ATLANTA--Improvements in quality of care measurements do not decrease 30-day mortality rates, said Jersey Chen, MD, of the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific sessions Monday.

Inter- and intra-observer reliabilities show disparities when SYNTAX scores are calculated by individual operators no matter their training and background. Researchers reported that multidisciplinary approaches should be considered when deciphering between CABG and PCI for patients with multivessil or left main coronary artery disease, according to a poster presentation featured during the 59th annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific session yesterday in Atlanta.

ATLANTAThe MitraClip system, a catheter-mounted device that acts like a clothespin to clip together the flaps of a leaky mitral valve, is a safe and effective alternative to open-heart surgery in selected patients with mitral regurgitation, according to the EVEREST II trial presented today at the American College of Cardiologys (ACC) 59th annual scientific session.  Slides

As endovascular approaches evolve and technology brings more specialties into this arena, there will be increased cross-specialty competition. However, research presented at the American College of Cardiology Administrators (ACCA) conference this week in Atlanta suggested that finding a financial model that works to decrease the competition among physicians providing the same services while ensuring that the patient receives the optimal care could translate to many providers.

A telebriefing by American College of Cardiology officials emphasized several aspects of ACC.10, including thought-provoking keynote addresses, late-breaking clinical trials that could hold important significance and a potentially robust discussion of healthcare reform straight from Capitol Hill.

The reversible anti-clotting medication ticagrelor can overcome a patient's nonresponsiveness to clopidogrel, according to results of the RESPOND trial published online March 1 in Circulation.

Sunday & Monday, March 14-15, 9:15 AM - 4:15 PMTuesday, March 16, 9:15 AM 12:45 PM Interventionalists, cardiac surgeons and general cardiologists will want to explore this multi-modality room, designed to support a variety of integrated surgical and endovascular procedures. This high-tech venue will allow you to get a first-hand lookand feelof the latest technologies.

Saturday, March 13, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM   Usually, when speaking about the cath lab of tomorrow, youd expect to hear about hybrid suites and high-definition 50-foot monitors. Not in this session, which might be better titled: New Practices in Our Cath Lab of Tomorrow.