ICR - Volume 8 Issue 1 - Spring 2013
Welcome to Interventional Cardiology Review – Volume 8 Issue 1. In this issue, Edward McNulty contributes on the effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Whilst many randomised and observational studies have recently shed further light on outcomes, Dr Edwards notes that careful consideration of their respective strengths and limitations is imperative in generalising their findings. Elsewhere, Heleen van Beusekom et al report on developments in fully bioresorbable stents (BRS). The authors note that the use of BRS could reduce the risk of adverse clinical outcomes caused by acute vessel geometry changes, late malapposition, jailed side branches or inflexibility of permanent stents. They discuss the role of invasive imaging in understanding the longitudinal evaluation of the stent and the vessel wall, and thus improving the design and behaviour of BRS.