Cardiac complications are among the most frequent in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy for asymptomatic lesions. This excess of cardiac events in patients with no neurological symptoms of carotid stenosis is essential to balance the risk/benefit ratio of carotid endarterectomy. A routine cardiology consultation prior surgery could reduce perioperative infarction rate, general complications and even mortality. ...
Ticagrelor compared against clopidogrel produces more bleeding and also more deaths in patients over 80 recently undergoing acute myocardial infarction. Contrary to what has been observed in the general population, these data from the SWEDEHEART registry of post MI patients over 80, show higher bleeding and mortality rates with ticagrelor compared against clopidogrel. These findings...
Adding rivaroxaban to the standard treatment might reduce events incidence in lower limbs, heart, and brain, in patients with peripheral vascular disease undergoing revascularization. These new data resulted from the analysis of the VOYAGER PAD subgroups and were presented at the virtual ESC 2020. The COMPASS study had reached similar conclusions using 2.5 mg rivaroxaban...
Four years ago, we published a summary of the SMART-STRATEGY Study saying that, with bifurcation lesions, “less is more.” Last month, the DEFINITION Study published in the European Heart Journal suggested that things were about to change. Today, the DK-crush technique seems to have rendered both title and article obsolete. According to this recent analysis...
There are several studies from all corners of the world (China, Europe, USA) presenting data on the impact of COVID19 on interventional cardiology in general, and on MI in particular. What is new about this study is that it presents data on LATAM and that it has been published in an international magazine. Seldom do...
We present the first clinical case in the section “The Fellow’s Corner”, aimed at fellows in Latin America who wish to learn and always be up to date in interventional cardiology. Leave your thoughts in the comment section of this article and join the conversation! Case Authors: Jair Suriano Martins (ARG), Leonardo Ripa (ARG). Moderator:...
Cath lab activation—and everything that entails—within 20 minutes was associated with the target of performing primary angioplasty in under 2 hours in at least 75% of patients. Historically, door-to-balloon time was measured, which provided a rough idea of where there could be flaws to fix. This is particularly true in the case of patients who need to...
Extending thromboembolic prophylaxis with rivaroxaban in patients hospitalized for heart conditions reduce fatal and thromboembolic events by 28% without major bleeding payback. Patients hospitalized for heart conditions are at risk of thromboembolic events, and this is why inhospital prophylaxis (in general with low molecular weight heparin) is within the standard treatment. It was not...
Compared against coronary artery disease (CAD) or cerebrovascular disease patients, peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients have lower chances of receiving medication proved to be clinically effective such as statins (despite running the same risk, perhaps even higher risk). The message is we should be more active both in finding risk factors in PAD patients, and...
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. DES have improved PCI outcomes, but one of its biggest challenges continues to be bifurcations (especially when we have to use two stents, since it’s been associated to higher restenosis and stent thrombosis rates). Left main coronary artery true bifurcation lesions are the ones that generate the greatest challenge and...