Indicating statins to reach more aggressive LDL goals in patients that have suffered transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke driven by atherosclerosis significantly reduces major cardiovascular events according to this study presented in the AHA 2019 scientific sessions simultaneously published in NEJM. The study was prematurely ended because of lack of funding, but its outcomes…
SYMPLICITY Registry: Renal Denervation Struggles Not to Be Forgotten
Long-term data from this registry account for the largest cohort of hypertensive patients who received renal denervation in a real-world clinical setting. This study, recently published by the European Heart Journal, confirms both the safety and efficacy of the procedure with significant and sustained reductions in both office and ambulatory blood pressure. The Global SYMPLICITY…
Safety of Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons in Peripheral Vascular Disease
Everybody keeps wondering whether drug-coated balloons can actually increase mortality. If that is the case, there is an even harder question in need of an answer: what would be the physiopathology for such increase in mortality? As a lukewarm message, the US Food and Drug Administration recommended a special informed consent form when these devices…
The Most Read Scientific Articles in September at Solaci.org
1- ESC 2019 | New European Guidelines on “Chronic Coronary Syndromes” In Paris, during the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2019 Scientific Sessions, new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic coronary syndromes were presented. This document, simultaneously published in Euro Heart J, updates the 2013 guidelines on stable ischemic heart disease and…
Should Interventional Cardiologists Be Involved in Acute Stroke?
According to this single-site study, published in J Am Coll Cardiol Intv., interventional cardiologists can safely conduct revascularizations in a setting of acute stroke, with high clinical and technical success. Cardiologists are taking on this traditional interventional neurology field simply due to the lack of interventional neurologists, who are thus unable to provide coverage 24/7,…
The Most Read Articles of August in solaci website
1-FDA Expands TAVR Indication to Low-Risk Patients Both the self-expandable valve Evolut R and its direct competitor, balloon-expandable valve Sapien 3, received the authorization to be indicated for low-risk patients in a long-awaited announcement made on August 16th, 2019. Read also HERE 2-Mechanisms of Post PCI Persistent Angina Angina persistence or recurrence after PCI can…
Should We Start Using the Retrograte Access in Critical Limb Ischemia?
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. Peripheral vascular disease in lower limbs is on the rise. Antegrade recanalization is associated with amputation and death, and therefore contraindicated. For a while we have been using the retrograde access when classic revascularization is not possible. Even though there is evidence in favor of this access, it is just…
The Real Impact of Peripheral Artery Disease in TAVR
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. The real incidence of peripheral artery (PAD) disease in TAVR remains unclear. Different reports still estimate it is between 10 and 46%, but they have shown it has a negative impact in evolution. 51,685 TAVR patients were analyzed. 12,740 of these patients presented PAD (24.6%). PAD patients tended to be…
The Most Read Articles of July in solaci website
1-Though Systolic BP Seems More Important, Diastolic BP Should Not Be Disregarded Systolic hypertension is more often associated to cardiovascular events. However, diastolic blood pressure should not be disregarded, since it can also predict even worse outcomes. Read more HERE 2-After Much Toing and Froing, Gastrointestinal Protection Is Back to the Forefront Several clinical guidelines…
Permanent Carotid Coil Filters in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
This new strategy to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation is technically feasible and safe, even though long-term outcomes are yet to be seen and despite the evidence available, for instance, left atrial appendage closure devices. It is true that they could be used simultaneously, but its synergy and cost have…
Angioplasty vs. Surgery in Lower Limb Ischemia
This analysis of data from an already published study, “Bypass Versus Angioplasty in Severe Ischemia of the Limb (BASIL-1),” confirms the superiority of bypass over balloon angioplasty, with or without stenting, in patients with chronic lower limb ischemia who require a femoropopliteal intervention. While analyzed interventions took place between 1999 and 2003 (a fact subject…