CardioExchange Archive

April 6th, 2011

ACC Will Eliminate Current Model of Satellite Symposia at Future Meetings

Larry Husten, PHD

The ACC announced yesterday that it plans to eliminate the current model of satellite symposia at future meetings. The decision “was prompted in part by ongoing concerns about real and/or perceived bias in interactions with industry, specifically related to non-independence of certified satellite symposia.” The ACC has not worked out the details of the new plan, […]

---

April 5th, 2011

MAGELLAN: Higher Bleeding Rates Cloud Rivaroxaban’s Effect in VTE Prevention in Acutely Ill Medical Patients

Larry Husten, PHD

The novel anticoagulant rivaroxaban is successful in preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in acutely ill medical patients, but a high bleeding rate means the drug probably won’t be used for this indication. Alexander Cohen, presenting the results of the MAGELLAN trial at the ACC in New Orleans, explained by way of background that 50% to 70% […]

---

April 5th, 2011

RIVAL Trial Tests Radial Versus Femoral Access

Larry Husten, PHD

Radial access for angiography has gained increasing acceptance in recent years based on the promise of reduced complications and increased patient comfort. At the ACC, and in a simultaneous publication in the Lancet, Sanjit Jolly and colleagues presented the results from RIVAL, the largest trial to date comparing radial versus femoral access. Some 7021 ACS patients […]

---

April 4th, 2011

PRECOMBAT Explores PCI Versus CABG for Left Main Disease

Larry Husten, PHD

In the PRECOMBAT trial, Korean investigators randomized 600 patients with unprotected left main disease to either PCI with a sirolimus-eluting stent or CABG. The results were presented at the ACC and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine. At 1 year, the incidence of the primary composite endpoint – death from any cause, MI, […]

---

April 4th, 2011

STICH Illuminates CABG in Heart Failure, Finally

Larry Husten, PHD

After a very long wait, the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) trial has finally shed light on the common but poorly understood use of CABG in heart failure patients with ischemic heart disease. The results were presented by Eric Velazquez at the ACC and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine. Some […]

---

April 4th, 2011

MitraClip Compared with Surgery in EVEREST II

Larry Husten, PHD

The final results of the highly anticipated  EVEREST (Endovascular Valve Edge-to-Repair Study) II  were presented by Ted Feldman at the ACC Scientific Sessions in New Orleans and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine. Some 279 patients with moderately severe or severe mitral regurgitation (MR) were randomized on a 2:1 basis to either […]

---

April 3rd, 2011

2-Year Outcomes of the RESOLUTE All Comers Trial

Larry Husten, PHD

The Resolute zotarolimus-eluting stent (ZES) is now starting to demonstrate good long-term results. At an interventional featured clinical study session at the ACC in New Orleans and in a simultaneous publication in the Lancet, Sigmund Silber and colleagues presented the 2-year findings of the RESOLUTE All Comers trial comparing the ZES with the Xience V […]

---

April 3rd, 2011

PARTNER B Substudy Examines Cost-Effectiveness of TAVI

Larry Husten, PHD

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is about as cost-effective as other common cardiovascular procedures, according to results of the PARTNER B cost-effectiveness substudy, which were presented today at the American College of Cardiology meeting in New Orleans. (The main results of PARTNER B, which studied the safety and efficacy of TAVI in patients with severe […]

---

April 3rd, 2011

PARTNER A: TAVI Noninferior to Surgery, but Stroke Might Be a Problem

Larry Husten, PHD

Here are the main results of the much anticipated PARTNER A trial comparing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) versus surgery for aortic valve replacement (AVR). They were presented this morning in New Orleans at the ACC. Some 699 high-risk older patients with severe aortic stenosis were randomized to either TAVI or AVR.  The primary endpoint, all-cause […]

---

March 30th, 2011

FDA Warns Against Repackaging Dabigatran

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA has issued a safety communication regarding dabigatran (Pradaxa). Because the drug is subject to product breakdown and loss of potency due to moisture, the FDA recommends that it should be dispensed and stored in its original packaging and that consumers avoid using pill boxes or pill organizers with it. Pradaxa is supplied as either […]

---