Simple Approach Sought in Artery Treatment

A study by Norwegian experts recommends using a simple approach to treat complex artery diseases, such as using one stent instead of two.

Already cardiologists increasingly are using non-invasive methods to treat patients with diseased arteries that previously required open-heart surgery.

The latest clinical trial was presented at the American College of Cardiology’s inaugural Innovation in Intervention: the i2 Summit 2006.

A total of 413 patients with extensive cardiac artery disease were used in the study by the Nordic PCI Study Group. Only 4.3 percent of patients received two stents.

The study’s author, Dr. Terje K. Steigen, said: Due to the elevated markers, the prolonged procedure time and the increased volume of contrast used, it is probably wise to use the simpler strategy. It’s not prohibitive to take the complex approach, however, because both procedures had the same, excellent clinical outcome.