Focused Ultrasound Matches Prostatectomy for Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer
LAS VEGAS — Focused ultrasound ablation for prostate cancer proved at least equivalent to radical prostatectomy for failure-free survival, according to a randomized trial reported here. After 3 years of follow-up, treatment failure had occurred in 5.6% of patients treated with focused ablation and 7.9% of the prostatectomy groups. The difference did not achieve statistical […]
Pulsed Field Ablation Measures Up in Head-to-Head Trial
AMSTERDAM — Pulsed field ablation appeared as safe and effective as thermal ablation in treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (Afib) in the first randomized head-to-head trial for the novel technology. Efficacy failure of the procedure — initial procedural failure, documented atrial tachyarrhythmia after a 3-month blanking period, antiarrhythmic drug use, cardioversion, or repeat ablation — at […]
Afib Ablation Exceeds Expectations in Sickest Heart Failure Patients
AMSTERDAM — Catheter ablation conferred large clinical benefits to people with end-stage heart failure and symptomatic atrial fibrillation (Afib) in the small CASTLE HTx randomized trial that was terminated prematurely for efficacy. The trial, originally planned for 2 years, was brought to a halt upon the discovery that these patients undergoing catheter ablation had fewer […]
Hysterectomy Ultimately Needed After 1 in 8 Endometrial Ablations
Hysterectomy rates can be expected to rise slowly in the months and years following endometrial ablation, regardless of ablation device type, a meta-analysis found. Risk of hysterectomy rose to from 4.3% at 1 year post-endometrial ablation to 12.4% at 5 years in patients with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), reported Tamara Oderkerk, MD, of Maxima Medical […]
Advanced Parkinson’s Symptoms Improved With Focused Ultrasound
Unilateral focused ultrasound ablation targeted to the globus pallidus internus led to a higher percentage of Parkinson’s disease patients with improved motor function or reduced dyskinesia compared with sham over 3 months but was associated with adverse neurologic effects, a pivotal trial showed. A total of 45 patients (69%) in the focused ultrasound group had […]
Start Rhythm Control Early for Afib With Heart Failure
Tackling rhythm control early, with ablation or antiarrhythmic medication in the first year after atrial fibrillation (Afib) diagnosis, helped outcomes in people with heart failure (HF), a prespecified subanalysis of the EAST-AFNET 4 trial showed. The early strategy cut the composite of cardiovascular death, stroke, or hospitalization for worsening HF or for acute coronary syndrome […]