cardiologists

The growing national trend of transparency has pushed Massachusetts lawmakers to consider reporting individual doctors' mortality rates for cardiac surgery. Currently, the mortality rates at hospitals are available but health officials have been reluctant to provide data on each physician. Cardiologists are concerned that the data will reflect what type of patient a doctor chooses to treat rather than how well the doctor performed. High-risk patients make for high-risk surgeries, and …

In a page one story, The Wall Street Journal reports that some leading cardiac centers are cutting back "drastically" on their use of drug-coated stents. Cardiologists at Cedars-Sinai, Brigham and Women's and other top centers are shifting back to the bare metal variety based on concerns about the long-term risks of blood clots associated with drug-eluting models. Although statistics show the use of the newer models has not changed much overall, observers suspect the news could …

The FDA said it will set up a team of outside medical experts to study the safety of heart devices currently on the market. The decision is a step in a new direction for the agency, which has historically relied on internal advisory panels to review the safety of drugs and medical devices. The announcement comes days before the release of a report by the Heart Rhythm Society, an influential cardiologists group, which is expected to recommend major changes in the way safety issues are …

A new study by cardiologists at Duke has found evidence that appears to back the effectiveness of wireless systems that transmit electrocardiogram data from ambulances on their way to hospitals. Doctors were able to access data on heart attacks on their PDAs, giving them more time to evaluate cases before they arrived in the emergency department. That difference, the researchers argue, is critical.

Lead researcher George Adams comments, "When the cardiologist can directly see an …

A major study presented at the annual conference of the American College of Cardiology this weekend has created an uproar. The research finds that people who take the heart drug Plavix along with an Aspirin to decrease their chances of having a first heart attack are at risk of developing serious bleeding. The study examined a population of 15,000 subjects. Because earlier findings had suggested Plavix could have an excellent protective effect, the drug is commonly prescribed by …

A state panel in Connecticut ruled that HMOs must disclose information about their billing practices. The state's Freedom of Information Commission ruled that four HMOs that run Medicaid networks perform a governmental function and thus are subject to disclosure laws. The companies involved are Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut, Community Health Network of Connecticut, Health Net of Connecticut and WellCare of Connecticut. The dispute arose after Yale School of Public …

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 …

Guidant released a 153-page report containing detailed information about its defibrillator and pacemaker lines in an attempt to restore confidence in its products. The data appears to back the company's argument that faulty leads, not defibrillators or pacemakers, were to blame for some recent problems. The report also includes additional specifics about device failures and outcomes, details which the company has refused to reveal in the past. Some cardiologists welcomed the move. …

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into possible violations of anti-fraud and anti-kickback laws by leading medical device manufacturers. Medtronic, Guidant and St. Jude Medical are the focus of an investigation headed by the US attorney's office in Boston into possible improper payments made to doctors. With competition in the market for defibrillators and pacemakers intense, some critics have questioned the tactics companies use to win customers. In September, The …

Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a group of leading cardiologists and other doctors warned of serious health risks associated with the diabetes drug Pargluva, including an elevated risk of heart attacks and a possible link to cancer. Pargluva is not yet on the market but has been recommended for approval by an FDA committee and is expected to be a blockbuster. The editorial, which is authored by McGill University's Dr. James M. Brophy, is particularly …