard of care treatment (balloon angioplasty) in below-the-knee arteries.

23 Sep 2010

Angioslide commercializes Proteus device for ECA in the U.S.

Angioslide, Inc. of Minneapolis, MN and Angioslide, Ltd. Herzliya, Israel, announced today that the company has commercialized the Proteus device for Embolic Capture Angioplasty in the United States. The device combines an angioplasty balloon and embolic capture feature into one device, thus providing physicians with a simple and cost-effective method of capturing of embolic particles during angioplasty procedures.

16 Sep 2010

Long-term stenting of aortic coarctation yields 77% success rate

Researchers from the Congenital Cardiovascular Interventional Study Consortium (CCISC) who evaluated the intermediate and long-term results of stent implantation for aortic coarctation found that cumulative intermediate success was 86%, and cumulative long-term success was 77%. Results of this study appear in the October issue of Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.

14 Sep 2010

Late breaking clinical trials in interventional cardiovascular medicine to be presented at TCT 2010

Clinical trials in a variety of areas within interventional cardiovascular medicine that will be presented at TCT 2010 will directly affect the way that people with cardiovascular disease are treated. Breakthroughs in science and medical research, presented exclusively at TCT, will lead to new treatments that are minimally invasive and involve shorter recovery times. Among the topics being covered are stenting in the femoral artery, polymer-free drug-eluting stents, valves and drug-eluting balloons used in angioplasty.

8 Sep 2010

SIR issues position statement to determine safety, effectiveness of interventional M.S. treatment

Recognizing that venous interventions may potentially play an important role in treating some patients who suffer from multiple sclerosis an incurable, disabling disease the Society of Interventional Radiology has issued a position statement indicating its support for high quality clinical research to determine the safety and effectiveness of interventional M.S. treatments.

31 Aug 2010

Adoption of standby intra-aortic balloon pump strategy during high-risk PCI needed: Study

High-risk patients undergoing a coronary procedure such as placement of a stent who electively received an intra-aortic balloon pump (a device that can help improve blood flow) prior to the procedure did not experience a significantly lower overall rate of events such as heart attack, revascularization or death, according to a study in the August 25 issue of JAMA.

25 Aug 2010

Reducing patient body temperature with cold salt beneficial for patients undergoing balloon angioplasty

Treating heart attack patients with hypothermia reduces the amount of heart damage by more than one third after balloon angioplasty. Researchers in Lund, Sweden have today released the results of a study showing that the amount of heart damage in heart attack patients whose body temperature was lower than 35˚C (95˚F) was reduced by more than one third after they were treated with balloon angioplasty to open their clogged heart vessel.

25 Aug 2010

Health care system delay increases death risk in heart attack patients

For patients with a certain type of heart attack, delay in the time between first contact with emergency medical service to initiation of therapy such as balloon angioplasty is associated with an increased risk of death, according to a study in the August 18 issue of JAMA.

18 Aug 2010

New optical imaging technique holds potential to improve angioplasty

A new optical imaging technique described in the journal Review of Scientific Instruments, which is published by the American Institute of Physics, holds the potential to greatly improve angioplasty, a surgery commonly performed to treat patients with a partially or completely blocked coronary artery that restricts blood flow to the heart.

11 Aug 2010

SIR and 41 international societies issue first global statement defining interventional radiology

The Society of Interventional Radiology, with the support of 41 international societies representing 10,000 interventional radiology doctors, has issued the first global statement defining interventional radiology-one designed to benefit medical treatment for individuals. The statement addresses the evolution, impact and future direction of this minimally invasive specialty, emphasizing the worldwide availability of this specialized medical care.

8 Jul 2010

Researchers to study interventional endovascular therapy on symptoms and progression of MS

Buffalo medical researchers led by a team from the University at Buffalo Department of Neurosurgery, will embark on a landmark prospective randomized double-blinded study to test the safety and efficacy of interventional endovascular therapy -- dubbed "liberation treatment" -- on the symptoms and progression of Multiple Sclerosis.

1 Jul 2010

Boston Scientific adds 22 new balloon sizes to PolarCath Peripheral Dilatation System

Boston Scientific Corporation today announced that 22 new balloon sizes have been added to the PolarCath® Peripheral Dilatation System, including balloon lengths of 120 and 150 mm. The PolarCath System is used to restore blood flow in patients with critical limb ischemia (severe blockages in the arteries below the knee) and blockages in the femoral and popliteal (behind the knee) arteries. Both conditions result from peripheral artery disease.

21 Jun 2010

Spectranetics plans multi-center, randomized clinical trial program for in-stent restenosis

The Spectranetics Corporation today announced its clinical trial plans related to the treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR) in arteries above the knee, which remains a major unsolved medical problem. There is no device currently cleared or approved by the FDA to treat ISR.

10 Jun 2010