The diabetic patient is at high risk for coronary artery disease. Incidence as well as severity of the disease is highly increased in comparison to non-diabetic patients. The revascularization of the diabetic patient is a great challenge, since the longterm results are disappointing when compared to non-diabetic patients.

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The objective of this analysis is to answer the two questions: what clinically relevant data regarding DES have been published, and is there a clinically relevant difference between the Cypher and the Taxus stents? Twenty-two randomized, controlled studies with a total of 11,118 patients were identified: 18 randomized studies compared a DES to a bare metal stent of identical design in 8,301 patients, and 4 randomized studies compared the Cypher and the Taxus stents in 2,817 patients. Three studies regarding Paclitaxel-releasing stents without polymer (1,235 pats) and five studies regarding Paclitaxel released from a polymer (3,513 pats) were analyzed.

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 Cordis Corporation announced plans to develop a world-class global cardiac and vascular institute that will provide physicians and other health care providers with educational and clinical resources designed to help advance the understanding and treatment of a broad range of cardiac and vascular conditions, including coronary artery disease and stroke. The institute will also enhance knowledge around the management of congestive heart failure, adult cell therapy and advanced cardiac imaging, mapping and ablation.

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A case of acute pleuropericarditis, which occurred after apparently successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion of the right coronary artery, is reported.

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Guidant said its first-quarter sales dropped 6 percent from last year, and it expects to record more than $120 million in charges for the quarter. Guidant has suffered sliding sales because of product recalls and news that the company withheld information about the faulty devices.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term clinical and angiographic profile of sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) versus paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) in patients undergoing percutaneous intervention for left main (LM) coronary disease.

Pubmed

Two-year follow-up angiography was performed in 52 patients with patent irradiated segments at 6 months after β-radiation with a rhenium 188–mercaptoacetyltriglycine–filled balloon for diffuse in-stent restenosis. We evaluated late recurrence (LR) and its predictors after β-radiation.

Abstract

Severe stenosis of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) is a coronary artery-disease manifestation of critical prognostic importance. As a consequence of the survival advantage conferred by coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) over medical therapy, lesions in the LMCA have been considered a standard indication for CABG for nearly 3 decades.

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Direct comparison of low–molecular-weight heparin, dalteparin, with unfractionated heparin (UFH) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is limited. This study examined the relative effects of dalteparin and UFH on coagulation and angiographic and clinical indices during PCI.

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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 (1) to determine the suitability of MRI-controlled PTA using the iron oxide-based contrast medium Resovist (ferucarbotran) for catheter visualization and (2) to subsequently apply this technique in a pilot study with patients with CoA.

Abstract

Surgical creation of new anastomosis has been proposed as the preferred treatment for perianastomotic stenoses of fistulae. Seventy-three consecutive patients undergoing 112 PTA procedures for the treatment of perianastomotic lesions were studied.

Abstract

Fewer than half of patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) are treated within guideline-recommended door-to-balloon times; however, little information is available about the approaches used by hospitals that have been successful in improving door-to-balloon times to meet guidelines. We sought to characterize experiences of hospitals with outstanding improvement in door-to-balloon time during 1999-2002.

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Guidant Corp. won’t sell its stock of Xience V drug-coated stents because some of the products failed to meet the company’s manufacturing standards, the medical device maker said Wednesday.

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The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) will be host to approximately 5,000 medical specialists from around the world when the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) holds its 31st Annual Scientific Meeting in Toronto March 30 to April 4, 2006. This is the first time the meeting has been held at an international venue.

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Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX – News) welcomed recent results from studies presented at the annual American College of Cardiology Scientific Session in Atlanta, March 11- 14. Several clinical trials and registries offered data that indicated a positive numerical trend in the performance of the TAXUS® Express2(TM) paclitaxel-eluting stent system when used in complex patients. Studies ranged from larger, real-world registries to smaller clinical trials and compared the TAXUS Express2 stent system to bare-metal stent control groups and to competitive drug-eluting stent systems.

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