Intervention of chronic total occlusions (CTO) through angioplasty (PCI) can cause complications, even in highly experienced centers. Plenty has been written on the probability of success for the treatment of CTOs using scores such as CL-SCORE, J-CTO, ORA, E-CTO, CASTLE-CTO, etc. (some of which are usually used when preparing these cases). However, besides estimating success...
Second generation drug-eluting stents have lower frequency of thrombotic complications and in-stent restenosis. While clinical results have significantly improved, having a 2-3% annual rate of these complications within the first year after angioplasty is still worrisome. This resulted in the development of stents with struts <70 µm (ultrathin), with bioresorbable polymer and abluminal cover. Stents...
The prevalence of coronary lesions with bifurcation involvement is about 20% in patients undergoing coronary angiography (CTA). While provisional stenting is overall the most accepted technique, the 2018 myocardial revascularization guidelines recommend the 2-stent technique for complex bifurcation lesions, defined as side branch with lesion >5mm, distal reference diameter of the side branch ≥2.75, or...
Percutaneous treatment of coronary lesions affecting bifurcations has increased in recent decades. Coronary angioplasty (percutaneous coronary intervention, PCI) in these cases is associated with an increased rate of adverse events in patients with multivessel disease and left main coronary artery lesions. The SYNTAX score, which is a predictor of total mortality, is used to evaluate...
The concepts of ischemia with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) and myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) have been established, widely spread, accepted, and included in the different guidelines that support our clinical practice. Among INOCA and MINOCA we find vasospastic angina (VSA) caused by epicardial vessel spasms and angina caused by microvascular...
The proportion of patients treated with coronary angioplasty who are at a high risk for bleeding is increasing. In this population, extended dual antithrombotic therapy increases the risk of bleeding. The 1-year randomized Onyx one study has demonstrated the non-inferiority of zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES) vs. biolimus-coated polymer-free stent BioFreedom (DCS). Patients received dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT)...
In general, thrombus aspiration in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been shown beneficial by large studies. It could even be prejudicial, since it has been associated with stroke. However, there are certain scenarios where the presence of a significant number of these prevents us from reaching adequate TIMI flow 3, or is associated with...
Drug-eluting balloons have demonstrated safety and effectiveness in the treatment of small-vessel coronary artery disease and in-stent restenosis. However, randomized studies were performed using paclitaxel. Several studies have shown that using biolimus, a semisynthetic analog of sirolimus, optimizes drug delivery in both stents and balloons. The aim of this randomized, multicenter study was to evaluate...
Coronary revascularization with drug-eluting stents (DES) is very frequent, especially in acute coronary syndromes, but these metallic stents are permanent foreign bodies that activate the entire inflammatory system. Using bioresorbable stents (BRS) emerged as an alternative to this challenge. Although the initial results of the ABSORB study were not as expected (probably due to a...
Currently, the American and European guidelines recommend coronary angioplasty in patients with severe aortic stenosis with lesions >70% (Class IIa) who will undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, the benefit of performing a revascularization in these patients is still uncertain. This prospective multicenter study included 2025 patients divided into two groups: complete revascularization (N = 1310)...