Cardiovascular Business - November/December 2008 - (Page 21)

Percentage improvement in evaluability by segment Segment Improvement from Baseline with Contrast p-value Basal Inferoseptum 9.5% P=0.007 Mid Inferoseptum 14.3% P<0.001 Apical Septum 30.2% P<0.001 Apical Lateral 39.7% P<0.001 Mid Anterolateral 54.8% P<0.001 Basal Anterolateral 43.7% P<0.001 The greatest percentage improvement in evaluability after contrast administration occurred in the mid anterolateral segment, followed by the basal anterolateral and apical lateral segments. (Pooled data on ﬁle at Lantheus Medical Imaging from 126 patients in two open-label multicenter trials with similar study design and patient populations.) hospitals, are performing more cases with saline. Experts say that saline is not as efficacious in imaging the heart as contrast agents. “The contrast agents allow us to look at the left side of the heart chambers to help us indentify the function of the left chamber of the heart. Agitated saline does not cross the lungs,” says Steven B. Feinstein, MD, director of echocardiography at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. AMR’s research also found that the first quarter of this year 14 FACULTY experienced a 26 percent drop-off rate, compared to the first quarter of 2006—indicating a 4 percent increase from quarterto-quarter in 2008. The slight positive trend might be indicative of fears being assuaged and a continued increase in usage. “Cardiologists continue to advocate for contrast agent usage, especially in certain at-need patient populations who require enhanced image accuracy,” Fischer says. TH ANNUAL BOSTON ATRIAL FIBRILLATION SYMPOSIUM MECHANISMS AND NEW DIRECTIONS IN THERAPY www.afsymposium.com A CME Symposium Sponsored by Academy for Healthcare Education, Inc. JANUARY 15-17, 2009 SEAPORT HOTEL and CONFERENCE CENTER AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS Endorsed by Heart Rhythm Society Course Directors • Jeremy Ruskin, MD • Moussa Mansour, MD • • Vivek Reddy, MD • David Keane, MD, PhD • Niv Ad, MD, Charles Antzelevitch, PhD, Conor Barrett, MD, Randall Brockman, MD, Hugh Calkins, MD, John Camm, MD Riccardo Cappato, MD, Shih-Ann Chen, MD, Ralph Damiano, Jr., MD, Wyn Davies, MD, Andre d’Avila, MD, PhD James Edgerton, MD, Hasan Garan, MD, Michel Haissaguerre, MD, Warren Jackman, MD, Pierre Jais, MD Jose Jalife, MD, David Keane, MD, PhD, Young-Hoon Kim, MD, PhD, Hans Kottkamp, MD, Peter Kowey, MD Karl-Heinz Kuck, MD, Moussa Mansour, MD, Francis Marchlinski, MD, Fred Morady, MD, Hiroshi Nakagawa, MD Andrea Natale, MD, Stanley Nattel, MD, Douglas Packer, MD, Carlo Pappone, MD, PhD, Nicholas Peters, MD Eric Prystowsky, MD, Dan Roden, MD, Vivek Reddy, MD, Edward Rowland, MD, Jeremy Ruskin, MD, Zoltan Turi, MD Albert Waldo, MD, David Wilber, MD CardiovascularBusiness.com Cardiovascular Business 21 http://www.afsymposium.com http://www.CardiovascularBusiness.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cardiovascular Business - November/December 2008

Cardiovascular Business - November/December 2008 Contents First Word Cover Story: Practice Management Software Moves Beyond Bean Counting The Death of CME as We Know It? Clinical Study Digets: Triple-Antiplatelet Therapy; Ex-Vioxx Users Beware Shockwaves Subside from the FDA's Echo Contract Warning Burning Question: Does Laser Heart Therapy for Angina Really Work? Advanced Visualization Adds New Practive Dimension Coronary Calcium Scoring Program Reaps Dividends Interventionalists Get Pumped Up About Mechanical Chest Compression Trials Force Physicians to Re-Examine Oral Anti-Diabetic Drug Protocols News & Views Calendar Reader Resources The ACC Corner

Cardiovascular Business - November/December 2008

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