SOLACI | Latin American Society of Interventional Cardiology

1) New High Blood Pressure Guidelines

The wait is finally over: the high blood pressure guidelines that have been in the works for the past 3 years saw the light of day at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2017 Scientific Sessions.

2) Nearly half of interventional cardiologists may have pre-cataract lesions

This statement is based on eye exams conducted during the last SCAI meeting (Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions), where 47% of evaluated operators had radiation related lesions in their crystalline. In time, these might turn into cataract.

3) Effects of Cerebral Radiation on Interventional Cardiologists

In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the occupational hazard for interventional cardiologists who have high and unprecedented levels of ionizing radiation exposure.

4) Left Main Coronary Artery Angioplasty vs. Surgery: A Large Meta-Analysis

Around 5% of patients undergoing coronary angiography present severe left main coronary artery (LMCA) lesions. Myocardial revascularization surgery (MRS) is the preferred method for this group, although there is evidence from different randomized trials demonstrating the safety and efficacy of unprotected LMCA angioplasty, with results similar to those obtained through the traditional strategy.

5) Important Study Detects Radiation-Induced DNA Damage in Operators After an Endovascular Procedure

In recent years, we have seen (both as witnesses and actors) an exponential increase in the number of fluoroscopically-guided cardiovascular interventions carried out by interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, and vascular surgeons. Not long ago, most pathologies treated with these procedures were the exclusive domain of open surgery. Now, a large number of patients can be treated much less invasively, at a cost we still cannot appreciate in its entirety.

6) Proximal anterior descending artery angioplasty: what are its long-term outcomes?

Certain coronary lesions have been historically discouraged for endovascular treatment. Among these can be found left main coronary artery lesions, multivessel disease, and proximal anterior descending artery lesions. As a matter of fact, the latter is actually considered separately as a criterion for choosing the revascularization method.

7) CULPRIT-SHOCK Results Will Transform Guidelines and Clinical Practice

After treating the culprit lesion in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock, continuing revascularization of all other lesions worsens outcomes. This finding of the CULPRIT-SHOCK trial has changed entirely the way we treated this patient group and will surely modify guidelines.

8) The End of Aspirin for Anticoagulated Patients Undergoing PCI

The discussion about the best anti-thrombotic strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing PCI seemed never-ending until the RE-DUAL PCI trial was published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). This study has arrived to simplify the tough choice between the risk of a thrombotic event vs. the risk of bleeding with a simpler scheme, without giving up efficacy and gaining in safety.

9) PRESERVE: IV Bicarbonate and Oral N-Acetylcysteine Do Not Prevent Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury

Use of IV bicarbonate instead of saline and administration of oral N-acetylcysteine are not effective strategies for preventing contrast-associated acute kidney injury in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing angiography, according to the randomized PRESERVE trial that was presented at the AHA 2017 Scientific Sessions and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).