In the first session of SOLACI-SOCIME 2022 on “Complex angioplasty guided by intravascular imaging”, Dr. Alejandro Diaz (MEX) reviewed the evidence on intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in complex angioplasties. A meta-analysis indicated its use is associated with a significant decrease in the risk of death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and new target lesion revascularization (TLR) in...
The fractal geometry of coronary bifurcations offers a mismatch between the proximal diameter of the main branch and the distal branches that make up the bifurcation. Angioplasty in this area can be performed through different techniques depending on plaque distribution, and the particular geometry of each bifurcation. Overall, and regardless of the strategy used, there...
According to the CASTLE trial, the Orsino stent—a biodegradable, ultrathin, sirolimus-eluting stent—provides the same results at 12 months as Xience in angioplasty guided by intravascular imaging. This research was presented at the virtual EuroPCR 2021 Congress. Previous studies (BIOSTEMI and BIOFLOW V) showed that Orsiro was superior to Xience in reducing target-lesion revascularization. However, the reason behind this...
The benefits of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance in all angioplasties with second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) persist through 3 years of follow-up. These data derive from the extended follow-up of the ULTIMATE study, presented virtually at TCT 2020 and published simultaneously in JACC Intv. At 3 years, target-vessel failure remained lower in patients whose angioplasty was guided by...
Complex angioplasties require not only experience and patience but also technology. Imaging–guided pre-dilation, stent sizing, and post-dilation reduced the cardiovascular events after a 3-year follow-up in patients who received drug-eluting stents in complex angioplasties. This paper, recently published in JACC Interventions, compared the 3-year outcome of the complex angioplasty optimization technique with intravascular imaging to...
According to a recent study published in Circ. Cardiovasc Interv, after a scheduled angioplasty, the rate of arrhythmia requiring some kind of treatment is very low, low enough to deem unnecessary the routine monitoring of all patients. The standard policy at many institutions is continuous cardiac monitoring for several hours after undergoing coronary angioplasty, with...
For patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction and multivessel disease beyond the culprit artery, complete revascularization is superior to culprit-only treatment as regards the final endpoint, a composite of cardiovascular death, infarction, and ischemia-driven revascularization over a mean follow-up of 3 years. This information derives from long-awaited randomized study COMPLETE, finally presented at the...
The new European guidelines on myocardial revascularization were developed by a joint effort of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Association of Cardiovascular Surgery (EACTS). These guidelines are intended to support clinical practice with pragmatic recommendations based on currently available evidence and on personal experience, whenever evidence is missing. Both coronary angioplasty...
In this large international multicenter population, computed-tomography (CT)-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR) modified treatment recommendation in two-thirds of subjects compared with CT angiography alone, and it was associated with less negative invasive angiographies. It also predicted revascularization and identified low-risk patients. A non-invasive means to know the anatomy and function of patients with stable chronic...
Long-term follow-up of patients under 50 with multivessel coronary artery disease suggests surgery outcomes are significantly better than angioplasty outcomes. This study, presented at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons’ (STS) Annual Meeting, concludes that surgery should continue as plan A when it comes to young patients with three-vessel disease. Surgeons complain that many patients never actually...