| Expert Insights &
Feature Articles |
| The Great Angioplasty Non-Debate: A New Miniseries |
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A prominent physician, Dr. Nortin Hadler, has now posted two op-ed pieces claiming that angioplasty and stents are no better than clot-busters for the treatment of heart attacks. We disagree strongly and have posted a three-part blog series stating our case and citing the significant data that shows angioplasty to be the "gold standard." |
| 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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Angioplasty News |
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| New Medtronic Renal Denervation Gains Approvals in Europe and Australia (Dec 6) |
| Court: CoreValve Sales May Resume in Germany (Nov 14) |
| SCAI Issues Best Practices for IVUS, FFR & OCT (Nov 13) |
| Volcano Corp Announces 1st Use of Crux® Vena Cava Filter (Nov 13) |
| Medtronic's CoreValve To Bypass FDA Panel; Could Be Approved in 1st Half of 2014 (Nov 7) |
| 30 Day Results of Boston's Lotus TAVR Presented (Nov 7) |
| FDA Approves Medtronic Renal Denervation Study for Moderate Uncontrolled Hypertension (Nov 5) |
| iFR Reduce Adenosine Use, Saving Time and Costs: ADVISE II (Nov 4) |
| IVUS Improves Outcomes & Reduces Complications: ADAPT-DES (Nov 4) |
| Volcano Reports 3rd QTR Results: will discontinue development of OCT, Fwd-looking IVUS & focus on IVUS, FFR, iFR (Nov 4) |
| COMMENTARY: Surgery, Stents and Sports: "Let's Go to the Videotape!" (Nov 2) |
| COMMENTARY: Andreas Gruentzig: In His Own Words (Oct 31) |
| No increased stent thrombosis in Endeavor/Resolute stents when DAPT stopped early (Oct 31) |
| Volcano Corp Presentations at TCT: IVUS, iFR, FFR (Oct 27) |
| SCAI Issues Best Practices Paper for Transradial (Oct 27) |
| FDA Approves MitraClip (Oct 25) |
| New Recapturable CoreValve Study Starts (Oct 22) |
| COMMENTARY: Agree to Disagree "Great Angioplasty Debate" (Oct 21) |
| Medtronic Launches New Thrombus Aspiration Catheter in U.S. (Oct 21) |
| Volcano Schedules 3 QTR Conference Call & Webcast (Oct 21) |
| For Transradialists: Slender Club Europe is Being Formed (Oct 19) |
| Medtronic Announces Activities for TCT 2013 (Oct 19) |
| COMMENTARY: Stents or Fibrinolytic Therapy for Heart Attacks? (Oct 17) |
| COMMENTARY: R.I.P. Angioplasty 1977-2013 – Really? (Oct 14) |
| 4-Yr Data for Cook Zilver PTX Stent Shows 41% Reduction in Restenosis over BMS (Oct 9) |
| No New FDA Approvals Today (Oct 1) |
| AIM-RADIAL International Master Class in New York City (Sep 25) |
| FDA Expands Indications for Self-Expanding Stent (Sep 24) |
| Stony Brook Heart Institute Begins ABSORB III Enrollment (Sep 22) |
| Open Heart: A New Online Only Journal from BMJ (Sept 22) |
| TCT 2013: Late Breaking Trials & 1st Report Investigations (Sep 20) |
| 3-Yr Data for Medtronic's Renal Denervation Device Shows Sustained Lowering of Blood Pressure (Sep 15) |
| Global Registry Data Confirm Symplicity Renal Denervation System is Safe and Effective (Sep 2) |
| Volcano to Acquire Re-Entry Catheter from Medtronic (Aug 26) |
| Medtronic's IN.PACT On Track to be 1st FDA Approved Drug-Eluting Balloon (Aug 18) |
| Volcano Corp. CEO Comments On Bush's Stent Procedure (Aug 10) |
| Cook Zilver PTX Drug-Eluting Stent Back on Market (Aug 10) |
| Volcano Presentation At Canaccord To Be Webcast (Aug 8) |
| COMMENTARY: George Bush Gets Stent: Was It Necessary? (Aug 6) |
| Volcano Reports 2nd QTR Results; Med Revenues Up 13+% (Aug 5) |
| COMMENTARY: Recycling Health News for Google Dollars, Robot Style (Jul 20) |
| Medtronic Issues Statement on Ruling in Germany (Jul 12) |
| Abbott's XIENCE Xpedition DES Stent Approved in Japan (Jul 10) |
| INTERVIEW: Dr. Ron Caputo discusses the changing role of transradial PCI in today's healthcare environment (Jul 9) |
| COMMENTARY: Stent Wars: The Prequel (Jul 3) |
| FEATURE: Cook Medical Celebrates 50th Anniversary (Jul 1) |
| INTERVIEW: Dr. Ferdinand Kiemeneij discusses the history & future of transradial intervention (Jun 29) |
| TWENTE 2-Year Results Published: Resolute & Xience Equiv. (Jun 26) |
| Training is Key to Adoption of Transradial Approach to PCI (Jun 25) |
| "Stent-on-a-Wire" Ideal for Transradial Approach (Jun 24) |
| GUEST POST: Meta-Analysis Shows Benefit of Drug-Eluting Stents vs BMS Below the Knee (Jun 23) |
| COMMENTARY: USA Today claims stents "often unnecessary" (Jun 20) |
| Join the TransRadial Surge and Get Trained (Jun 14) |
| Wrist PCI Sees Unprecedented Growth in U.S. (Jun 10) |
| St. Jude Announces U.S. Trial for EnligHTN Renal Denervation (Jun 4) |
| Drug-Eluting Balloon One Step Closer to FDA Submission (Jun 3) |
| 3 Year Durable Outcomes for Endurant AAA Stent Graft (May 31) |
| FDA Approval for new Medtronic AAA Stent Graft and Sheath (May 30) |
| XIENCE Xpedition 48mm Stent Approved in Europe (May 26) |
| Oldest Stent Patient is Also Oldest Transradial Patient (May 25) |
| CoreValve® Gets CE Mark for Valve-In-Valve Procedures (May 23) |
| Medtronic Gains CE Mark Approval for New Thrombus Aspiration Catheter (May 23) |
| Resolute Stent: Strong 3 Yr Results in Bifurcation Lesions (May 22) |
| Volcano Announces EuroPCR Events (May 20) |
| Visit current news, and news archives |
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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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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. |
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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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