Friday, December 10, 1999
Study: Coils in arteries would save lives
The Associated Press
LONDON — Giving heart patients a blood-thinning drug and inserting tiny metal coils into their blocked arteries could save 15,000 lives a year worldwide by reducing deaths after angioplasty, according to a study lead by a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in the United States.
In traditional angioplasty, a tiny balloon is inflated inside the artery, compressing the fatty buildup on the vessel wall. About 40 percent later fail when the artery clogs up again.
The metal coils, implanted into the blockage site of arteries through a balloon, are used in about 1 million people a year — 75 percent of all angioplasty operations.
Doctors have embraced the devices, known as stents, over the last five years.
But that advantage has been considered a trade-off against the uncertainty of their long-term benefits and safety.
In fact, Dr. Eric Topol, leader of the latest study, published in this week's edition of The Lancet medical journal, had been a critic of stents. He conducted last year's heart attack study.
Mike Brown's game planned by dad's past
Butler highway to open Monday, 8 months early
Deters to step in as county GOP chairman
Grandparents on the Web
Judge to refuse holiday furloughs
Holiday gas prices highest since 1990
Megafight brews over megafarm
New radon test could quantify Fernald risk
Police officer indicted in jogger's death
Police review panel wants earlier say in discipline cases
PUCO weighing area code options
Firefighters' deaths hit hard
Health centers come to schools
N.Ky. lawmakers' bill would prohibit local gay-rights laws
Peace bell passes test
Study: Coils in arteries would save lives
Local patients involved in research studies
Dentures key to renewed strength
Early arthritis can't keep couple down
GET TO IT
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Women's health conference expands
Area told to get tech college
Blood stains match victim's DNA
Grand jury to get fatal boat-crash case
Man admitted on 911 to killing N.Ky. actress
Roeding formally announces 2000 run
Woman injured in car-semi crash on I-75
