November/December 2010

Digital Edition
Office-Based Ultrasound Speeds Cardiac Screening
A quick look at the current statistics sends an alarming message: The state of cardiovascular health in the United States is abysmal. With diabetes and obesity on the rise, we as physicians need to take the lead to help the U.S. population manage its increasing risk for developing cardiovascular-related disease.
PARTNER Trial Shows Excellent Outcomes For Transcatheter Aortic Valve
Transcatheter valve therapies were among the hottest topics at the 2010 Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) symposium and the key presentation was the very positive first release of data from the U.S. PARTNER trial. The trial results are widely expected to open the door to a major transition away from surgical to transcatheter aortic valve repair in the coming years.
Impella Registry Shows Significant Outcome Improvements
October 1, 2010 – The most recent clinical data from USpella, a U.S. multicenter, observational registry of patients who received percutaneous cardiac support from the Impella 2.5 device, was released at TCT 2010 last week.
Time for a New Normal in Nuclear Cardiology?
As production of molybdenum-99 returns to normal with the Canadian Chalk River Laboratories reactor back online and the supply of 99m-technetium stabilizes, the nuclear cardiology community is anxiously waiting to see if procedure volumes will rebound.
Trends in Cardiac Nuclear Imaging
Technology in the field of nuclear cardiac imaging — single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) — has been somewhat stagnant over the past decade. However, there are some recent advancements in both radiotracers and hardware that could change this field of imaging.
New Device Highlights From TCT 2010
Transcatheter valve replacement, especially transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), took center stage at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2010 symposium this fall in Washington, D.C. This highlights the fact the event has significantly evolved from an angioplasty meeting of 250 interventional cardiologists in the late 1980s.
Carroll Hospital Center Implements Integrated Cath Lab System
Tony Pinson, RTRCV, has worked at Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster, Md., for nearly 20 years. During that time, the cardiac catheterization laboratory supervisor has witnessed drastic changes at the private, nonprofit, 213-bed hospital that prides itself on providing exceptional care for patients in Carroll and surrounding counties.
Cutting Door-to-Balloon Times
When it comes to interventional cardiology, increasing diagnostic confidence and reducing exam time are paramount to improving overall patient care.
Treating Hypertension With Renal Nerve Ablation
For patients with severe hypertension that remains uncontrolled despite medical therapy, radiofrequency (RF) energy can be used in the renal vessels to block nerves involved with the sympathetic nervous system. Researchers believe this has the potential to impact the mechanical and hormonal activities of the kidneys and may eliminate the need for medical therapy.
Wireless, Implantable Monitors Offer Long-Term Surveillance
In a world where everything is unplugged and cordless is king, cardiology is constantly searching for and developing the technology to make patient care both better and more convenient.
Stent Costs Increase Use of Intravascular Imaging
During a time when the U.S. healthcare reform is on the minds of many within the medical community, physicians and hospital administrators are continuously looking for ways to cut spending. One avenue that physicians and hospitals are exploring is to limit the use of expensive medical devices, such as drug-eluting stents (DES).
Advances in Intravascular Imaging
There have only been incremental improvements in intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) over the past decade. However, three new technologies introduced in 2010, and a few more expected to enter trials or be commercialized in 2011, are pushing new frontiers. Characterizing Plaque
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Aortic stenosis (AS) is one of the most common valvular disorders in older adults, with a prevalence of approximately 8 percent at age 85 (1).