Dr. Foster is first to perform procedure for EXCEL cardiovascular research trial

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE (Oct. 20, 2011) A Seymour, TN man is the first U.S. patient enrolled in the EXCEL cardiovascular research trial. Ronald Bennett, 71, underwent the procedure at Turkey Creek Medical Center in West Knoxville on October 4. The procedure was performed by Malcolm T. Foster, MD, interventional cardiologist with East Tennessee Heart Consultants and Michael L. Maggart, cardiothoracic surgeon with East Tennessee Cardiovascular Surgery Group. Bennett had previously been treated for coronary artery disease and had increasingly frequent episodes of angina. A catheterization revealed left main disease. After much discussion and review by both Dr. Foster and Dr. Maggart, Bennett agreed to enter the trial. Left main disease is a high-risk subset of coronary artery disease involving blockage of the left main coronary artery, which branches off the aorta to provide blood flow to the left ventricle of the heart. Surgery traditionally has been the standard treatment for left main disease, with coronary stenting reserved only for patients at high risk for surgery who are "protected" by a previous bypass graft to at least one of the two major coronary arteries that branch off the left main artery. The EXCEL trial will evaluate "unprotected" patients with left main disease who have not received grafts to these arteries to determine whether coronary stenting can be an alternative to bypass surgery in these patients. The trial is being led by a multi-disciplinary team of physician specialists representing both surgeons and cardiologists. Bennett had successful left main stent placement at Turkey Creek Medical Center and was discharged the next morning. In follow up, he is doing well with no return of his angina symptoms. He will be followed closely as part of the trial for the next five years. The EXCEL trial will enroll more than 2,600 patients at up to 165 medical centers in 18 countries from regions across the globe, including the U.S., Europe, Asia Pacific, Canada and Latin America.