CardioExchange Archive

January 30th, 2012

Very Large Observational Study Finds Significant Mortality Advantage for CABG Over PCI in High-Risk Patients

Larry Husten, PHD

Although PCI has a small, early mortality benefit compared to CABG in high-risk patients, after the first year a striking survival advantage for CABG develops, according to results of the ASCERT study, presented on Monday at the annual meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). Fred Edwards presented the high-risk subset of ASCERT (ACCF-STS Database Collaboration […]

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January 23rd, 2012

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Weekly Review: Week of January 23rd

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include bridging antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing CABG, cognitive and neurologic outcomes after CABG, using IV beta-adrenergic agonists
during acute respiratory distress syndrome, and pulmonary embolism risk in those admitted to the hospital for an auto-immune disorder.

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January 17th, 2012

Cangrelor Proposed as Bridge to Surgery

Larry Husten, PHD

As a potent and reversible platelet inhibitor, cangrelor has been proposed for use in a bridging strategy for patients scheduled for surgery who are currently taking clopidogrel or another thienopyridine. To test this strategy, the BRIDGE investigators randomized 210 ACS or stent patients awaiting CABG and taking a thienopyridine to receive either cangrelor or placebo for at […]

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December 15th, 2011

PCI and On-Site CABG: Out of Site, Out of Mind?

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

According to a recent meta-analysis of studies in patients undergoing PCI, rates of in-hospital mortality and emergency CABG for primary and non-primary PCI were similar at centers with and without on-site surgery.  At least, that’s the story the press is spreading around. However, several caveats should be noted . . . 1. The study included patients undergoing […]

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May 3rd, 2011

CABG Takes the Brunt of Decline in Revascularization Procedures

Larry Husten, PHD

In recent years, the overall revascularization rate in the U.S. has declined only slightly, but CABG rates have taken the brunt of the change, while PCI rates have remained relatively stable, according to a new study by Andrew Epstein and colleagues published in JAMA. The researchers found that from 2001-2002 to 2007-2008: The annual rate of revascularization […]

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April 7th, 2011

STICH: What’s the Value of CABG in Patients with LV Dysfunction?

Eric Jose Velazquez, MD

CardioExchange welcomes Eric J. Velazquez, an investigator for the STICH (Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure) trial, results of which were recently published in two articles in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Velazquez is the lead author of the STICH article that focuses on the clinical value of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) […]

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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 […]

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March 30th, 2011

ACC Preview: A STICH in Time

Eric Jose Velazquez, MD

Eric Velazquez is the principal investigator of the STICH (Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure) trial. He will present the main results of the trial at the Late’Breaking Clinical Trials II session on Monday morning. Velazquez relates the origins of STICH more than a decade ago and discusses some of the fascinating challenges of completing […]

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March 16th, 2011

CABG vs. PCI for Angina Relief: Lessons from SYNTAX

David Cohen, MD MSc

CardioExchange welcomes David J. Cohen, Director of Cardiovascular Research at St. Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Missouri, to discuss the latest analysis from the SYNTAX randomized trial. The study has just been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and Dr. Cohen is the lead author. Questions to Dr. Cohen come […]

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February 8th, 2011

Biomarker Levels Post-CABG Strongly Linked to Mortality

Larry Husten, PHD

Creatine kinase (CK-MB) and troponin levels obtained in the first day after CABG are a strong predictor of long-term mortality, according to a new report appearing in JAMA. Michael Domanski and colleagues analyzed data from 7 studies that included 18,908 patients who underwent CABG and for whom data on biomarkers and mortality were available. Mortality was […]

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