Volume 2 - Issue 2 - March/April 2005
Editor's Corner »
VDM Changes to a Double-Blind, Peer-Review Journal
After reading this editorial, attentive VDM followers may find it somewhat contradictory with the “spirit and purpose” delineated in the initial Editor’s letter that accompanied the launch issue in October 2004. Regardless, change is in the air and we will not go back! VDM is going all peer-review, and will immediately adopt the journal format that everyone expects in such a publication.
The decision for change was based on multiple reasons. Important among many was the discovery that the scientific contributions received for publications after a short 3 or 4 months o
Feature »
Endovascular Stent-Graft Repair of Dissection with Expanding Intramural Hematoma Following Renal Artery Stenting
Case Report: A 75-year-old male presented with recurrent episodes of flash pulmonary edema, angina, renal insufficiency (creatinine 2.1 mg/dl) and recurrent transient ischemic attacks. Diagnostic renal and coronary angiography revealed severe bilateral ostial calcific renal artery stenosis with mild disease in his left coronary system and a 60% ostial right coronary artery stenosis followed by an 80% lesion in the mid vessel. The left ventricular function by echocardiography was normal with an ejection fraction of 60%. Carotid ultrasound revealed a critical area of disease in the pro
Commentary »
Endovascular Stent-Graft Repair of Renal Dissection with Expanding Intramural Hematoma Following Renal Artery Stenting
Endovascular Stent-Graft Repair of Renal Dissection with Expanding Intramural Hematoma Following Renal Artery Stenting is an excellent case report, describing a fairly common problem treated in a unique way. Instead of just treating a subintimal dye leak at the site of stent overlap, Shammas et al. wisely analyzed the vessel lumen with intravascular ultrasound, showing that there was an intramural hematoma. The conservative approach paid off with effective therapy, without placement of further stents that may have jeopardized one or two important renal branches supplying the renal paren
Feature »
Clinical Outcome Following Renal Artery Stenting for Renovascular Hypertension in Patients (see full title below)
FULL TITLE: Clinical Outcome Following Renal Artery Stenting for Renovascular Hypertension in Patients Presenting with Angina or Heart Failure
Part of this data was presented as a poster abstract at the Annual Scientific Sessions of The Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions in 2002.
Abstract
Renal artery stenosis results in Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone mediated hypertension and volume overload. This is unfavorable in patients with angina or heart failure. To evaluate the effect of renal artery stenting in patients with renovascular hypertension prese
Feature »
Propaedeutical Endovascular Interventions in High-Risk Candidates for Coronary Surgery
ABSTRACT: Purpose. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a major risk factor in candidates for coronary surgery, impacting the overall mortality and morbidity in the preoperative time and follow-up after coronary surgery. High-risk patients with PVD may benefit from endovascular treatment prior to coronary surgery. We sought to identify, in high-risk patients, the most frequent clinical settings requiring propaedeutical endovascular treatment before coronary surgery, the results, and the mid-term impact on subsequent surgical revascularization. Methods. Between November 2002 and Novemb
Feature »
Strategies to Optimize Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Outcomes in Diabetics
Diabetes is a major public health problem. The incidence of diabetes among adults in the United States is increasing at epidemic proportions, with almost half of the U.S. states reporting a 6% incidence of diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of diabetes increases with age in both men and women. It peaks by 75 years of age when 21% of men and 17.5% of women have diabetes.1
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most frequent cardiovascular complication of diabetes. It occurs 2–3 times more often in patients with diabetes than in those without diabetes.2 Patients with diab
Feature »
Dynamic Anatomy of the Popliteal Artery: Hinge Point and Accessory Flexions
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article by Diaz et al. contains extremely valuable information. The importance of assessing the “dynamic anatomy” of the popliteal artery (and other vessels) was only recently appreciated as a result of developments with endovascular therapy and the increasing use of fracture-prone intraluminal metallic stents. The findings described by the Argentinian group should prove useful to interventionalists who are planning to perform a stenting procedure in a given patient. But even more so, they will likely have an impact on current R&D efforts and concepts surrou
Feature »
Extra-Coronary Pressure Gradient Assessment: Use of the pressure wire in peripheral, valvular, and congenital heart disease
The measurement of translesional pressure gradients was an integral part of the development of coronary angioplasty. Gruentzig demonstrated a relationship between post-PTCA translesional gradient and the occurrence of both early complications and late restenosis in the 1980s.1 At that time, only fluid-filled catheter systems were used, and were limited by their bulk, lack of fidelity, and pressure damping in small catheter lumens. Intracoronary gradient assessment has been repopularized by the availability of 0.014” guidewire mounted pressure sensors. These devices have been avail
Feature »
Online Training for Carotid Stenting Professionals
This online Carotid Education and Stenting Course was developed with four key physician consultants — an interventional cardiologist, a neurosurgeon, an interventional radiologist and a vascular surgeon. Why was it important to take a cross-specialty approach in developing the modules in this program?
Carotid artery stenting is unique in that it is a procedure performed by multiple specialties, each bringing a specific skill set and cognitive features into play. The challenge is to funnel these varying areas of expertise down to a common entry point and provide a pathway for CAS
Interview »
The 13th Annual Global Cardiovascular Interventions–New Devices Seminar
Dr. Mark H. Wholey
What would you like to share with the physician or professional who has never had the chance to attend the New Devices Seminar?
The New Devices Seminar is a meeting we have had for approximately 12 years now, on an annual basis. It is designed for physicians interested in peripheral vascular disease, but also coronary artery disease as well.
A blue-ribbon faculty presents cases and discusses concepts in management of complex and simple cases. With the expansion of interest from cardiologists and vascular surgeons in endovascular peripheral procedures, it
