Clinical experience with a novel, irrigated, flexible tip ablation catheter in atrial fibrillation ablation.

Aim: This paper aimed at assessing clinical efficacy and safety of a new fully irrigated and flexible tip catheter (Therapy™ Cool Flex™, St Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA) in ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: The study enrolled 117 consecutive patients with symptomatic AF who underwent for the first time a circumferential pulmonary vein isolation with a new irrigated and flexible tip catheter.

Next-generation drug-eluting stents in coronary artery disease: focus on everolimus-eluting stent (Xience V).

Percutaneous coronary revascularization has been a mainstay in the management of coronary artery disease since its introduction in the late 1970s. Bare-metal stents and, more recently, first-generation drug-eluting stents (DES), such as sirolimus-eluting (Cypher) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (Taxus), have further improved results of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by improving early results and reducing the risk of restenosis. There is currently debate on the safety of these first-generation DES, given the potential for late stent thrombosis, especially after discontinuation of dual antiplatelet therapy.