Courtesy of Dr. Gustavo Leiva. Transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR) with the use of a self-expanding prosthesis is superior to medical therapy in patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis in whom surgical aortic-valve replacement has been associated with prohibitive risk. Among patients considered at high risk, TAVR may be an alternative to surgery. The comparative...
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. This study enrolled 72 patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement with an Edwards Sapiens valve, and then experienced a leak of at least moderate severity. Fifteen of them underwent a percutaneous leak repair after identification of the leak mostly through the presence of symptoms. Both groups were similar. Patients who...
Both surgical and medical treatment options for functional mitral regurgitation are limited. The Cardioband system (Valtech Cardio, OrYehuda, Israel) is a new transvenous, transseptal direct mitral annuloplasty device. This work studied the safety and efficacy of this new device 6 months after implantation. Thirty-one patients with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation associated with severe impairment of the left systolic ventricular...
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. Delaying or failing to heal trophic wounds in critical limb ischemia (CLI) changes quality of life, delays rehabilitation and is associated to infections and amputation. Pedal artery revascularization with angioplasty would speed up recovery and improve CLI wound healing. The study analyzed 257 patients with de novo infrapopliteal...
Original Title: Should Transcatheter Aortic valve replacement Be Performed in Nonagenarians? Insights from the STS/ACC TVT Registry. Reference: Mani Arsalan et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016 Mar 29;67(12):1387-95. Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava The benefit of the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI) has already been shown in the general population undergoing this procedure. The number...
Original Title: Effects of Ranolazine in Angina and Quality of Life after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Incomplete Revascularization Results from the Ranolazine for Incomplete Vessel Revascularization (RIVER-PCI) Trial. Reference: Karen P. Alexander et al. Circulation. 2016 Jan 5;133(1):39-47 Courtesy of Dr. Santiago Alonso Persistence or return of angina after PCI is relatively frequent, which is why...
Original Title: Wound Healing Outcomes and Health-Related Quality-of-Life Changes in the ACHILLES Trial1-Year Results From a Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of Infrapopliteal Balloon Angioplasty Versus Sirolimus-Eluting Stenting in Patients With Ischemic Peripheral Arterial Disease. Reference: Konstantinos Katsanos et al. J Am Coll Cardiol Intv. 2016, online before print. The ACHILLES study (Comparing Angioplasty and DES...
Original Title: One-Year Outcomes Following Directional Atherectomy of Infrapopliteal Lesions: Subgroup Results of the Prospective, Multicenter DEFINITIVE LE Trial. Reference: Aljoscha Rastan, et al Journal Endovascular Therapy 2015;22:839-846 Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava Infrapopliteal peripheral vascular disease continues to rise, especially in patients with diabetes and kidney failure, usually presenting diffuse and fairly calcified lesions. Removing...
Original Title: Time to Cost-Effectiveness Following Stroke Reduction Strategies in AF Warfarin vs. NOACs vs. LAA Closure. Reference: Vivek Y. Reddy et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2015;66(24):2728-2739. Left atrial appendage closure and the new anticoagulants (NOACs) have emerged as safe and effective alternatives to warfarin for stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. This analysis...
Original Title: Sustained Durability of Treatment Effect Using a Drug-Coated Balloon for Femoropopliteal Lesions. 24-Month Results of IN.PACT SFA. Reference: John R. Laird et al. J Am CollCardiol. 2015 [Epub ahead of print]. The IN.PACT SFA studies and follows up patients treated with IN.PACT Admiral DCB (Medtronic®) for superficial femoral artery (SFA) and popliteal artery disease....