The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions’ (SCAI) upcoming 33rd Annual Scientific Sessions promises the latest news in interventional cardiology from leading experts in the field. The event will take place May 5-8 in San Diego.

April 27, 2010 – New data show improved outcomes, better survival rates and lower costs with the use of continuous flow mechanical circulatory support devices in patients awaiting heart transplants. Research was presented last week during symposia at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) 30th Annual Meeting and Scientific Session in Chicago.

April 26, 2010 – A spatio-temporal evaluation of electrocardiogram (ECG) data may help with better identification of heart attacks in patients presenting with chest pain. Current methods are often not sufficient and heart damage can be present even if ECG and blood test results are unremarkable.

April 22, 2010 — An improved formulation of epoprostenol for the treatment of primary pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension is now commercially available.

April 19, 2010 — The latest research in a series of studies at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia demonstrate the feasibility of magnetically guided nanoparticles as a new delivery platform for a variety of possible therapeutic cargos, including DNA, cells and drugs. The novel technique achieved better results at a lower dose than conventional non-magnetic stent therapy.

April 23, 2010 - Vendor-neutral picture archive and communication systems (PACS) are facilitating interoperability across existing modalities and networks.