A new edition of EuroPCR has come and gone. Now is the time to make a balance and review the main presentations at one of the most important European congresses on cardiovascular interventions. Thus, we have selected the six most relevant studies presented at the event. In our opinion, you cannot afford to miss them!
1) EuroPCR 2018 | FAME 2: FFR Shows 5-Year Benefit for Hard Endpoints
After a 5-year follow-up, and for the first time, functional assessment with fractional flow reserve (FFR) showed clear benefit for a hard endpoint:acute myocardial infarction.
2) EuroPCR 2018 | FFR Reduces Death and Infarction Rates Compared with Medical Treatment
Pooled data from the most important recently published studies (FAME 2, Compare-Acute, and DANAMI3-PRIMULTI) conclude that there is a significant difference in favor of fractional flow reserve (FFR) as regards hard endpoints.
3) EuroPCR 2018 | ORBITA: The Link Between Ischemia and Symptoms Is Still Not Entirely Understood
Invasive physiology tests used in the ORBITA trial could not predict which patients would benefit from angioplasty more than placebo (sham procedure) in terms of the trial’s primary endpoint, improvement in exercise time. These data were presented at EuroPCR 2018 and published simultaneously in Circulation.
Several studies are defining the role oftranscatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with low surgical risk. One of the main concerns for this population, whose life expectancy is much longer, has to do with TAVR durability compared with a surgically-implanted biological valves.
5) EuroPCR 2018 | SENTINEL: Anatomical Predictors of Stroke during TAVR
The rate of cerebrovascular events in TAVR hovers about 4% in most of the current studies, regardless the center, the operator or the prosthetic valve. At present, no scores can adequately predict which patients run the highest risk of stroke during TAVR, and the routine use of cerebral protection devices remains controversial.
6) EuroPCR 2018 | SPYRAL HTN-ON MED: Renal Denervation Comes Back to Life
After several trials with neutral outcomes, renal denervation had been demoted for some time. However, this new study presented at EuroPCR 2018 and simultaneously published in the LANCET brings back the technique with improved devices that seem to yield improved outcomes.