News Release

Canadian Journal of Cardiology publishes report on delayed vs. immediate coronary stenting

Delaying stenting of blocked coronary arteries may be superior for heart-attack patients

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Elsevier

Philadelphia, PA, October 19, 2011 – The Canadian Journal of Cardiology (www.onlinecjc.ca) has published a paper on the timing of coronary stenting, a thought-provoking paper that challenges one of the dogmas of acute heart attack management today.

Emergency procedures to open blocked coronary arteries in patients with acute myocardial infarction have revolutionized cardiology by preventing heart attacks and their complications. Stents (types of springs) are usually put into these arteries to keep them open after they have been unblocked by "clot-busting". The research presented in this paper provides data suggesting an alternative approach, one in which stents are not inserted immediately but several days after the intervention when the artery has had time to heal, may be superior. This idea counters much of present thinking.

In the editorial of the same issue, "From Primary to Secondary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: The Emerging Concept of Early Mechanical Reperfusion With Delayed Facilitated Stenting—When Earlier May Not Be Better", Drs. E. Marc Jolicoeur and Jean-François Tanguay argue that this alternative intervention has much reason to be supported and that new thinking and testing are needed to improve management of patients with acute myocardial infarction.

"If the authors are right, we need to change how we manage some heart attack patients to give them a better chance for a successful outcome. Additional studies will allow us to know for sure, but in the meantime it is important that doctors managing heart attack patients consider these findings and their potential implications," comments Stanley Nattel, MD, Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.

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The paper is "Effect of Delayed vs. Immediate Stent Implantation on Myocardial Perfusion and Cardiac Function in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Intervention With Thrombus Aspiration," by Liang Tang, MD, Sheng-hua Zhou, MD, PhD, Xin-qun Hu, MD, Zhen-fei Fang, MD, and Xiang-qian Shen, MD (doi:10.1016/j.cjca.2011.03.001). It appears in Canadian Journal of Cardiology, Volume 27, Issue 5 (September 2011) published by Elsevier.

About the Canadian Journal of Cardiology

The Canadian Journal of Cardiology (www.onlinecjc.ca) is the official journal of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. It is a vehicle for the international dissemination of new knowledge in cardiology and cardiovascular science, particularly serving as a major venue for the results of Canadian cardiovascular research and Society guidelines. The journal publishes original reports of clinical and basic research relevant to cardiovascular medicine as well as editorials, review articles, case reports, and papers on health outcomes, policy research, ethics, medical history, and political issues affecting practice.

About the Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief Stanley Nattel, MD, is Paul-David Chair in Cardiovascular Electrophysiology and Professor of Medicine at the University of Montreal and Director of the Electrophysiology Research Program at the Montreal Heart Institute Research Center.

About the Canadian Cardiovascular Society

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society is the professional association for Canadian cardiovascular physicians and scientists working to promote cardiovascular health and care through knowledge translation, professional development, and leadership in health policy. The CCS provides programs and services to its 1900+ members and others in the cardiovascular community, including guidelines for cardiovascular care, the annual Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, and, with the Canadian Cardiovascular Academy, programs for trainees. More information about the CCS and its activities can be found at www.ccs.ca

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include SciVerse ScienceDirect, SciVerse Scopus, Reaxys, MD Consult and Nursing Consult, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite and MEDai's Pinpoint Review, which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC, a world-leading publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

Media contact
Francesca Costanzo
Elsevier
+1 215 239 3249
f.costanzo@elsevier.com


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