When and why should we employ the interventional cardiologist? |
Percutaneous coronary intervention
(PCI) represents a “success story”
of modern cardiology. In the wake
of its enormous growth, large-scale
registries and trials have established
that PCI is effective in relieving
ischemia and symptoms, safe,
and “comfortable.” Its best indications
are the severe forms of ischemia,
in particular high-risk acute
coronary syndromes and stable
angina pectoris with severe ischemia.
Its efficacy is highly dependent
on the skill of the interventional
clinician and the center’s experience,
both in terms of the technical requirements
of the procedure itself,
as well as of the highly sophisticated
adjunctive antithrombotic
therapies used before, during, and
after the procedure. However, this
success should not detract from the
need for careful selection of indications
and assessment of outcomes...
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