Research In Brief

Abbott carotid stent: Post-market data on carotid artery stenting with Abbott's Acculink and Xact in patients at high risk for standard carotid surgery show 30-day death and stroke outcomes are in line with recommendations by the American Heart Association for carotid endarterectomy surgery, according to article published online by Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions March 6. High risk patients in the EXACT and CAPTURE2 trials have an overall 30-day death and stroke rate of 4.1% and 3.4%, respectively. The rates were 5.3% for symptomatic patients and 2.9% for asymptomatic patients undergoing carotid artery stenting. CMS angered CAS advocates last fall when it issued a memo declining to extend coverage for carotid artery angioplasty and stenting to high-risk patients ahead of study results on Acculink, Xact and Johnson & Johnson/Cordis' Precise system (1"The Gray Sheet" Oct. 20, 2008, p. 5). The release of the Abbott and J&J data support a reversal of CMS' October decision, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions argues in a March 9 press release