Interventional/Surgery
Patients believe elective PCI prevents MI and saves lives, but who's to blame?
8 COMMENTS - Nov 12, 2008 16:15 EST
Two-thirds of patients surveyed after undergoing elective PCI for angina relief said they believed the procedure would save their lives; still more believed they'd avoid a future MI. Experts say patients may not be digesting information appropriately, but doctors are also at fault. Indeed, the majority of patients also said they were not offered any therapy other than PCI. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)

New Orleans, LA - A recent survey of patients who underwent elective PCI for angina relief suggests that at least two-thirds of them believed that the procedure would actually extend their lives, and even more believed that it would prevent future MI. According to Dr John Lee (Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, MO), who presented the data here at the American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions, the findings raise the question of whether patients are truly providing "informed consent" if their understanding of the risks and benefits is so imperfect. Read full article »

(American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
Inside: Interventional/Surgery
Accredited educational programs, supported by industry, developed by theheart.org

More
More
More
 
Acute Coronary Syndrome
ACC/AHA publishes new performance measures for STEMI patients
Nov 18, 2008 13:30 EST
Differing from guidelines, the new performance measures identify aspects of care with evidence so strong, such as prescribing a statin upon discharge or delivering reperfusion in a timely manner, that every patient should be receiving the same treatment. In other words, "If you're not doing things a certain way, then you're not providing the best care," says one expert. (Masoudi FA et al. Krumholz HM et al. J Am Coll Cardiol, Circulation; published online before print November 10, 2008.)
Interventional/Surgery
OCT imaging suggests low rates of uncovered/malapposed struts following DES for AMI
Nov 18, 2008 11:30 EST
An OCT study conducted in a subset of HORIZONS-AMI patients suggests that exposed and malapposed stent struts in the setting of AMI are more common with drug-eluting stents than with bare-metal stents but still relatively rare. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
Dr Richard W Nesto
Lipid/Metabolic
APPROACH: Rosiglitazone doesn't affect atherosclerosis progression in diabetics with CV disease
19 COMMENTS - Nov 13, 2008 15:00 EST
The thiazolidinedione, given for 18 months, didn't appear to reverse or slow disease progression compared with the same duration of treatment with a sulfonylurea, according to the IVUS-based study. Investigators point to hints that that rosiglitazone may have slowed atherosclerosis in such patients with longer-established diabetes. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
Interventional/Surgery
New meta-analysis of beta blockers in noncardiac surgery: Time to abandon their use, or not?
2 COMMENTS - Nov 12, 2008 14:00 EST
The use of beta blockers perioperatively to prevent cardiovascular events in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery is not justified by current evidence, according to the authors of a new meta-analysis. An update to the guidelines on this issue is under way, says one member of the writing committee, who incidentally does not agree with this overall conclusion. (Bangalore S et al. Lancet; published online before print November 12, 2008. American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
Acute Coronary Syndrome
TIMACS: Early invasive management safe in non-ST-elevation ACS, improves outcomes in high-risk cases
Nov 11, 2008 09:00 EST
The findings appear to mandate early intervention in high-risk cases and to support the use of either an early or delayed strategy for patients considered at low to intermediate risk. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
Thrombosis Risk
Tailoring clopidogrel loading on the basis of responsiveness testing reduces stent thrombosis
5 COMMENTS - Nov 10, 2008 16:30 EST
Investigators who adjusted clopidogrel dose on the basis of VASP index found they could reduce risk of stent thrombosis as well as MACE at 30 days. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
Interventional/Surgery
Revascularization, MI, and mortality benefits at three years in diabetic patients treated with drug-eluting stents
2 COMMENTS - Nov 10, 2008 15:45 EST
The results highlight the preserved efficacy of drug-eluting stents observed in other randomized trials and also point to no increased safety concerns in long-term follow-up. Investigators say drug-eluting stents should be favored over bare-metal stents on a patient-by-patient basis, with their ability to take dual antiplatelet therapy the primary caveat. (Garg P et al. Circulation; published online before print November 10, 2008. American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
Acute Coronary Syndrome
Registry: Cardiogenic shock rates plunge over decade thanks to PCI, statins
1 COMMENT - Nov 6, 2008 16:45 EST
The 75% drop in how often ACS patients develop shock during hospitalization accounted for almost all the difference in a Swiss registry study; the ranks of those presenting already in shock didn't change. (Jeger RV et al. Ann Intern Med 2008; 149:618-626.)
Heart failure
HF up in recent decades as MI deaths fall
Nov 4, 2008 11:45 EST
A decline in deaths from MI in recent decades appears to have been accompanied by an increase in the incidence of heart failure, according to a new analysis from the Framingham Heart Study. The likely explanation is that sicker patients, who would have died from MI in earlier years, are now surviving but going on to develop HF, say the researchers. (Velagaleti RS et al. Circulation; published online before print October 27, 2008.)
Clinical cardiology
Alain Carpentier spearheads new total artificial heart endeavor
1 COMMENT - Oct 31, 2008 08:30 EDT
A French start-up company has announced it has received millions of dollars in funding, some from the defense industry, even as other replacement hearts in development globally seem stymied by disappointing long-term results or lack of funds.
Interventional/Surgery
Medtronic says it will sell Endeavor with rapid exchange in US
Oct 30, 2008 16:30 EDT
Acute Coronary Syndrome
Six-month TRANSFER-AMI data show persistent benefit
Oct 30, 2008 15:00 EDT
Investigators observed persistent trends toward a reduction in reinfarction and say that the data support the 30-day results that showed a benefit of PCI within six hours of fibrinolytic therapy in STEMI patients. (Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2008.)
Acute Coronary Syndrome
Door-to-balloon times of less than 90 minutes possible
2 COMMENTS - Oct 30, 2008 14:30 EDT

A new Mayo Clinic protocol resulted in sustainable and durable improvements for four years. (American College of Emergency Physicians Scientific Assembly 2008,)
Academic partnership
Academic series
Duke Clinical Medicine Series
2 COMMENTS - Mar 1, 2008 15:50 EST
A series of interactive, evidence-based programs designed to improve the care of patients requiring cardiac catheterization and interventions
Resource center
INTERVENTIONAL/SURGERY
A venue for information, slides, articles, tools, and support material for physicians and healthcare providers.
Poll
Will percutaneous valvular therapies be widely performed across the US in both private and academic centers?

Yes, in the next 2 years
Yes, in the next 5 years
Yes, in the next 10 years
No, these therapies will not be widely performed

Vote
Previews
View all »
Info from Industry