The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current medical literature pertaining to cardiovascular (CV) risk reduction and vascular event prevention in the setting of PCI, with emphasis on antiplatelet therapies, β-blockers, HMG-Co A reductase inhibitors (statins) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, with regard to therapy optimization during PCI and for chronic CAD.

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Background–MRI guidance of percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) of aortic coarctation (CoA) would be desirable for continuous visualization of anatomy and to eliminate x-ray exposure. The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of MRI-controlled PTA using the iron oxide-based contrast medium Resovist (ferucarbotran) for catheter visualization and to subsequently apply this technique in a pilot study with patients with CoA.

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A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (ACC/AHA/SCAI Writing Committee to Update the 2001 Guidelines for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention)

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Сonor Medsystems Inc. on Friday said a UK court invalidated a patent held by Canada’s Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc. for a drug licensed to Boston Scientific Corp. to make its popular heart stents.

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Use of coronary stents that release the drugs sirolimus or paclitaxel produced similar results in patients with new coronary artery lesions, according to a study in the February 22 issue of JAMA.

Stents that release sirolimus or paclitaxel have been known to be more effective than bare metal stents in improving angiographic (examination of the blood vessels using x-rays) and clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary revascularization (procedures such as angioplasty in which a catheter-guided balloon is used to open a narrowed coronary artery). These drugs are effective after these procedures because they inhibit the growth of cells in blood vessels. It has not been clear if one drug-releasing stent is more effective than another, according to background information in the article.

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Depression is common in cardiac patients and has been associated with adverse clinical outcome. However, little is known about predictors of the onset of depressive symptoms. Authots examined predictors of the onset of depressive symptoms at 12 months post–percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients treated in the drug-eluting stent era.

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Ev3 Inc. announced the FDA 510(k) clearance of the SpideRX Embolic Protection Device for use in carotid artery stenting applications. ev3 is prepared to release the product immediately for commercial sale.

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by Ron Waksman, MD published in The Journal of Invasive Cariology

Despite the development and progression of metallic stents, many concerns still remain because of their permanent nature. Although metallic stents are effective in preventing recoil and late restenosis after coronary angioplasty, they continue to have limitations such as stent thrombosis and mismatch of the stent to the vessel size. Thus, the concept of bioabsorbable stents has emerged as an alternative to permanent metal stents. This review will outline concepts, material designs, preclinical, and initial clinical experimental studies with bioabsorbable stents.

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I had troubles with my home computer. Now I guess everything Ok. I’ll plan resume update site in next two days.

Objectives: Indications for the use of stents are evolving and their optimal place in therapy remains to be defined. The objective was to compare the 1-year clinical and economic outcomes of percutaneous transluminal coronary agioplasty (PTCA) with and without the use of stents.

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Review by Patrick W. Serruys, M.D., Ph.D., Michael J.B. Kutryk, M.D., Ph.D., and Andrew T.L. Ong, M.B., B.S.

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Lithuanian interventional cardiologists in 2000-2002 annually performed respectively 1535, 1666 and 2085 coronary angiographies, 500, 532 and 632 PTCA, 120, 133 and 193 stenting procedures per 1000000 inhabitants.

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The aim of our investigation was to prospectively measure the patient radiation exposure from different cardiological procedures performed in the Catheterisation laboratory of the University Hospital Gasthuisberg in Leuven.

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Biodegradable coatings using polyesters, namely poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and different poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PVA-g-PLGA) as paclitaxel-eluting stent coating materials were investigated here to evaluate their influence on the release kinetic. Morphology of coated stents, and film integrity after expansion from 3.12 to 5 mm was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

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In randomized trials in which they are compared with BMS, economic evaluation is advantageous for DES, with good cost-effectiveness ratios for both cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) and cost per revascularization avoided.

PubMed abstract