September 8, 2010 – The increased effectiveness of ticagrelor (Brilinta) in overcoming high platelet reactivity as compared to the gold-standard of clopidogrel (Plavix) was shown in data presented last week at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Stockholm.

A major issue in treating chronic total occlusions (CTOs) is the lack of angiographic visualization. The flow of blood and contrast is completely blocked, eliminating the ability to navigate the vessel or see where wires are being poked. Not being able to see what you are treating is a big reason why operators do not attempt these lesions.

Following cath lab procedures, the final step is to attain hemostasis at the arteriotomy access site. Manual compression has been the gold standard for decades, but vascular closure devices (VCDs) can speed wound closure, and hemostatic pads can help decrease clotting times. VCDs and the new dressings also accelerate patient ambulation.

Coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs) are found in about one-third of patients who undergo angiography.(1) Most of these patients are referred to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery or medical therapy because these lesions are very challenging to treat using conventional percutaneous coronary interventional (PCI) techniques.

Warren Hospital, an acute care community hospital serving Warren and Hunterdon counties in rural New Jersey, supports 214 patient beds and 140,000 outpatient visits per year.

In the aviation industry, changing from mechanical flight control systems to fly-by-wire electronic systems improved the capability and safety of airplanes. Like aviation, medicine has witnessed similar technological breakthroughs.


Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and is a major risk factor for developing emboli leading to stroke. A new approach to preventing embolisms and stroke is the use of percutaneous occlusion of the left atrial appendage (LAA).

September 7, 2010 – European CE mark approval was granted for a new Medtronic CoreValve delivery system with AccuTrak Stability Layer for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). AccuTrak allows physicians to achieve enhanced control and accuracy in the deployment of the CoreValve device.

September 7, 2010 – Enrollment started in the Endovascular Atherectomy Safety and Effectiveness (EASE) study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Phoenix Atherectomy catheter. The minimally invasive device treats peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the legs. The U.S.

September 7, 2010 – New analyses of subgroups from the SORT OUT III study provide detail on longer-term follow-up safety and efficacy outcomes in diabetics and patients with acute coronary syndrome and multiple lesions.Three new analyses of subgroups were presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) meeting last week in Stockholm.

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