For Transradial Angioplasty, “Slender and Lean” in the Netherlands

Slender Club Europe 2014: a new initiative of Slender Club Japan

Slender Club Europe 2014: a new initiative of Slender Club Japan

A criticism from some cardiologists of the transradial approach, in which diagnostic angiography and percutaneous interventions (angioplasty and stents) are performed through the radial artery in the wrist, has been that the radial artery is too small to permit successful navigation of the various sheaths, wires and catheters. Of course, it’s been more than two decades since Dr. Ferdinand Kiemeneij successfully opened a blocked coronary artery via the wrist and today, in many parts of the world, half of all procedures are done this way.

Certainly one reason that the transradial approach has gained in usage has been the constant refinement of equipment and devices: most radial interventions today can be done using a 5F or 6F sheath; in the early days of femoral PCI, 7F or 8F equipment was the norm. The smaller the equipment, the easier it is to perform a radial procedure and the lower the complication rate (i.e. it’s safer for the patient).

That’s why five years ago, interventional cardiologists in Japan decided that to make the transradial approach even easier, the equipment needed to be downsized, literally — and the Slender Club Japan was started, initiated by Dr. Fuminobu Yoshimachi. Interventionalists got together for workshops and meetings throughout Japan to demonstrate new innovations and techniques, “slender” techniques with miniaturized equipment.

Dr. Ferdinand Kiemeneij

Dr. Ferdinand Kiemeneij

Now Dr. Kiemeneij is bringing the Slender Club to Europe and has announced a very special kick-off meeting for the Slender Club Europe, with distinguished European pioneers in the radial approach jining their Japanese colleagues.

So, if you want to be “in” on the latest innovations in this field, mark your calendar: February 14, 2014 (yes…that’s St. Valentine’s Day — a day of the heart!) and get registered for this first one-day demonstration at Dr. Kiemeneij’s new work environment: Tergooi Hospital in Blaricum, the Netherlands.

For more information and an online registration form, visit http://slenderclubeurope.wordpress.com/

Dr. Kiemeneij is also expanding his definition of “slender” to give it meaning beyond just the technical miniaturization of equipment; his concept is to make transradial intervention (TRI) “lean” by eliminating all avenues of “waste,” and creating maximum value for patients against minimal effort: more effective PCI, less discomfort, shorter hospital stays and lower costs.

But hurry. This initial meeting can only accommodate 120 participants and it’s first-come-first-served!

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Filed under Europe, Global Trends, Innovators, Japan, Meetings & Conferences, Transradial Approach

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