CardioExchange Archive

CardioExchange, an NEJM practice community for medical professionals dedicated to improving cardiac patient care, was active from 2009 to 2015. CardioExchange fostered discussion between clinicians from across the globe.

January 3rd, 2012

A Look Back at 2011

CardioExchange invited several members and participants to give us a list of what they consider the top three most important developments in cardiology in 2011.  The same CardioExchange members offer predictions for 2012, which you can view here. Also, for comparison, check out last year’s predictions for 2011 to see which came to fruition.
What would your choices have been? Any sins of inclusion or exclusion here in your opinion? Join the conversations.
Steven E Nissen, MD
1. Approval by FDA of the transcutaneous aortic valve implantation (TAVI) device
2. Unprecedented reversal of the FDA approval of Plan B for OTC sale by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
3. Generic availability of atorvastatin, the world’s largest selling drug
Richard A. Lange, MD, MBA and L. David Hillis, MD
1. PARTNER A Trial (Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with aortic stenosis considered to be at high risk for surgical valve replacement)
2. GRAVITAS trial (Standard- vs. High-Dose Clopidogrel Based on Platelet Function Testing After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention)
3. ISAR-REACT 4 trial (Abciximab and Heparin vs. Bivalirudin for Non–ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction)
Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH
1. ARISTOTLE trial (Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation)
2. ATLAS ACS 2–TIMI 51 trial (Anti-Xa Therapy to Lower Cardiovascular Events in Addition to Standard Therapy in Subjects with Acute Coronary Syndrome–Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 51)
3. ROCKET-AF trial (Rivaroxaban Once Daily Oral Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared with Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation)
James De Lemos, MD
1. AIM-HIGH trial signals the beginning of the end for niacin
2. PARTNER A trial shows that TAVI is a reasonable alternative to surgical AVR
3. ROCKET AF and ARISTOTLE trials usher in the era of oral Factor Xa inhibitors for anticoagulation in AF
John Mandrola, MD
1. ROCKET-AF and ARISTOTLE showed convincingly that millions of AF patients will soon have three effective, safe, and convenient non-warfarin choices for preventing stroke.
2. The AIM-HIGH trial showed that adding niacin to statins in high-risk patients did not improve outcomes. This highlights the notion that pills that influence biomarkers often do not change the disease.
3. The enhanced scrutiny of coronary stents and “appropriateness criteria” for imaging procedures in 2011 has changed clinical cardiology — for the better. In 2011, thinking has re-emerged. Though cynics and negative-thinkers see tightening measures as purely cost-savers and covert rationing (and they may be right), a more optimistic view holds that these measures are fostering a return to clinical judgment. And this is cause for celebration.
John Ryan, MD
1. National improvement in door-to-balloon time to a median of 64 minutes (down from 96 minutes in2005)
2. AHA hands-only CPR
3. More questions being asked about the benefit of CRT in patients with a QRS of <150 msec, although a definitive RCT still awaits

Vote Tally

Votes Topic
 3  ARISTOTLE trial
 3  ROCKET AF trial
 2  AIM-HIGH trial
 2  PARTNER A trial
 1  GRAVITAS trial
 1  Generic Atorvastatin
 1  FDA approval of TAVI
 1  Sebelius reverses FDA approval of OTC Plan B
 1  ISAR-REACT 4 trial
 1  ACS 2–TIMI 51 trial
 1  Appropriateness Criteria
 1  AHA hands-only CPR
 1  Questions about the benefit of CRT in patients with a QRS of <150 msec

 

Categories: General


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