EUROACTION, a demonstration project in preventive cardiology, was launched in 2003 in eight European countries (Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK). Using a matched paired cluster randomised controlled trial study design (see Fig. 1), it aimed to show that nurse-led care could facilitate the implementation...
READ MOREEchocardiographic imaging has evolved into the key diagnostic modality in paediatric cardiac care. Its role has expanded beyond that of initial diagnosis; intracardiac echo is now used during interventional cases in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory, transthoracic echo is the preand post-operative modality, and transesophageal echo is...
READ MORETelemedicine represents a good solution for the management of patients with cardiac problems. Telecardiology, in particular, guarantees continuity of care and the creation of integrated networks between acute hospitals and primary care, with a more rational and quicker management of patients. Additionally, telemedicine is particularly implemented...
READ MORESince 1978, the Italian healthcare system has been organised according to the National Health Service model (Italian National Health Service, or INHS). Coverage is universal and, theoretically, uniform throughout the country. In 2003, public healthcare expenditure accounted for 75.1% of total healthcare expenditure. The Italian healthcare system is...
READ MOREMedtronic announced that a federal US district court jury in San Francisco awarded it 57 million dollars in past damages, finding that AGA Medical Corp.’s manufacture, sale and use of its Amplatzer® Occluder and vascular plug product lines infringed claims of two US patents owned by Medtronic. The jury also ordered that AGA pay Medtronic a royalty...
READ MORECarolina Pines Regional Medical Centre has increased their relationship with Spacelabs Healt hcare and installed a fleet of all-new bedside monitors and central monitors in their ICU. The new monitors join existing Spacelabs monitors in the hospital’s “rapid assessment” chest pain department, emergency department, paediatric care unit and telemetry...
READ MOREDear Readers, Medical technology is constantly widening the diagnostic and therapeutic horizons in our professional lives. It provides hope for the patient who looks to the rapidly developing medical technology of tomorrow for a solution to his or her complex health problems today. Simultaneously, medical technology represents a remarkable...
READ MOREIn the twenty years since the demise of the Soviet Union, Latvia has transformed itself, gaining its independence not only politically but also in medicine. While formerly, research, innovations and financial investments were concentrated in Moscow and less in the Baltic States, in present times Latvia is a member of the European Union, is independent,...
READ MORETracleer®, a dual endothelin receptor antagonist has been approved in the European Union for the treatment of patients with mildly symptomatic pulmonary arterial hypertension (WHO FC II). A clinical study of patients with mildly symptomatic WHO FC II led to approval and revealed that even patients with mild symptoms are at risk of rapid deterioration....
READ MORECordis have released clinical data indicating that percutaneous coronary intervention with the CYPHER sirolimuseluting coronary stent is comparable to bypass surgery in key safety measures in patients with diabetes and multi-vessel disease. The data was recently presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting. It is the only drug-eluting stent...
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