CardioExchange Archive

March 18th, 2013

Vena Cava Filters: Little Evidence and Wide Variation in Use

Larry Husten, PHD

Despite the absence of any evidence demonstrating benefit or showing how best to use them, vena cava filters (VCF) are used in most hospitals. Now a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that this same lack of evidence results in an extremely broad rate of use in different hospitals. An accompanying viewpoint raises the […]

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March 11th, 2013

Two Trials Explore On-Pump Versus Off-Pump Bypass Surgery

Larry Husten, PHD

For more of our ACC.13 coverage of late-breaking clinical trials, interviews with the authors of the most important research, and blogs from our fellows on the most interesting presentations at the meeting, check out our Coverage Headquarters. Two large trials presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting in San Francisco and published simultaneously in the New […]

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March 11th, 2013

Hoping for Good Data from Partner II B: Blogging from ACC.13

Megan Coylewright, MD MPH

Walking the walk on TAVR

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February 22nd, 2013

SYNTAX After 5 Years: Any Change in Results (or Your Practice)?

Richard A. Lange, MD, MBA and L. David Hillis, MD

The 5 year results of the SYNTAX (SYNergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with TAXus and cardiac surgery) trial are now published.  SYNTAX assessed the optimal revascularization strategy for patients with left main and/or 3-vessel disease by randomly assigning such patients to CABG or PCI (with a first-generation paclitaxel-eluting stent) and then determining the rate of […]

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February 20th, 2013

Small Study Explores Expanded Use for TAVI in Native Valve Aortic Regurgitation

Larry Husten, PHD

As transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) gains increasing acceptance, cardiologists and surgeons are exploring additional patient populations who may benefit from the procedure. A new paper in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology provides the first look at the use of TAVI in the small but important group of patients with pure, severe native aortic […]

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February 12th, 2013

ACC and STS Break New Ground to Test TAVR for Unapproved Uses

Larry Husten, PHD

In a startling break with tradition, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) will manage and run their own clinical trials testing expanded uses for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The two medical groups have recently been granted an investigational device exemption (IDE) by the FDA for one such […]

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January 22nd, 2013

Trials of Niacin and AF Device Will Headline American College of Cardiology Program

Larry Husten, PHD

Two big trials will highlight this year’s American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting in March in San Francisco. First is the PREVAIL trial testing Boston Scientific’s long-anticipated Watchman left atrial appendage closure device for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Second is the detailed presentation of the controversial failed HPS2-THRIVE trial of extended-release niacin and laropiprant. The […]

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January 8th, 2013

Early Results: Antiplatelet Drug Cangrelor Superior to Clopidogrel in PCI Patients at 48 Hours

Larry Husten, PHD

The experimental antiplatelet drug cangrelor was superior to traditional clopidogrel in reducing ischemic events at 48 hours in PCI patients, according to the Medicines Company, which is developing the drug. The company today announced positive results from the phase 3 CHAMPION PHOENIX trial, a randomized, double-blind study comparing intravenous cangrelor to oral clopidogrel in PCI patients. The […]

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January 2nd, 2013

CABG Highly Cost-Effective in Diabetics with Multivessel Disease

Larry Husten, PHD

In November the main results of the FREEDOM trial showed that diabetics with multivessel disease do better with CABG than PCI. Now the findings of the trial’s cost-effectiveness study, published online in Circulation, demonstrate that CABG is also highly cost-effective when compared with PCI. Elizabeth Magnuson and colleagues  found that although CABG initially cost nearly $9000 more than PCI ($34,467 […]

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December 19th, 2012

Pradaxa To Be Contraindicated in Patients with Mechanical Heart Valves

Larry Husten, PHD

Boehringer Ingelheim is starting to inform physicians about a new contraindication for its oral anticoagulant drug Pradaxa (dabigatran). The company has told investigators in trials utilizing dabigatran that it will shortly be sending a “Dear Doctor Letter,” also known as a Direct Healthcare Professional Communication (DHPC), to healthcare professionals. The letter will inform physicians that, […]

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