Patient safety versus costs

This study is really misleading.  They looked at a huge population and still didn't get statistical significance.  This is a pure money versus patient safety play.  The comment that a randomized trial is needed before they can draw any conclusions is right on.


http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/PCI/28877?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=WC&eun=g409551d0r&userid=409551&email=ctklex@yahoo.com 

From Cardiobrief: A new vascular repair tool

This is a very cool new product.  If it works as advertised it could be a real breakthrough in vascular repair.


http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm274372.htm?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

ACC; Shame on you!

The ACC recommends three completely self-serving limitations regarding the proposed cuts to Medicare/Medicaid:

• Permanent reform of the Medicare physician payment system (The current Sustainable Growth Rate  (SGR) formula calls for massive cuts of 29.5 percent on Jan. 1, 2012.).
• Inclusion of medical liability reforms in any final committee recommendations.
• Avoidance of further medical imaging payment cuts as an offset in any final recommendations.

The single biggest  group expense in the Medicaid budget is?  Physician salaries.  What a surprise.  And the single biggest line-item expense?  the incredibly over-prescribed use of Imaging!  (CT, MRI, etc).  One of the highest paid subgroups of physicians?  What a coincidence, it is cardiologists.

This is the type of self-serving lobbying that is killing our economy.  I HATE the very existence of lobbyists.  I wish the Super Committee would propose a complete phase-out plan for the entire sector!

Having said all this I do agree in the proposed liability tort reform issue.  But expecting lawyers (did you know that 100% of congress have law degrees?) to limit litigation opportunities (can you say cha-ching) is akin to expecting the Cubs to win another world series.

EKG noise. Not all artifact after all.

EKG "noise" has several causes; poor lead placement, patient shivering, 60 hz interference, etc.  The MIT/Partners (Brigham and Women's in this case) collaboration has once again born fruit.  This newly published study shows that there are at least three statistically significant biomarkers hidden in the low amplitude "noise" in EKG's.

This impressive and important because it helps identify those with high risk of death, hopefully leading to a modified, and more successful, preventative strategy.

Although was only studied in association with NSTEMI ACS there is hope that the three identified markers, or some other markers, will have relevance in diagnosing other conditions.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/AcuteCoronarySyndrome/28839

Interesting evidence that emotions effect your physiology

"...A surge in inflammatory and prothrombotic factors following the death of a loved one may help explain the elevated cardiovascular risk present at this most stressful of times, a prospective study suggested..."


http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Prevention/28515


Why not?  If stress can effect your cardiac health, and it can, why not the powerful emotion of grief?