Solace in our work.

It's a difficult time for our country. No matter what your opinions on the war with Iraq, the grave seriousness of this war is beyond a doubt. Daily, we have been witnessing the pain and suffering of soldiers, of men, women and children. The everydayness of the work routine can provide a means through which we can soothe ourselves and maintain a certain level of sanity. While lives are lost in war, in cardiac cath labs across the world, cardiac cath lab professionals and physicians work to save lives. Every day, you help to alleviate suffering. It’s a blessing to be able to do so much good for so many. That’s certainly something to be proud of, and I am proud to work for you. This month in CLD, we are offering an issue worthy of discussion in your lab. We spoke with Dr. Michael Attubato, one of the REPLACE-2 investigators, regarding some of the controversy that has been surrounding this trial. I thank the CLD editorial board members for their input, which helped us ask some thought-provoking questions. We also had the chance to speak with Patricia Welsh, CCRC, Coordinator of Research Projects at The Cleveland Clinic. She is working on one of the most amazing projects in coronary artery disease studies today managing the collection of blood samples and data on 10,000 coronary artery disease patients. Her discussion of the Genebank project allows for a thoughtful look ahead, into a future where CAD might yet find a cure. The Cath Lab Digest Email Discussion Group challenges the validity of site verification in the cath lab. One member notes that it could possibly open up the lab to legal vulnerability. Whether or not you agree, the details of this discussion will cause you to take a second look at your own lab’s policy. Our commitment to education continues with our second CME/CEU activity, supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Cordis Corporation. It’s a two-part article that introduces the concept of late loss and reiterates the importance of also considering target lesion revascularization when evaluating drug-eluting stent trial data. With the swirls of data that are constantly surrounding us, this is a welcome offering. Knowledge is the one thing no one can ever take from you. Rebecca Yospyn Managing Editor cathlabdigest@aol.com

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