The recent publication of several reports on risk of cataract, left sided brain tumors, subclinical atherosclerosis and chromosome damage among interventional cardiologists has raised increasing concerns about radiation exposure in the cath lab. Recognizing these risks has created a demand of these new forms of protection. Unfortunately, these have mainly been focused on the main operator,…
Important Study Detects Radiation-Induced DNA Damage in Operators After an Endovascular Procedure
In recent years, we have seen (both as witnesses and actors) an exponential increase in the number of fluoroscopically-guided cardiovascular interventions carried out by interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, and vascular surgeons. Not long ago, most pathologies treated with these procedures were the exclusive domain of open surgery. Now, a large number of patients can be treated…
TCT 2017 | PREVAIL: Final Outcomes of the Watchman Device
Courtesy of SBHCI. The final 5-year outcomes of the PROTECT AF and PREVAIL studies (which assessed the left atrial appendage closure device Watchman) continues to show similar stroke prevention rate to that of warfarin, though with a clear reduction in bleeding. The meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in hemorrhagic stroke (0.17% vs 0.87%), non-procedure related…
Effects of Cerebral Radiation on Interventional Cardiologists
In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the occupational hazard for interventional cardiologists who have high and unprecedented levels of ionizing radiation exposure. microRNAs are a class of short and highly conserved non-coding RNA molecules (about 22 nucleotides) that become altered (dysregulated) in many diseases. Read also: “Nearly half of interventional cardiologists may…
CLOSE Trial: Patients with PFO with high flow or associated with interatrial septal aneurysm receiving closure device experience lower rates of recurrent stroke
Several cases have shown an association between patent foramen ovale and cryptogenic shock, particularly in patients under 55 and in those with atrial septal aneurysm or a significant right-to-left shunt. Using PFO closure for stroke prevention has been controversial and, so far, no randomized studies have shown the superiority of this strategy compared to anti-thrombotic…
REDUCE Trial: Patients with PFO and cryptogenic stroke at lower risk of recurrent stoke when treated with APT and closure device
Courtesy of Dr. José Álvarez. This is a multicenter randomized study on patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) and a first episode of cryptogenic stroke. It only included patients with moderate to large shunt based on the number of bubbles observed in the left atrium within the first three beats after being noticed in the…
Long-term results of the RESPECT study favor closure with the Amplatzer device
Courtesy of Dr. José Álvarez. The RESPECT trial is a multicenter randomized trial with blinded adjudication of end-point events. It randomly assigned patients from 18 to 60 years of age who had a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and a history of cryptogenic ischemic stroke to undergo closure of the PFO with the Amplatzer device plus medical…
SOLACI CACI 2017 | Closure of patent ductusarteriosus in premature babies: fact or fiction?
Read articles on the main presentations of the third day of SOLACI-CACI 2017 Congress. See the presentation by Dr. David Nykanen, entitled “Closure of patent ductusarteriosus in premature babies: fact or fiction?”. We are interested in your opinion. Please, leave your comments, thoughts, questions, etc., below. They will be most welcome.
SOLACI CACI 2017 | New devices for Acute Hemodynamic Support
Read articles on the main presentations of the third day of SOLACI-CACI 2017 Congress. See the presentation by Dr. Alejandro Barbagelata, entitled “New devices for Acute Hemodynamic Support”. We are interested in your opinion. Please, leave your comments, thoughts, questions, etc., below. They will be most welcome.
Nearly half of interventional cardiologists may have pre-cataract lesions
This statement is based on eye exams conducted during the last SCAI meeting (Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions), where 47% of evaluated operators had radiation related lesions in their crystalline. In time, these might turn into cataract. Studies on astronauts and Chernobyl survivors have shown a clear association between ionizing radiation and crystalline damage,…
Left Atrial Appendage Closure: Effective to Reduce Risk of Stroke?
Original Title: Effectiveness of Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion Procedures to Reduce the Risk of Stroke: A Systematic Review of the Evidence. Reference: North Noelck et al. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. July 2016. Published ahead of print. Atrial fibrillation is an important cause of stroke. Oral anticoagulation reduces the risk of stroke but, on the…