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...
Original title: Influence of access site choice on incidence of neurologic complications after percutaneous coronary intervention. Reference: Karim Ratib et al. Am Heart J 2012;0:1-8 Article in press. Neurological complications post coronary angioplasty (PCA) are sporadic but they are associated with eight times increased mortality. A transradial approach has multiple advantages over femoral but could theoretically have a...
Original title: Real-Word of the Impella 2.5 Circulatory Support System in Complex High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: The USpella Registry Reference: Brijeshwar maini, et al. Catheterization and Cardiovscular Intervention For about a decade angioplasty has begun to be performed in increasingly complex patients (PE) such as those with left coronary trunk injury, 3-vessel injury, poor ventricular function and surgically...
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has widely demonstrated its significant benefits, both in high-risk and inoperable patients, as well as in those with intermediate and low risk. While paravalvular regurgitation has been a challenge, its management has improved with operator experience and a deeper understanding of CT angiographies. However, in cases of regurgitation, elevated gradient,...
Advanced stages of peripheral artery disease cause significant limitations in patients, such as critical limb ischemia (CLI), which manifests with resting pain and gangrene or ulcers of difficult resolution. Uncontrolled progression of this pathology might lead to major amputation, reduced life expectancy and increased healthcare costs. Prior research on infrapopliteal territory have shown contradicting results....
The antegrade dissection and re-entry (ADR) technique is considered essential for the management of chronic total occlusions (CTO). It serves as the primary option in some protocols for complex and extensive lesions or as a backup strategy in case of failure with other initial strategies. Dissection techniques include guided methods such as scratch and go,...
The use of drug-coated balloons (DCB) offers the advantage of avoiding permanent stent implants, thus reducing the incidence of in-stent restenosis (ISR), neoatherosclerosis, and late in-stent thrombosis. Additionally, the use of DCB reduces the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy. Current evidence supports the use of DCB for ISR treatment (Class I) compared with drug-eluting stents...
Given the obesity pandemic projected for the year 2035, it is imperative to address this disease as a priority, through well-known hygienic-dietary measures and the use of drugs that have shown promising results. Obesity has been identified as an independent cardiovascular risk factor, even after modifying risk factors associated with diabetes. Semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist,...
We invite the entire community to take part in the annual meeting of the Venezuelan Society of Interventional Cardiology (SOVECI). This prestigious event will take place on November 17 and 18 at the Eurobuilding Hotel in Caracas, Venezuela. SOVECI 2023 is an excellent opportunity for cardiologists, including other expert physicians, fellows, cardiopulmonary nurses and technicians,...
CAD related acute phenomena often present as a consequence of poor risk factor monitoring over time. Early detection of these patients, especially high risk patients, has significantly contributed to reducing morbimortality over time. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is considered a measure of atherosclerosis burden in and might be present in asymptomatic individuals. Most centers do...