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Science Blood-flow test helps reduce stents in narrowed heart arteries
Science Blood-flow test helps reduce stents in narrowed heart arteries | Blood-flow test helps reduce stents in narrowed heart arteries |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Friday, 16 January 2009 | |
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Page 3 of 4 Specifically, the researchers found that 78% of patients in the angiogram group did not have angina within one year of their treatment. Featured Whitepaper
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Science DiscussionsThe number of stents used in the angiogram group was 18.3%, while the number of stents in the blood-flow test group was only 13.2%. In addition, five to ten percent of those patients given the blood-flow test were able to avoid angioplasty and stent. Instead, they were prescribed medicines. U.S. cardiologist William Fearon (Stanford University) stated, "… we were able to more accurately or more judiciously place stents” when the blood-flow test was used rather than the traditional use of the angiogram. [MSNBC article “Many with clogged arteries may not need stents”] They concluded in their paper: “Routine measurement of FFR in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease who are undergoing PCI with drug-eluting stents significantly reduces the rate of the composite end point of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization at 1 year.” According to the January 14, 2009 MSNBC article, “A new study gives fresh evidence that many people with clogged heart arteries are being overtreated with stents, and that a simple blood-flow test might help prevent unnecessary care.” Page four concludes with additional information on the future use of blood-flow tests. |
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