New Year’s promises from the heart

Improvements in the care and treatment of cardiology patients have been dramatic over the past 20 years with the promise of much more to come in the future. Both doctor and patient continue to realize significant benefit from the developing technologies and techniques….

For the cardiologist Improvements range from better tools to treat everything from blockages and heart rhythm irregularities to maintaining blood chemistry, reigning in plaque formation, and controlling blood pressure. Many of them can be summed up in a single word: stents.

Stents have come a long way from the first coronary implant in 1986.* There are coronary stents, self-expanding stents, drug-eluding stents, carotid stents, stents for aneurysms and peripheral arterial stents. Their designs have improved while their materials have evolved. Even the ways they are delivered have improved with lower profile catheters and better closure devices after arterial procedures. Even the drugs a cardiologist has to choose from have improved for a variety of conditions. There are anti-platelet drugs, combination therapy for cholesterol lowering, medications for high BP management, and

Asad U. Qamar, MD

FACC, FCCP, FSGC, FACP, FSCAI Cardiologist

newer blood thinners that provide alternatives to the use of coumadin.

For the patient

What is better for the doctor almost always translates to a faster and better recovery for the patient. Improved catheterization methods mean a greater number of procedures are now performed as outpatient and or sameday procedures. Better sedation is leading to less patient discomfort. Smaller-caliber catheters mean less discomfort and a shorter stay. Improved closure devices have shortened stays and lessened the risk of bleeding. Fewer emergency bypass surgeries are performed now because of improved stent platforms. Carotid surgery can often be avoided by using stents. Even abdominal aortic aneurysms can be treated with stents instead of subjecting a patient to risky open abdominal surgery. Better medicines today have lessened the chances of blockages recurring tomorrow, as well as initial and followup heart attacks and strokes.

Patients can still do some improving on their own by limiting unhealthy behaviors. Smoking is the number one contributor to heart and arterial disease.** Obesity ranks a close second, especially when coupled with its primary complication— Type 2 diabetes.

As successful as the past 20 years of cardio care have been, the future holds even more promise. Smaller devices and improved closure systems will lead to better results in PAD treatment with fewer complications—including returning blockages. Better drugs are on the horizon for the treatment of atherosclerosis. Lastly, preventative care will continue to grow more important and make all of us better doctors and healthier patients.