TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular News Stories for 2013

The most popular news stories that appeared on TCTMD in 2013 provide a snapshot of the year in interventional cardiology with a strong focus on emerging device-based therapies and adjunctive antiplatelet agents. Below are the 10 most read stories from the past year in descending order. Interestingly, two of the three most popular stories both involved the proper technique for recanalizing bifurcation lesions.

1. From JACC: CV Interventions: Novel Stenting Technique Shows Promise for ‘True’ Bifurcation Lesions

For patients with bifurcation lesions, the new dual-stent modified “flower petal” technique offers several advantages over available stenting options, including complete coverage of the side branch ostium, according to a small single-center study published in the May 2013 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. The novel strategy has also shown good procedural and early clinical outcomes. (Read more…)

2. From JACC: Meta-analysis: Manual, Not Mechanical, Thrombectomy Holds Advantages Over PCI

Performing manual aspiration thrombectomy during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including mortality, but the same benefit is not seen with mechanical thrombectomy, according to a large meta-analysis scheduled to be published online May 7, 2013, ahead of print in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. (Read more…)

3. From JACC: Nordic Bifurcation Study at 5 Years: Stick to Simple Stenting Strategy

Most bifurcation lesions are best treated with a simple, 1-stent strategy, with operators adding a second stent for the side branch only when necessary. A more complex, mandatory 2-stent strategy does not improve safety or efficacy, according to 5-year follow-up from the Nordic Bifurcation Study scheduled to be published online April 30, 2013, ahead of print in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. (Read more…)

4. From EuroPCR 2013: ORBIT II: Atherectomy System Shows Positive Results in Calcified Lesions

PARIS, France—A novel atherectomy system designed to clear away hard plaque components may improve outcomes for patients with severely calcified coronary lesions compared with historical controls, according to findings presented Thursday, May 23 at EuroPCR 2013. (Read more…)

5. From EuroPCR 2013: Side Branch Dilatation Helpful Before T-Stenting of Bifurcation Lesions

PARIS, France—In treating patients with true bifurcation lesions, predilatation of the side branch before provisional T-stenting improves coronary blood flow and has no adverse consequences, according to findings of a randomized trial presented Thursday, May 23 at EuroPCR 2013. (Read more…)

6. From European Heart Journal: Imaging Detects Vascular Injury Arising from Catheter-Based Renal Denervation

Patients who undergo percutaneous renal nerve ablation for treatment-resistant hypertension show signs of endothelial and vascular injury on optical coherence tomography (OCT), according to a paper published online April 25, 2013, ahead of print in the European Heart Journal. (Read more…)

7. From EuroPCR 2013: RIPCORD Study: FFR Results Change Path of Patient Management

PARIS, France—Routine assessment of fractional flow reserve (FFR) at the time of diagnostic angiography could change the course of treatment for more than a quarter of patients with stable angina, according to findings presented Thursday, May 23 at EuroPCR 2013. (Read more…)

8. From ACC, AHA, SCAI: ACC/AHA/SCAI Statement: Volume Not the Sole Arbiter of Quality PCI

Newly updated recommendations from the American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) assert that operator volume is only one of many benchmarks that should be used to evaluate the quality of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The joint statement was released at the SCAI annual meeting in Orlando, FL, and published online May 8, 2013, ahead of print in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Circulation, and Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions. (Read more…)

9. From European Heart Journal: Apixaban Superior to Warfarin Regardless of A-fib Type, Duration

In patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (A-fib), the novel anticoagulant apixaban shows the same efficacy and safety advantages over warfarin regardless of the duration or type of the condition. However, absolute stroke risk is higher in patients with persistent or permanent  A-fib compared with the paroxysmal form of the condition. (Read more…)

10: From JACC: NEXT Published: Biodegradable Polymer BES Shows Noninferiority to EES

A novel biolimus A9-eluting stent (BES) with a biodegradable polymer appears clinically and angiographically noninferior to a current generation everolimus-eluting stent (EES), according to results of the randomized NEXT trial scheduled to be published online May 7, 2013, ahead of print in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. (Read more…)

 


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Jason R. Kahn, the former News Editor of TCTMD, worked at CRF for 11 years until his death in 2014…

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