Unlike coronary occlusions that are short and small in diameter, occlusions of the superficial femoral arteries (SFAs) tend to be long and large. Nevertheless, recanalizing these occlusions can be a daunting task, and if left untreated, can lead to serious problems for the patient.
According to a paper published in the Journal of Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, “total occlusions of the femoropopliteal arteries are frequently found in patients with severe claudication or CLI [critical limb ischemia].”

In the cardiac cath lab, success is measured in part by how quickly the patient can ambulate and go home.
With the volume of diagnostic procedures on the rise, hospitals need to get patients through the lab and out the door in a timely manner, according to Paul Buckman, president of St. Jude Medical’s cardiology division. Vascular closure devices are key because, in addition to being more convenient for staff and comfortable for the patient, they allow patients to ambulate sooner than standard manual compression.


Author’s Note: EuroPCR definitely has its own flare. The meeting combined education, exhibits and divertissement.
As meetings go, EuroPCR 2006 was definitely different than meetings that take place in the U.S. Drug-eluting stents (DES) dominated the coronary sessions. To put things into perspective, each year EuroPCR organizers collect data from “high-impact” peer reviewed journals to create a booklet of randomized trials. DES made up 36 pages of this booklet.


For some people, a new life focus is waiting just around the corner.
For Jerry Brody, it was there for 30 years — he used to drive past Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland (CHRCO) (Oakland, CA) on the way to work every day as a chemical engineer for Chevron. He also took his three children to the hospital for check-ups when they were growing up.

The day our May issue went to press, April 26, the Heart Rhythm Society held a telebriefing for the media to announce release of its draft policy recommendations for pacemaker and ICD performance. Final guidelines are expected to be published in the October issue of Heart Rhythm Journal, but I believe highlighting some of Dr.

The Infinia Hawkeye 4 combines GE’s Infinia gamma camera with an optimized 4-slice CT to create a SPECT/CT system that produces 5 mm slices with better resolution in reportedly half the scan time of other SPECT/CT systems.
Integrated in the Infinia Hawkeye systems are Xeleris workstations equipped with Ignite technology, designed to enable complete scan-and-review cycle in a single click and has built-in connectivity to a PACS for better workflow.

Providing morphology, function, tissue characterization and 3D coronary anatomy in a single tool, syngo BEAT is available with the Tim (Total imaging matrix) technology application suite.

GE EXCITE systems feature HDMR (High Definition MR) technology that lets the physician easily diagnose challenging patients. The system combines HD technology with HD applications to deliver the resolution for more definitive diagnosis, the speed to image living processes and alternative scanning techniques to image without artifacts.

The Continuum MR Infusion System is now cleared for use in MR environments up to and including 3.0T, enabling clinicians to infuse medications, sedatives and other drugs while benefiting from Continuum's dose enhancements.

MEDRAD has installed 5,000 Stellant CT Injection Systems since its introduction three years ago while preparing to add several enhancements to the product.

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