August 30, 2012 — An ultra-fast, 320-detector computed tomography (CT) scanner can accurately sort out which people with chest pain need – or don’t need – an invasive procedure such as cardiac angioplasty or bypass surgery to restore blood flow to the heart, according to an international study.

An extracted bovine artery with an arteriotomy sealed by a MynxGrip closure dev

Vascular closure devices that use an active method to immediately seal the femoral access site can enable faster patient ambulation, reduce nursing time and speed discharge. However, one of the biggest issues interventionalists have with active vascular closure devices is the use of a permanent piece of hardware to stitch or clip the arteriotomy closed. Three companies now offer fully bioresorbable, active vascular closure devices, including a recent release earlier this year.
The implementation of dedicated access site surveillance and educational program

The implementation of dedicated access site surveillance and educational programs, in tandem with pre-existent strategies to reduce access site complications, can reduce the overall incidence of femoral access-related bleeding events.

Cardiac computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 


Cardiac computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), echocardiography and nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging each offer advantages and disadvantages, and frequently at least two of these tests are required to get the full picture of a patient’s cardiac health.  However, in this age of cutting healthcare costs, declining reimbursements and improving efficiency, it would be advantageous to have a single gold standard exam. Technology advances are now making that possibility. 

 
McKesson Cardiology, CVIS, cardiovascular information system, cardiac PACS, ep reporting system

The biggest issue in electrophysiology (EP) is the disparate nature of patient tests, reports, images and waveforms, and the need to aggregate all this data in one place to more efficiently care for patients with arrhythmias. This is especially true as the need to meet government-required meaningful use criteria for electronic medical records (EMRs) pushes forward and healthcare reform necessitates a deeper data integration. 

As vendors develop, and hospitals shop for, electrophysiology (EP) information and reporting systems, there are several considerations that will contribute to the efficiency and longevity of these systems. 

August 29, 2012 — A new, daytime teleradiology company targeting urgent care, independent diagnostic testing facilities (IDTFs), mobile medical and physician offices is now serving clients in 10 states, is licensed in 20 and plans to expand with the growth of its customers. Teleradiology Specialists keeps overhead costs low and extends the savings to every customer while employing highly qualified radiologists who are available to read a wide variety of studies all day.
Use of transradial access for PCI can increase radiation exposure.
Percentage of radial access studies that look at patient radiation dose.
Summary of radiation exposure associated with transradial access.

Recently, concerns have been raised that transradial (TR) cardiac catheterization significantly increases radiation exposure when compared with the conventional transfemoral (TF) approach. The current rapid uptake of TR in the United States is mainly due to its economic benefits and overall favorable patient outcomes. Perhaps most importantly, TR provides a measurable reduction in vascular complications, which translates to shorter time for ambulation and post-procedural stay. The reduction in bleeding with TR likely lowers mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). One potential reason for the slow adoption of TR may be the perceived concern about increased radiation exposure.
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