Clinical trials in interventional cardiology

Several well-designed, randomized trials and registries have recently been completed in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) f or the treatment of symptomatic coronary artery disease. These studies have further clarified the value of newer pharmacologic and mechanical approach es to patients with atherosclerotic disease and have resulted in improved c linical outcomes in patients undergoing PCI, As a result, many of the older paradigms of lesion-specific device selection have been revised to include the intricate balance of devices and drugs, tailored to the specific clini cal presentation and lesion morphology in patients undergoing PCI, This art icle reviews several recent clinical trials and discusses their impact on e arly and late outcomes in patients undergoing PCI for symptomatic coronary artery disease. Curr Opin Cardiol 1999, 14:412-418 (C) 1999 Lippincott Will iams & Wilkins, Inc.