TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular News Stories for 2014
The most popular news stories of 2014 on TCTMD reflect the constant evolution of interventional cardiology. In addition to showing results of novel devices, the articles provide insight into areas as diverse as complete revascularization, best practices for PCI and valvular heart disease, medical therapy, and radiation safety.
Below are the 10 most-read stories from the past year in descending order.
1. CvLPRIT: Complete Revascularization Halves MACE Risk in STEMI Patients
BARCELONA, Spain—Patients with STEMI who undergo PCI in all blocked arteries have much better outcomes than those whose treatment focused solely on the culprit lesion, according to data from the CvLPRIT trial released September 1, 2014, at the European Society of Cardiology Congress. Importantly, the difference becomes apparent within the first month, indicating that staged PCI could be risky, the trial’s researchers reported. (Read more…)
2. SCAI Contributes List of Top 5 Interventional Cardiology Procedures to Avoid
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions has created a list of 5 tests and treatments that should be avoided in patients with cardiovascular disease. The list, released in a statement on March 31, 2014, was developed as part of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation’s Choosing Wisely initiative. (Read more…)
3. Bioresorbable Scaffold Performs Well, But Thrombosis Raises Concerns
PCI with an everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold results in an “acceptable” rate of target lesion failure through 6 months in a relatively unselected patient population, according to a registry study published online July 18, 2014, ahead of print in EuroIntervention. The rate of scaffold thrombosis, however, was higher than rates seen with second-generation DES in other studies. (Read more…)
4. HEAT PPCI: Results Favoring Heparin Over Bivalirudin Raise Scientific, Ethical Issues
WASHINGTON, DC—In addition to causing a stir by demonstrating worse outcomes with bivalirudin than heparin in patients with STEMI, the HEAT PPCI trial created controversy over ethical concerns and a peculiar “delayed” informed consent policy. Results were presented March 31, 2014, at the annual American College of Cardiology/i2 Scientific Session. (Read more…)
5. Meta-analysis: No Need for Thienopyridine Loading Dose in NSTE-ACS Patients
Thienopyridine pretreatment in patients with NSTE-ACS fails to reduce mortality and leads to an excess of major bleeding, reports a meta-analysis published online October 24, 2014, ahead of print in BMJ. Results are consistent regardless of whether patients ultimately undergo PCI, researchers say, suggesting that routine pretreatment in NSTE-ACS patients is unjustified. (Read more…)
6. Drug-Eluting Balloon Fails for Below-the-Knee Lesions in Critical Limb Ischemia Patients
In patients with critical limb ischemia, below-the-knee revascularization with a drug-coated balloon (DCB) is as effective as standard balloon angioplasty, although DCB use is linked with a nominally higher amputation rate, according to a study published in the October 14, 2014, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Because the IN.PACT Amphirion paclitaxel-coated balloon (Medtronic) failed to show superiority over angioplasty, the sponsor decided to withdraw the device from the market, researchers say. (Read more…)
7. Simple Measures Can Reduce Radiation to Patients, Operators in Cath Lab
Institution of fairly simple radiation-reduction measures in the cath lab can have considerable impact on the radiation exposure of patients and lab personnel during angiography, according to a single-center report published online August 5, 2014, in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions. (Read more…)
8. New Valvular Heart Disease Guidelines Integrate Catheter-Based Interventions
New guidelines for the management of patients with valvular heart disease provide updated definitions of disease severity and incorporate recommendations on the use of catheter-based interventions. The guidelines, issued jointly by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association on March 3, 2014, had not been updated since 2008. (Read more…)
9. ISAR-SAFE: Another Randomized Trial Finds 6 Months of DAPT as Good as 12 Months
CHICAGO, IL—Data from a large randomized trial suggest that 6 months of dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel is noninferior to 12 months of the therapy after DES implantation. Results of ISAR-SAFE were presented November 16, 2014, at the AHA Scientific Sessions. (Read more…)
10. New PCI Performance Measures Issued to Improve Quality of Care
A consortium of professional organizations has developed new performance measures to benchmark and improve the quality of PCI in the ambulatory and inpatient settings. The document was published online December 19, 2013, ahead of print in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Circulation. (Read more…)
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Caitlin E. Cox is News Editor of TCTMD and Associate Director, Editorial Content at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. She produces the…
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