To reduce the risk of stroke, the WATCHMAN™ left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) device has provided an additional option for some patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation who are not good candidates for long-term anticoagulation therapy. Now, studies are underway to investigate the effectiveness of this device in a wider patient pool.
Each year in the United States, approximately 600,000 people have a pulmonary embolism, with an estimated 50,000 to 200,000 dying from the condition. Because of the high mortality rate associated with massive and sub-massive pulmonary embolism, identification and early intervention are critical. Yet, this common condition remains underdiagnosed and undertreated.
In November 2017, a study into the effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) caught international attention for raising questions about the benefits of angioplasty and stenting. The study, Objective Randomised Blinded Investigation With Optimal Medical Therapy of Angioplasty in Stable Angina (ORBITA), concluded there was no benefit for patients with stable angina who underwent PCI.
Heart failure is an epidemic in the United States, with over 6 million patients suffering from some type of heart failure. While the majority of these patients will be treated medically or with traditional surgery, in some cases, these treatments will ultimately fail.
