First Coast Cardiovascular Institute

First Coast Cardiovascular Institute is committed to offering our patients the latest developments in medicine, while at the same time providing our patients with the highest quality of patient care. One of the ways we accomplish this goal is through clinical trials. Clinical trials, after all, are at the heart of all medical advances. The Research Department was started in 2007 with the guidance of Mary Hudson, RN, who laid the foundation to make the department what it is today. FCCI has been involved in many pre-market stent trials which have since been FDA approved, including Abbott's Absolute Pro Iliac Stent, Abbott's Omni Link Iliac Stent, Abbott's Angioguard Emboshield Carotid Protection Device, Endeavor Coronary Stent, Everflex SFA Stent. We have also been involved in pre-market drug trials, like our work with Xarelto, which have since been FDA approved. We are also proud to say that FCCI also participated in a pre-market trial for the Zilver PTX, the world's first and only SFA drug-eluting stent for the peripheral arteries. Now three years later, FCCI was selected as one of the first sites in the Southeast to implant the Zilver PTX stent, which combines the benefits of both mechanical and drug therapies. The data shows a clear drug effect by reducing reintervention rates by 53% compared with bare metal stenting. FCCI wants to help our patients benefit from this exciting technology.