A recently published data analysis suggests that patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS) achieved the outcomes recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA; Dallas) for 30-day death and stroke rates for carotid surgery. But the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) only covers stenting in certain high-risk patients who cannot undergo surgery due to severe blockages or other factors, while surgery is fully covered. (Medical Device Daily)

The first company to receive FDA clearance for a drug-eluting stent (DES) has released six-year follow-up data on that device. The clinical benefits of the Cypher sirolimus-eluting coronary stent compared to a bare-metal stent (BMS) were sustained, according to data presented Wednesday at the Cardiovascular Revascularization Therapies (CRT) conference in Washington. (Medical Device Daily)

It probably goes without saying that if a heart failure patient is going to develop right ventricular (RV) failure after receiving a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), that patient should have received bi-ventricular support from the start. The problem is, predicting post-LVAD RV failure requiring mechanical support is anything but easy. (Medical Device Daily)