EuroIntervention : journal of EuroPCR in collaboration with the Working Group on Interventional Cardiology of the European Society of Cardiology
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Small reference vessel diameter predicts adverse outcomes following coronary stenting. TAXUS Express and TAXUS Liberté paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) reduce restenosis compared to bare metal stents (BMS) in small diameter vessels. TAXUS Element is a novel thin-strut, platinum chromium stent designed to enhance visibility, conformability, and drug delivery in small diameter vessels. ⋯ PERSEUS SV supports the efficacy and safety of the platinum chromium, thin-strut TAXUS Element stent in small coronary vessels.
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Concerns regarding radiation exposure and its effects during pregnancy are often quoted as an important barrier preventing many women from pursuing a career in Interventional Cardiology. Finding the true risk of radiation exposure from performing cardiac catheterisation procedures can be challenging and guidelines for pregnancy exposure have been inadequate. ⋯ Current data do not suggest a significant increased risk to the fetus of pregnant women in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory and thus do not justify precluding pregnant physicians from performing procedures in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory. However, radiation exposure among pregnant physicians should be properly monitored and adequate radiation safety measures are still warranted.
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For several decades, coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been regarded as the treatment of choice for patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease. However, because of marked advancements in techniques of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting and CABG, as well as adjunctive pharmacologic therapy, a new evaluation and review of current indications for optimal revascularisation therapy for LMCA disease may be required to determine the standard of care for these patients. The available current evidence suggests that the composite outcome of death, myocardial infarction and stroke is similar in patients with LMCA disease who are treated with PCI with stenting or CABG, the only difference was the rate of repeat revascularisation. Although PCI can be performed successfully in most LMCA lesions, "high-risk" anatomic subsets, especially involving distal LMCA bifurcation lesions, continue to present unique technical challenges to interventional cardiologists, and, therefore, an integrated approach combing advanced devices, tailored techniques, adjunctive support of physiologic and morphologic evaluation, and adjunctive pharmacologic agents should be reinforced to improve clinical outcomes.