An innovative study undertaken at Gosford Hospital and John Hunter Hospital is aiming to make heart procedures safer, less painful and faster for patients undergoing treatment for blocked arteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Central Coast Local Health District Cardiologist, Associate Professor Tom Ford said the EAGER (Enhancing Guidewire Efficacy for Transradial Access) study was designed to see if using a different guidewire in cardiac procedures would make heart procedures from the wrist more efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTraditionally when treating patients for blocked arteries, clinicians used a transfemoral approach, which means they accessed the heart by inserting a guidewire into an artery located in the patient\u2019s groin,\u201d A\/Prof Ford said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor the past 10 to 15 years it has become increasingly recognised that procedures from the patient\u2019s wrist (transradial) are safer and have a lower risk of adverse outcomes including death, especially after heart attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe transradial approach allows patients to move sooner following the procedure and it is also easier to stop bleeding after the procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUp until this study, the guidewire used to navigate to the heart has not changed despite the artery in the wrist being far smaller than the artery in the groin, especially in women.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EAGER study found that using a smaller guidewire, which is called the \u2018Baby J\u2019, significantly improved the success and safety of heart procedures performed through the wrist when compared to procedures performed using the traditional guidewire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe study showed the new wire has a higher likelihood of success. Women in particular had a 35 per cent higher likelihood of procedural success compared to those using the traditional wire,\u201d A\/Prof Ford said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe new guidewire made the cardiac procedures less painful and reduced the procedure time by allowing swift navigation of equipment up the arm. The reduced time also helped reduce radiation exposure for patients and staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis technology is especially beneficial for women, who are more prone to complications including bleeding after heart procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The results of the EAGER study will improve the experience of our patients by offering faster, minimally invasive heart treatments, ensuring better outcomes and comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe use of the Baby J wire is now standard practice for many of us, and I pay credit to the patients who participated in the study, as well as all the staff who helped deliver this research,\u201d A\/Prof Ford said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wyongah local, Gail Furchert recently underwent coronary testing for angina using the Baby J guidewire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs soon as the procedure started it felt like it was over, and I didn\u2019t feel a thing. Following the procedure, I had mild pain in the hand for a couple of days but otherwise I felt completely fine – it was no big deal whatsoever,\u201d Ms Furchert said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first author of the EAGER study, Dr Adam Bland who delivered the study during his advanced training in cardiology said he hoped the study would have wider implications for improving patient care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur work has recently been presented in London at the European Society of Cardiology, the largest international cardiology meeting and also simultaneously published in a leading interventional cardiology journal (Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions),\u201d Dr Bland said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe hope this study will lead to practice changes and improved safety for patients at other hospitals within Australia and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am proud of the innovative work being done here on the Central Coast and in the Hunter to improve patient care and comfort. Small changes can accrue with time to drive large benefits for our patients.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
An innovative study undertaken at Gosford Hospital and John Hunter Hospital is aiming to make heart procedures safer, less painful and faster for patients undergoing treatment for blocked arteries. Central…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8696,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sync_status":"none","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[109],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-8695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-events"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/11\/EAGER-Study-procedure.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/feed\/podcast\/default-podcast","embedCode":"
Groundbreaking EAGER Study Enhances Heart Procedure Safety and Comfort for Patients<\/a><\/blockquote>