Original title: Endovascular Repair of Ascending Aortic Dissection. A Novel Treatment Option for Patients Judged Unfit for Direct Surgical Repair. Reference: Qingsheng Lu, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013;61:1917–24. The dissecting aneurysm Type A represents 60% or aortic dissections and a real challenge as regards both therapeutics and the adequate moment to perform it, due to the…
Bivalirudin reduces bleeding complications in carotid angioplasty
Original title: Hemorrhagic and ischemic outcomes after bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin during carotid artery stenting: A propensity score analysis from the NCDR. Reference: Wayangankar SA et al. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2013;Epub ahead of print. Bivalirudin is a direct thrombin inhibitor that has shown similar efficacy with a better safety profile in the context of coronary angioplasty. However, its…
More evidence for drug eluting balloons in the femoropopliteal region
Original title: 2-Year Results of Paclitaxel-Eluting Balloons for Femoropopliteal Artery Disease. Evidence From a Multicenter Registry. Reference: Antonio Micari et al. J Am Coll Cardiol Intv 2013;6:282–9. Paclitaxel-eluting balloons appear safe and effective for treating atherosclerotic lesions in the femoropopliteal region, leaving the stent only as a rescue strategy against a suboptimal outcome. However, the vast majority of…
Endovascular Therapy in Acute Stroke Still Being Discussed
Original title: Mechanical Recanalization with Flow Restoration in Acute Ischemic Stroke. The Mechanical Recanalization with Flow Restoration in Acute Ischemic Stroke (ReFlow) Study. Reference: Christian Roth et al. J Am Coll Cardiol Intv 2013. Article in press. The intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) has proved to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke. In the…
Paclitaxel eluting balloon in the femoropopliteal region
Original title: Paclitaxel-Coated Versus Uncoated Balloon Angioplasty Reduces Target Lesion Revascularization in Patients With Femoropopliteal Arterial Disease. A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. Reference: Salvatore Cassese et al. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2012;5:582-589. Balloon angioplasty is one of the most frequent alternatives used in patients with peripheral vascular disease, especially in the femoropopliteal region. However, its effectiveness is reduced in…
Equivalent results for Zenith and Endurant devices for aneurysms with unfavorable necks.
Original title: Outcomes of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair with 2 different Endograft Systems With Suprarenal Fixation in Patients With Hostile Infrarenal Aortic Anatomy. Reference: George A. Antomiuo et al. Vascular Endovascular Surgery 47(1):9-18 The unfavorable or hostile anatomy of abdominal aortic aneurysms is a limitation of endovascular treatment and is related to complications after implantation such as migration, the…
Critical limb ischemia, always try to revascularize
Original title: Endovascular Treatment for Infrainguinal Vessels in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia : OLIVE Registry, a Prospective, Multicenter Study in Japan With 12-Month Follow-up. Reference: Osamu Iida et al. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2013;6:00-00 Patients with critical limb ischemia typically reveal rest pain and ischemic ulcers or gangrene. Prognosis is poor and mortality and amputation rate are elevated.…
Endovascular therapy after t-PA: no additional benefit for patients with acute stroke
Original title: Endovascular Therapy after Intravenous t-PA versus t-PA Alone for Stroke. Interventional Management of Stroke (IMS) III. Reference: Joseph P. Broderick et al. N Engl J Med 2013.DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1214300 Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA; alteplase [Activase, Genentech, or Actilyse, Boehringer Ingelheim]) is the only reperfusion therapy proved useful for patients with acute ischemic stroke and its clinical efficacy…
Chronic Type B Dissection, better with endoprosthesis than with medical treatment
Original title: The results of stent graft versus medication therapy for chronic type B dissection Reference: Xin Jia et al. J Vasc Surg 2013;57:406-14 In many institutions patients with Chronic Stanford Type B Aortic Dissection is most often treated medically, and the thoracic endovascular aortic repair implant TEVAR or the surgical procedure are reserved for those who evolve…
Fenestrated prosthetics versus surgery for aneurysms of the abdominal aorta with hostile neck
Original title: Comparison of fenestrated endovascular and open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms not suitable for standard endovascular repair. Reference: Rana Canavati et al. J Vasc Surg 2013;57:362-7. Studies in patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm that could receive a standard stent versus conventional surgery, showed reduced perioperative mortality with endovascular treatment. However, these same results in patients…
Radiation-associated Lens Opacities in Catheterization Personnel: Results of a Survey and Direct Assessments
The development of interventional cardiology has led us to successfully treat injuries and angiographic situations increasingly complex. This goes along that often the length of procedures is increasing automatically leading to increased fluoroscopy time and film images. The result, often unnoticed, is the possibility of the appearance of irradiation injuries in our patients or in…