Ultrasonic catheters give cardiologists boost in observing internal blood vessels

Article Abstract:

Cardiologists have made good use of ultrasonic probes, which utilize high frequency sound to produce images of the cardiovascular system. Now, with new, highly miniaturized ultrasonic probes, physicians can see within vessels of very small bore. While standard ultrasonic transducers may be as large as 10 cm in diameter, the new vascular probes are able to fit within vessels which are only 1 mm in diameter. The new probes use very high frequency waves in 20-30 MHz range to image internal structures. Sound at this frequency produces very high quality images, but it is unable to penetrate deeply into tissue. While this makes high frequency use unacceptable for larger surface probes, the lack of penetration presents no difficulty for these small probes which are inserted directly into the area of interest. Together the close proximity to the area of examination and the high frequency make for images of unparalleled quality. One expert believes that it may be better to think of these devices as acoustic microscopes because they provide the quality of image that physicians associate with microscopic images of arteries. Unlike X-ray methods, such as arteriography, which provides a silhouette image of the vessels, the new ultrasonic probes give a cross- sectional image that allows the exact size and composition of an area of atherosclerosis (fatty plaque within a vessel) to be determined. New, even smaller probes are expected on the market shortly. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Methods, Innovations, Ultrasound imaging, Diagnosis, Blood vessels, Atherosclerosis

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Cardiologists say cut out fat when they're young, but (usually) don't cut in advanced age

Article Abstract:

Some cardiologists believe that we should be doing more to detect risk factors for heart disease in children, while others believe that expensive interventions to treat heart disease in the elderly may not be cost-effective. The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that children receive less than 30% of their calories from fat, and have their blood cholesterol measured if they have a family history of elevated cholesterol or coronary heart disease. Other physicians point out that cholesterol levels in childhood may not be an accurate predictor of cholesterol levels in adulthood. But autopsies on young adults have revealed an association between LDL cholesterol - the so-called 'bad cholesterol' - and fatty deposits inside arteries. One-third of health-care costs is spent on the oldest 12% of the population. One way to control health-care costs would be to limit the number of procedures performed in elderly patients specifically to extend their life span.

Aged, Elderly, Measurement, Children, Food and nutrition, Blood cholesterol

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Revascularization still the goal, strategy differs as cardiologists consider clinical trial results

Article Abstract:

Preliminary results from a study comparing coronary angioplasty with coronary atherectomy indicate that the latter procedure may reduce the restenosis rate following these treatments for coronary artery disease. At 35 international medical centers, 500 patients who underwent angioplasty and 512 who underwent atherectomy have been followed for six months so far. Fifty-seven percent of the patients receiving angioplasty experienced a recurrence of artery-blocking deposits, compared to 48% of those receiving atherectomy. The high restenosis rates following angioplasty inspired a cardiologist to develop atherectomy, which involves removing the deposits instead of merely flattening them as angioplasty does. Other surgeons believe coronary bypass grafts are the only cure for severe coronary artery disease. In a study at the Cleveland Clinic, survival rates were much higher in patients with coronary bypass grafts compared to those who received angioplasty.

Evaluation, Coronary heart disease, Transluminal angioplasty, Balloon angioplasty

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