At present, the transfemoral access (TFA) is the preferred approach when it comes to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, 5 to10% of PAD patients present tortuous iliac anatomy and calcification, aortic aneurysms or prior peripheral intervention, which makes it impossible. There are several alternatives to approach these patients: 1) TFA associated to peripheral PCI...
Less than half of patients undergoing endovascular revascularization for peripheral artery disease to their lower limbs are discharged with optimal medical treatment. Their traditional risk factors are predictors of a more comprehensive treatment; however, women, patients with higher risk of thrombosis, and those more likely to lose a lower limb, are far from being treated...
Original title: Supervised Exercise, Stent Revascularization, or Medical Therapy for Claudication Due to Aortoiliac Peripheral Artery DiseaseThe CLEVER Study. Reference: J Am Coll Cardiol. 2015;65(10):999-1009. Percutaneous revascularization has been effective to treat claudication due to aortoiliac peripheral artery disease. However, supervised exercise can also offer benefits in terms of functional class and quality of life, at least in...
For years, treating dyslipidemia mainly focused on reducing LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) with statins, which had shown benefits in reducing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a form of apoB-containing lipoprotein bound to a hydrophilic, highly glycosylated protein called apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)]. Circulating levels of Lp(a) are genetically determined, and are hardly affected by eating habits...
Individual randomized studies have shown variable results regarding the mortality risk following treatment of left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD), either through percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, upon assessment of the latest meta-analyses (with matched data), similar risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality have been reported for both groups....
Coronary artery disease, both obstructive and non-obstructive, often coexists with significant aortic stenosis. Therapeutic decision-making in this scenario remains controversial, not only regarding the need for treatment, but also about when it should be addressed, considering its pros and cons. Various analyses have yielded contradictory data, as most lesions are chronic and stable. Currently, the...
In patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD), the presence of diabetes has been significantly associated with increased failure of critical lower limb ischemia (CLI) treatment, and higher incidence of amputation. This relationship has been attributed mainly to comorbidities and patient characteristics, concomitant peripheral neuropathy and marked microvascular alteration. Also, a high proportion of these patients...
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is considered the treatment of choice in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, it is widely acknowledged that, in many cases, there are significant lesions in other coronary arteries. Previous randomized studies have shown that complete revascularization in a second procedure is more beneficial than intervention only in the culprit artery....
The population over 75 is growing gradually, which entails an increase in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in this group. As we all know, it is fairly common for AMI to present with multivessel disease. It has been shown that younger patients will benefit from complete revascularization vs. a simple resolution of the culprit vessel. However,...
Coronary artery disease (CAD) coexists with aortic stenosis in about half the patients who suffer the latter. These patients receiving antiplatelet therapy are at a higher risk of periprocedural bleeding—one of the most frequent complications in patients who undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). One way of limiting the risk for bleeding is choosing the...