Clinical research updates on interventional cardiology techniques that affect patient care

TCT 2010 (Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics) will provide significant clinical research updates to technologies and practices in interventional cardiology that will directly affect patient care.

At TCT 2010 (September 21-25 in Washington, DC), late breaking data from clinical trials on the next generation of stents, interventional cardiology techniques, and the interactions and effectiveness of new medicines will shed light on the best ways to treat patients. Several hundred abstracts will also be presented on a variety of interesting topics including studies comparing various types of stents and assessing new techniques and technologies all designed to improve care for patients with cardiovascular disease.

"New catheter-based strategies, novel stents, and the effectiveness of various drugs used to treat heart disease are going to be among the major topics at TCT this year," said Gregg W. Stone, MD, Professor of Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Director of Cardiovascular Research and Education at the Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center and Co-Director of the Medical Research and Education Division at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. TCT is organized by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation.

This year, TCT will also provide a new program, "TCT in 3," designed specifically for the busy interventional practitioner, which features a concentrated curriculum in a shorter 3 day time frame from Thursday, September 23 through Saturday, September 25. Highlights include live cases, late breaking trials and practice management sessions.

And once again, the conference will feature specific tracks for Cardiac Surgeons and Nurses and Technologists. The Surgeons Course will provide instruction on percutaneous valve repair, hybrid (joint) surgical and interventional approaches to heart disease, percutaneous aortic aneurysm repair methods, with an in-depth course on advanced surgical techniques. The 19th Annual Nurse and Technologist Symposium will detail new trends and cath lab procedures essential for the allied health care professional.

In 2009, TCT was held for the first time in San Francisco, where it attracted record numbers of attendees. 99.4% of physician attendees surveyed stated that TCT increased their knowledge to improve their practice.