St elevation acute coronary syndromes are typically caused by thrombotic obstruction of a coronary artery due to ruptured atherosclerosis plaque. However, there is a significant number of patients with similar clinical presentations but no evidence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Read also: CTO in patients with acute myocardial infarction increases long term mortality. In general, patients without...
FOURIER: Evolocumab Found Beneficial for Patients with Peripheral Vascular Disease of Prior MI
Patients with peripheral vascular disease or prior acute myocardial infarction (especially within the first two years after the event) could find a particular benefit the PCSK9 receptor inhibitor evolocumab. Given its high cost, the drug is not yet cost/effective and when prescribed, most patients were no table to complete the treatment. Read also: “Missed Opportunities with...
Is Same-Day Discharge After Angioplasty Safe?
Overnight observation after coronary angioplasty has been the standard of care in the United States. The foundations for this practice go back to the early days of balloon angioplasty, when acute occlusion and access-site complications were frequent. There are several registries and randomized studies showing the clear safety of same-day discharge after coronary angioplasty. This practice...
FOURIER: Efficacy of Evolocumab for Ultra-Low LDL Levels
It seems that a LDL level of 70 mg/dL is no longer low enough for high-risk secondary patients; in consequence, this study attempted to set a new target, one that appears almost impossible to reach: 40 mg/dL or lower. This study, simultaneously presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2017 and published in The Lancet, showed...
DETO2X-AMI: Supplemental O2 Provides No Benefit for Patients with Suspected Infarction
According to this study simultaneously presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2017 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, routinely providing supplemental oxygen therapy to patients without hypoxemia with suspected acute myocardial infarction did not result in a reduction in the 1-year risk of all-cause mortality when compared with patients receiving...
Post DES Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Still under Debate
The NIPPON trial (Nobori Dual Antiplatelet Therapy as Appropriate Duration) was a randomized study comparing a short dual antiplatelet therapy scheme (6 months) vs. a prolonged scheme (18 months) in patients receiving the Nobori drug eluting stent (Terumo, Tokyo, Japan) with a biodegradable abluminal polymer. It included 3,773 patients with chronic stable angina or acute coronary...
Prior assistance with Impella 2.5 lowers 30-day mortality in cardiogenic shock due to unprotected left main coronary artery lesion
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. The prevalence of cardiogenic shock in acute myocardial infarction (MI) is 7%-10%, and it is associated with high mortality rates. Unfortunately, 0.7% of these cases are a consequence of unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) as MI-culprit lesion. Its evolution is generally disastrous. Ventricular assist device support and its implementation time may...
TOPIC: Benefits of Switching Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients with ACS
Newer P2Y12 blockers are the front-line treatment and dual antiplatelet therapy is indicated for 1 year after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Both prasugrel and ticagrelor offer more ischemic benefit than clopidogrel during the initial phase; however, bleeding complications could increase in the long term. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy...
Infarction in Cariogenic Shock: Prioritizing the Use of Impella Could Improve Survival
This small study suggests the early use of Impella ventricular support device in patients undergoing AMI complicated by cardiogenic shock could help lower mortality rate in this population. However, study design should moderate our enthusiasm, mainly because of the cost of this device. Detroit Cardiogenic Shock Initiative has stressed early identification of cardiogenic...
See the presentations of the Bolivia Sessions 2017
We thank all the speakers of the Bolivia Sessions2017 who shared their presentations to contribute to our mission of promoting Interventional Cardiology in Latin America. See them below Agatiello, Carla: “Como iniciar un programa TAVI en Latinoamérica”. Arregui, Elizabeth: “Estenosis aórtica: candidatos para TAVI”. Bello, Fernando: “Enfermedad carotídea: Tratamiento quirúrgico”. ...