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Stroke Prevention: An Important Area of Focus in the Interventional Community
The March/April issue of Cardiology Today’s Intervention highlights important developments in the fields of interventional cardiology and endovascular intervention, in particular focusing on approaches to reduce the risk for stroke.
First, there is detailed discussion of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure and its resurgence in the Cover Story. This resurgence is based on strong recent data supporting, in carefully selected patients with so-called cryptogenic stroke, that PFO closure can have a substantial impact in reducing the risk for stroke recurrence. This has been a longstanding, controversial area, but it appears that the data have now brought clarity.
Another controversial interventional topic with respect to stroke prevention has been carotid artery stenting (CAS). This important issue is highlighted in the At Issue feature. Cardiology Today’s Intervention speaks with several experts in carotid stenting to understand why there appears to have been a lag in uptake of CAS, given data that have been largely quite positive. Unfortunately, the answer centers around coverage and reimbursement for the procedure. There is also a need for further elucidation of the precise role of carotid revascularization — either surgically or percutaneously — in patients who are truly asymptomatic with carotid stenosis.
Also worth highlighting in this issue is our expanded coverage of peripheral intervention and vascular medicine, including timely coverage of the recent International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy (ISET). Rounding things up, we also present take-home messages from the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions from several experts.
As always, let us know your thoughts on these important issues by commenting at Healio.com/Intervention or emailing the Editors at intervention@healio.com.