1. ONE OF THE BIG STORIES THIS YEAR WAS THE “COUMADIN NO MORE” BLOOD THINNING AGENTS TO PREVENT STROKE FROM THE DREADED IRREGULAR RHYTHM, ATRIAL FIBRILLATION.  PRADAXA(DABIGATRAN), WAS  FIRST APPROVED AND HAS THE MOST USAGE TO DATE. ONE OTHER AGENT, XARELTO (RIVAROXABAN), WAS RECENTLY APPROVED AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO UTILIZING IT AS WELL.  2. MAINSTREAM MEDIA TOOK HOLD OF  T.A.V.I. (TRANS CATHETER AORTIC VALVE IMPLANTATION) WHERE VIA THE LARGE ARTERY IN THE GROIN, A NEW REPLACEMENT VALVE COULD BE PLACED FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SEVERE AORTIC STENOSIS (SIGNIFICANT CALCIFIED/THICKENED VALVE OBSTRUCTING OUTWARD BLOOD FLOW). THE CRITERIA AT THIS POINT ARE STRICT, AND THERE ARE SIDE EFFECTS (STROKE) THAT ARE BEING ADDRESSED, BUT THIS IS THE FUTURE UNFOLDING BEFORE OUR EYES. 3. EXCITING AND BEING PERFORMED EVERY DAY NOW IN CATH LABS ARE RADIAL (WRIST) CATHETERIZATIONS (ANGIOGRAMS) AND ANGIOPLASTIES (BALLOON AND STENT DEPLOYMENT). IT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE, BUT MANY ARE ELECTING TO USE THEIR WRIST INSTEAD OF THEIR GROINS ACROSS THE NATION.