| Expert Insights &
Feature Articles |
 Wrist Angioplasty Sees Unprecedented Growth in U.S. |
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In the current issue of Circulation, a landmark analysis of almost 3 million coronary interventions performed in the U.S. from 2007 to 2012 concludes that utilization of the transradial approach, in which balloons and stents are delivered to the heart via the radial artery in the wrist instead of the femoral artery in the groin, has increased 13-fold in the past five years. |
| Medtronic Stent Data for Diabetic Patients Published |
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This week JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions published an article detailing the two-year pooled analysis of outcomes from Medtronic's international RESOLUTE Global Clinical Program of over 5,100 patients: how this data showed positive results for the interventional treatment of patients with diabetes, and how these outcomes led the FDA to approve the Resolute Integrity for use in diabetic patients. |
| No Stent Thrombosis Seen When Plavix and Aspirin Stopped Early |
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Important news for stent patients and cardiologists alike: data from a new analysis of Medtronic's RESOLUTE drug-eluting stent program show very low occurrence of stent thrombosis when dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is interrupted or discontinued after one month.
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| European Society of Cardiology: Radial Approach Should Be the Default Approach for PCI |
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The European Society of Cardiology has published a detailed consensus document which recommends that the radial or wrist approach to angioplasty should become the default access method, with the femoral approach to be used as a "bail-out" when radial is not feasible. This is a major change in the techniques utilized worldwide by interventional cardiologists. |
| New Guidelines for Stable Heart Disease: Emphasis on Patient Involvement, "Holistic" Approach |
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Seven major medical societies have issued the first new guidelines in a decade, detailing the evidence and key issues involved in the diagnosis, risk assessment, treatment and follow up of ischemic heart disease plus a wide variety of additional topics. In this consensus statement, guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) is the cornerstone of treatment for most patients, and patient involvement in that therapy is critical. |
| 35th Anniversary of Angioplasty |
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2012 marks the 35th anniversary of the first percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) which was performed in 1977 by Dr. Andreas R. Gruentzig in Zurich, Switzerland. This angioplasty procedure utilized an expandable balloon, fashioned on a kitchen table in Gruentzig's apartment by Gruentzig's assistant, Maria Schlumpf (note the bottle of wine…and yes, she used Krazy Glue). |
| Drug-Eluting Stents Are Safe |
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Three year results from the largest randomized clinical trial of drug-eluting stents ever conducted, and the only trial sufficiently powered to measure stent thrombosis, show low rates of blood clots occurring inside drug-eluting stents implanted in "real-world" patients. What makes this study important is the very large number of patients: over 8,700 at 196 centers in 36 countries across five continents. |
| Stent Decision-Making Using Functional Measurement: FFR and iFR |
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Preliminary data, presented at EuroPCR, show increasingly that functional measurement is a critical part of the therapeutic decision-making process for cardiologists: whether to stent a blocked coronary artery or instead triage a patient to medical therapy alone. First results from the FAME II Study were made available and a new tool for functional measurement was discussed: the technology of Instant Wave-Free Ratio™ (iFR®) which does not need to use adenosine. |
| Can Using IVUS (Intravascular Ultrasound) Prevent Stent Thrombosis? |
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A recent paper, published online before print in SCAI's journal, Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, yet again adds to the evidence that intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging during PCI can improve stent placement and expansion in a way that may prevent stent thrombosis (ST). |
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| Patients Are Talking About... |
- I had radial angiography 2 days ago...it was a fascinating experience and was able to watch part of the procedure. I feel fantastic, have no "heart ache" or any problems with my arm.
- I can't afford my post-stenting meds, where can I find help paying for Plavix or Effient?
- I'm 64. After 4 stents and 2 heart attacks since Dec. 2008, I'm as physically active or more so than ever. I plan to hit 4,000 miles on my bike this year. I've hiked/climbed at 13,000 feet.
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| Patients
Are Reading About... |
Radial Hospital Locator
A list of physicians and hospitals offering the transradial (wrist) approach to angiograms, angioplasty and stent procedures. |
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| Read patient stories and Learn about medications after stenting, symptoms and complications, care giving, taking charge of your health, communicating with your cardiologist and much more in our Patient Center. |
 see
video clip:
" The 1st Angioplasty" |
ANGIOPLASTY
AT 35: 2012
marked the 35th anniversary of coronary angioplasty. In
1977 in Zurich, Switzerland, a young physician named Andreas
Gruentzig inserted a catheter into a patient's
coronary artery and inflated a tiny balloon, successfully
opening a blockage and restoring blood flow to a human
heart. |
| Today over
two million coronary angioplasties are
performed worldwide each year and angioplasty has become the gold standard for emergency heart attack treament. |
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