Pulmonary Embolism News and Research

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A pulmonary embolism is a sudden blockage in a lung artery. The cause is usually a blood clot in the leg called a deep vein thrombosis that breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lung.

Mobile compression device effective in preventing blood clots after hip replacement surgery

A mobile compression device is as effective as medication at preventing the formation of blood clots after hip replacement surgery but provides greater patient safety, according to a study in the March issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

7 Apr 2010

Patient-safety incidents: 10% died

Nearly one million patient-safety incidents occurred among Medicare patients over the years 2006, 2007, 2008, a figure virtually unchanged since last year's annual study of patient safety by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization. In all, the incidents were associated with $8.9 billion in costs. One in ten patients -- 99,180 individuals -- experiencing a patient-safety incident died as a result, the study found.

1 Apr 2010

In pregnant women, DVT more likely to occur on left side

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in pregnant patients is more likely to occur on the left side, and in particular in the left leg, write the authors of a Review article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) http://www.cmaj.ca/embargo/cmaj091692.pdf.

30 Mar 2010

Imaging tests used in diagnosis of possible PE vary: Study

The imaging tests used in the diagnosis of possible pulmonary embolism (PE) vary by physician specialty and geographic region, which suggests that some of this imaging may be inappropriate, according to a study in the April issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (www.ajronline.org).

22 Mar 2010

Abraxis BioScience's Phase 3 trial comparing ABRAXANE with Taxol injection meets primary endpoint

Abraxis BioScience, Inc. today announced that its randomized registrational Phase 3 clinical trial comparing ABRAXANE® (protein-bound paclitaxel) with Taxol® (paclitaxel) injection, both in combination with carboplatin, met the study’s primary endpoint by demonstrating that ABRAXANE showed a significant improvement in overall response rate as compared to Taxol, in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as assessed by independent radiologist review.

17 Mar 2010

Genetic test helps reduce hospitalization rates for heart patients on warfarin

Hospitalization rates for heart patients taking warfarin, the world's most-prescribed blood thinner, dropped by approximately 30 percent when genetic information was available to doctors prescribing the drug, researchers from Medco Health Solutions, Inc.-- in association with the Medco Research Institute™ -- and Mayo Clinic announced today.

17 Mar 2010

Most influential advances in cardiopulmonary imaging: High-resolution CT and CT pulmonary angiography

Advances in computed tomography providing high-resolution images of the lungs and a new approach to diagnosis of pulmonary embolism are "the most influential" changes in cardiopulmonary imaging over the past 25 years, according to a panel of experts surveyed in the February Journal of Thoracic Imaging official journal of the Society of Thoracic Radiology and the Japanese and Korean Societies of Thoracic Radiology.

16 Mar 2010

Cook Medical launches new NavAlign femoral delivery system at SIR Annual Scientific Meeting

Physicians placing inferior vena cava (IVC) filters to prevent life-threatening pulmonary emboli now have access to the latest iteration of Cook Medical’s advanced NavAlign™ delivery system, a deployment system designed to minimize the risk of vessel trauma and streamline filter placement.

15 Mar 2010

Combating DVT and PE: Critical recommendations

Three critical recommendations from a national workshop have been released to address deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), a growing public health problem estimated to affect nearly 1 million Americans each year.

10 Mar 2010

Apixaban superior to enoxaparin in reducing venous thromboembolism in total knee replacement surgery patients

Apixaban, an oral anticoagulant being developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Pfizer Inc., was statistically superior to 40 mg once daily enoxaparin in reducing the incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing elective total knee replacement surgery, according to the ADVANCE-2 study results published today in The Lancet. The study results also showed numerically lower rates of major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding in patients treated with apixaban compared with those treated with enoxaparin.

5 Mar 2010

DVT Awareness In Motion: Educational program on the importance of preventative care for DVT

The Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis moves into action with the seventh national DVT Awareness Month by introducing DVT Awareness In Motion, a educational program designed to drive dialogue about the importance of preventative care for DVT via simple movements – that can be done anywhere and anytime.

4 Mar 2010

Canyon Pharmaceuticals announces the availability of Iprivask inhibitor for prevention of DVT

Canyon PharmaceuticalsTM (www.canyonpharma.com) today announced the availability of Iprivask (desirudin for injection), the first direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI) approved in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which may lead to pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing elective hip replacement surgery.

2 Mar 2010

SNI clinical study using ultrasound for treatment of ICH and IVH presented at International Stroke Conference

EKOS Corporation announced today that Dr. David W. Newell, Co–Executive Director, Swedish Neuroscience Institute (Seattle, WA) presented a SNI clinical study known as ‘SLEUTH’ (Safety of Lysis with Ultrasound in the Treatment of Intracerebral (ICH) and Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH) at the American Heart Association International Stroke Conference (San Antonio, TX).

26 Feb 2010

HealthGrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals for 2010 identified

The HealthGrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals for 2010 were identified in a report issued today by the leading independent healthcare ratings organization. The analysis, which examined objective patient outcomes over three years at all 5,000 of the nation’s nonfederal hospitals, found that the 50 Best Hospitals had mortality rates that were, on average, 27% lower than other hospitals.

25 Feb 2010

Phase III data reveals potential of Merck’s GARDASIL in preventing HPV and HPV-related cancers

Merck & Co., Inc. announced today that in new Phase III data, GARDASIL® [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16 and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant] was 77.5 percent (95 percent CI: 39.6, 93.3) efficacious against anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18 in 16-to-26 year-old men who have sex with men. The data were presented at the European Research Organization on Genital Infection and Neoplasia (EUROGIN) conference in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

18 Feb 2010

Daiichi Sankyo initiates Phase III trial of edoxaban in reducing recurrent VTE complications

Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, announced today that it has initiated a new large-scale pivotal Phase III trial for edoxaban, its investigational oral Factor Xa inhibitor. This new study, called HOKUSAI (pronounced hoe·koo·sigh) VTE, is evaluating the safety and efficacy of edoxaban in reducing recurrent venous thromboembolic (VTE) complications in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE).

3 Feb 2010

Multiple ultrasounds may not be necessary for diagnosing DVT in some low-risk patients

An analysis of previous studies suggests that for patients with a suspected blood clot in a deep vein of a leg, withholding anticoagulation therapy after a negative whole-leg compression ultrasound is associated with a low risk of developing a blood clot during the subsequent 3 months, suggesting that multiple ultrasounds may not be necessary for some low-risk patients, according to an article in the February 3 issue of JAMA.

3 Feb 2010

Agent-enhanced CT scan plays a supporting role in diagnosing severe cases of H1N1 flu virus

Published reports on the usefulness of CT scans for complicated H1N1 cases have spurred use of these procedures in U.S. hospitals. According to healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information, this opens up a pathway of diagnostics for physicians and overall is a positive sign not only for the technology but also for companies making chemical agents for procedures.

29 Jan 2010

Joint Commission urges hospitals to take steps to prevent pregnancy-related deaths

Pre-existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure are putting women at greater risk for death during or shortly after pregnancy, according to a Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert issued today.

27 Jan 2010

Three hospitals selected as recipients of the 2009 DVTeamCare Hospital Award

The North American Thrombosis Forum (NATF), in coordination with Eisai Inc., announced today that three hospitals have been selected as recipients of the 2009 DVTeamCare Hospital Award. This new award was established by Eisai to recognize hospitals that have made a significant commitment to preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and its potentially fatal complications, including pulmonary embolism (PE).

20 Jan 2010