The denser coronary artery plaque is, the lower the risk may be of coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of JAMA. This finding suggests that the current method of predicting risk, the Agatson coronary artery calcium score, may need to be re-evaluated.

Nonwhite patients are more likely to die after CABG than white patients, and this disparity may be due in part to blacks’ poorer access to high-quality hospitals, a study published online Jan. 8 in JAMA Surgery found. Other unexplained factors may also contribute to the racial differences.

The FDA’s Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee faces a full docket of applications for treatments for acute coronary syndrome and other diseases in January and February.

Improving efficiencies and patient outcomes in the cath lab can go hand in hand. 

The interventional cardiology team led by Ehtisham Mahmud, MD, FACC, at UC San Diego Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center (SCVC) has successfully completed the first two robotically-assisted coronary angioplasty/stent procedures in California. Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) now have access to this new technology that puts the precision of a robot in the hands of interventional cardiologists during procedures to open clogged heart arteries.

Using a blood conservation strategy in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) reduced the need for blood transfusions without increasing mortality or morbidity, according to a study published in the January issue of Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announces the appointment of Craig Thompson, M.D., as senior vice president and chief medical officer, Interventional Cardiology, effective immediately.  Dr. Thompson, a global leader in complex cardiac interventions, will play a key role in driving the development of innovative medical solutions within the Boston Scientific Interventional Cardiology business.

Tryton Medical, Inc., the leading developer of stents designed to treat bifurcation lesions, today announced the launch of the Bifurcation Institute. The Bifurcation Institute is a comprehensive education resource established to advance the standard of care for bifurcated coronary artery disease, a common, and often untreated, clinical need.