Cath Lab Recap: Extra-Strong ICD Shocks; EMS Crew Training Speeds Thrombolysis

The first implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) providing ultra-high 42-joule shocks was launched in the U.S. The device -- Biotronik's Inventra HF-T -- ups the energy level delivered to heart failure patients with higher defibrillation thresholds. (Medgadget)

Japan finally gave regulatory approval to the Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold, following the lead of Canada and the U.S., as Cardiovascular Business reports.

A South Carolina hospital contractor "inappropriately downloaded" personal information from 2,500 patients with remote-monitoring cardiac devices. The data included one patient's Social Security number, though there has no been no indication that the information was misused. (Greenville Online)

Another way to faster thrombolysis for stroke: A Finnish hospital attributed a 10% reduction in prehospital delay to advanced life support training for the ambulance crew, researchers reported in Stroke. The decision to consult with a physician over the phone took more time, on the other hand.

Rotational atherectomy was more likely to result in death, cardiac tamponade, or emergent surgery if patients were older or had impaired kidney function, prior MI, emergent stenting, or triple-vessel disease. But high institutional volume was linked to fewer adverse events in the Japanese study, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Drug-eluting balloons were deemed safe for treating diabetics with infrapopliteal lesions based on a single-center study. These devices beat percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for primary patency at 3 months, an advantage that dissipated by 1 year, according to the data published in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation for the very elderly? Octogenarians had more major complications and ICD shocks and worse survival than their younger peers in the mid-term, according to a small study from Europace. One-year mortality rates were similar between groups, however.

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