Articles tagged with Arteries
The FDA has cleared Cook's low-profile GR II Coronary Stent, allowing cardiologists to treat blockages in hard-to-reach blood vessels without bypass surgery. This new stent could benefit thousands of U.S. heart disease patients who previously required heart bypass surgery.
Researchers at ORNL and Columbia University are developing a radiation-based technique to prevent restenosis in coronary arteries. The method uses low doses of radiation to inhibit the rapid proliferation of smooth muscle cells that can form inside newly unclogged arteries.
Only 36% of the U.S. population would have access to this therapy, with regions including rural areas and distant locations having limited emergency access. Researchers found that increasing treatment availability through helicopter transport could extend the treatment radius to 200 miles, benefiting up to 95% of the nation's population.
A landmark study reveals that high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and smoking equally affect the progression of atherosclerosis in women and men, as well as blacks and whites. The findings confirm that adopting healthful habits early is crucial for preventing heart disease.
Research by Dr. Eric Peterson found stenting costs $13,000, exceeding Medicare's payment of $10,000 to $13,000. This expense may lead hospitals to lose money on each procedure, potentially reducing the treatment's popularity.
A study by NHLBI scientists has found a strong association between prior CMV infection and higher rates of restenosis after coronary angioplasty. The research suggests that predicting patients at risk of restenosis may lead to the use of bypass surgery instead of angioplasty.