FDA investigates Taxus stent

The FDA said it is investigating problems with Boston Scientific's Taxus stent after a Michigan hospital suspended use of the devices. William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak stopped using the stents for a two-week period in late September and early October after a series of problems, The Wall Street Journal reports. In three cases doctors experienced problems removing the wire used to hold the stent in place. Cardiologists at the hospital have since gone back to using the Taxus but are unhappy with the way Boston Scientific handled the matter. The FDA says a review is underway.

- see this article from The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)

PLUS: New research presented at the American Heart Association Conference this weekend suggests that angioplasty is well on its way to becoming an outpatient procedure. Article