CardioExchange Archive

September 1st, 2013

Is It Time to RE-ALIGN Our Thinking About Direct Thrombin Inhibitors?

Judith Andersen, AB, MD

Reflecting on the RE-ALIGN trial of dabigatran, Judith Andersen muses on the mechanisms of direct thrombin inhibitors.

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September 1st, 2013

A TASTE of Registry-Based Randomized Trials

Ole Frobert, MD, PhD and Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

Ole Fröbert discusses his study group’s registry-based randomized trial of pre-PCI thrombus aspiration in STEMI patients.

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July 31st, 2013

European Heart Guidelines Based on Disgraced Research May Have Caused Thousands of Deaths

Larry Husten, PHD

Despite a 2-year-old scandal discrediting key evidence, current guidelines relying on this evidence have not been revised. As a result of physicians following these guidelines, some researchers say, it is possible that thousands of patients may have died each year in the U.K. alone. It is unlikely that a true understanding of the damage will […]

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February 7th, 2013

Arms and the Interventionalist

Megan Coylewright, MD MPH, Michael Tempelhof, MD MSc, Micah Eimer, MD, L. David Hillis, MD, Richard A. Lange, MD, MBA and John Ryan, MD

According to an ESC consensus document published last week, radial artery access should be the “default” choice for PCI. CardioExchange’s John Ryan interviewed cardiologists and interventional cardiologists at different stages of their careers to find out how they view radial artery catheterization, and if the views differ among interventional fellows, faculty, and those in leadership roles. Dr. […]

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September 4th, 2012

ESC Trials: The Best And The Worst

Larry Husten, PHD

Larry Husten is back from ESC and discussing two trials that exemplify how medicine is supposed to work, and one that exemplifies what can go wrong, especially when commercial interests are at stake.

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August 30th, 2012

Was That an MI or Not? The Stuff of Controversy

Stewart Mann, DM (Oxon), FRCP(UK), FRACP

Stewart Mann recounts the highlights of several ESC sessions in which the Universal Definition of MI Task Force discussed the deliberations behind their latest version.

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September 1st, 2011

How Is TAVI Like a European Toaster?

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

Approval of TAVI and electric toasters is governed by the same regulatory framework in Europe, the “CE mark” — a mandatory conformity stamp for products placed on the market in the European Economic Area. Because high-tech (and low-tech) devices are approved in Europe faster than in the United States, many companies and consumers scold the FDA […]

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September 1st, 2011

Paris or Orlando? A Tale of Two Cities

Larry Husten, PHD

‘ Paris, where the European Society of Cardiology is currently holding its annual meeting, is one of the world’s great cities. Orlando is the world capitol of medical meetings. Here are just a few of the differences. (Thanks as indicated for the suggestions.) Paris has a bewildering variety of long-distance trains, commuter trains, and subways. In […]

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August 31st, 2011

TAVI—When Will It Come to an Operating Theater Near Me?

Stephen Fleet, MD

At the ESC meeting in Paris, Gerhard Schuler from Leipzig reviewed the current indications for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). TAVI is considered appropriate for: Inoperable patients with severe aortic stenosis with a baseline 1-year mortality risk of 50%.  Patients with severe aortic stenosis and a surgical risk of greater than 15%. Valve-in-valve implantation for degenerated bioprosthetic […]

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August 30th, 2011

Intra-Aortic Balloon Counterpulsation (IABP) Burned to a CRISP

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

Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) is a bust in AMI patients without cardiogenic shock, according to the Counterpulsation to Reduce Infarct Size Pre-PCI Acute Myocardial Infarction (CRISP AMI) trial. This open-label, 30-center, randomized, controlled trial was performed to determine if a routine strategy of IABP before primary PCI (and continued for at least 12 hours afterward) would […]

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