The occurrence of renal failure after any endovascular intervention is associated with increased morbility and mortality. After a coronary intervention (whether it be angioplasty or surgery), renal failure increases mortality 20-fold. Relatedly, surgical repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with renal failure is also associated with a significant increase in the number of events. Read…
Peripheral Vascular Disease Is Associated to More Events in TAVR
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. The incidence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is increasing and associated with negative outcomes when overlapping with cardiovascular disease. In patients undergoing TAVR, its prevalence varies between 28% and 42%, according to different studies. However, its real impact on the rate of survival is still unclear. This study analyzed 27,440 patients >65 years…
Radiation Exposure in Chronic Total Occlusions
Even in the hands of experienced operators, rechanneling and angioplasty of a chronic total occlusion (CTO) results in patients and the whole cath lab team receiving high doses of radiation, according to this registry presented at the American Heart Association 2017 Scientific Sessions. Up to 23% of patients who undergo rechanneling of a CTO receive…
Protective Shield RADPAD Reduces the Radiation Dose Received by Operators in the Cath Lab
Despite technological developments, all people working at a cath lab are inevitably exposed to radiation and its effects. The radiation dose received by the operator is highly variable depending on procedure type, experience level, equipment used, patient characteristics, etc. Exposure to this scatter radiation may have deterministic effects, such as the onset of cataracts or…
7 articles on angioplasty that can draw your attention
1) Balloon Angioplasty: A Reasonable Plan B for Chronic Thromboembolic Hypertension Thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is caused by pulmonary artery stenosis caused by organized thrombi. The only treatment potentially healing for this disease is surgical thrombectomy. However, patients with lesions in very peripheral branches or high surgical risk patients with comorbidities might benefit from a plan B,…
Balloon Angioplasty: A Reasonable Plan B for Chronic Thromboembolic Hypertension
Thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is caused by pulmonary artery stenosis caused by organized thrombi. The only treatment potentially healing for this disease is surgical thrombectomy. However, patients with lesions in very peripheral branches or high surgical risk patients with comorbidities might benefit from a plan B, such as balloon pulmonary angioplasty. The percentage of patients with chronic…
Latest articles about peripheral vascular diseases
1) Efficacy of Micromesh-Covered Stents in Carotid Artery Stenting Most literature, old and recent, associates carotid artery stenting with a higher rate of stroke (although minor) when compared with carotid endarterectomy during the acute period. However, 30-day outcomes of angioplasty and surgery are comparable. Read more 2) Multivessel Disease and Severe Carotid Stenosis: How to Proceed Myocardial revascularization surgery (CABG) is…
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…
Study Confirms Lead Shields Protect Cath Lab Staff from Radiation Exposure
The recent publication of several reports on risk of cataract, left sided brain tumors, subclinical atherosclerosis and chromosome damage among interventional cardiologists has raised increasing concerns about radiation exposure in the cath lab. Recognizing these risks has created a demand of these new forms of protection. Unfortunately, these have mainly been focused on the main operator,…
Efficacy of Micromesh-Covered Stents in Carotid Artery Stenting
Most literature, old and recent, associates carotid artery stenting with a higher rate of stroke (although minor) when compared with carotid endarterectomy during the acute period. However, 30-day outcomes of angioplasty and surgery are comparable. Many technical advancements, including new stent designs and different cerebral protection mechanisms, have improved the outcomes of angioplasty in clinical…
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…