angioplasty: most common medical intervention in the world

[Cece]

http://www.ptca.org/history_timeline.html

1997 — over one million angioplasties will be performed worldwide, making angioplasty the most common medical intervention in the world

2001 — almost two million angioplasties were performed worldwide, with an estimated increase of 8% annually

2002 — the 25th anniversary of the first angioplasty performed in an awake patient

A timeline of the history of angioplasty. (From Egyptians using metal pipes to catheterize bladders to drug-eluting stents and whatever is yet to come.)

[Lyon]

angioplasty: most common medical intervention in the world

Another perspective on angioplasty.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/200 ... line_N.htm

[Brainteaser]

So if angioplasty has such a wonderful history, why did no-one raise issues of restenosis etc when we started to have treatments a couple of years ago?

[munchkin]

I think that many of the people who have had arterial angioplasty are quite happy that they received that particular treatment. This has been an acceptable treatment for a very long time and has a long history of safety and patency.

Why pick on the IR's? The drug companies and neuro's are talking about giving kids Tysabri doesn't that warrent just as much concern if not more.

[Lyon]

I'm not intentionally picking on the IRs but others are pointing out what they consider highlights of interventional radiology and I'm pointing out the other side of the coin and it's not nearly so shiny.

As Cece and 1eye have pointed out, angioplasty is the most common medical intervention in the world even before it's been shown to be clearly the best course of action and now IRs are pushing angioplasty just as hard for CCSVI, even before it's been shown that there is such a thing as chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency or that angioplasty provides benefit which outweighs the risk, much less show any benefit at all.

Personally I have deep admiration for the creativity and marketing skills of the Interventional Radiologists.

[DougL]

Personally I have deep admiration for the creativity and marketing skills of the Interventional Radiologists.

i love the creativity of the one IR i met. when Dr S explained the results of his procedure to me and my partner, he was not happy with the left side and in the middle of his explaination he grabbed a piece of paper and started brainstorming of what he could do if he had this piece of equipment or that technique. it was great to see his passion. i also think he was pretty creative in getting thru the blocked azygos vein. he could have tried brute force and caused an injury but he tried different instruments until he found one that worked and was safe.

as for his marketing skills, i'm not so sure. i found him thru talking to other pwCCSVI. people like Tim Donovan.

i think it is great that Dr S is on facebook and here at TIMS. it certainly makes him more accessable.

[munchkin]

Lyon wrote:
Personally I have deep admiration for the creativity and marketing skills of the Interventional Radiologists.

The IR's don't have anywhere near the marketing skills/funds of the drug companies. Maybe the drug companies are behind the new thrust to have angioplasty ruled ineffective. There are some types of issues that drugs help and there are some types of issues that only intervention can help.
I'm pretty sure my father would have perferred to have drugs treat his aortic anyurism and he also would have perferred to have angioplasty as oppossed to having his chest cut open and all of the very serious issues as the result of surgery by his cardiovascular surgeon. Who, just for the record, did try angioplasty first.