4 Readmission Predictors after Successful TAVR

Readmissions are frequent after cardiovascular procedures and they significantly increase healthcare costs. Data on readmission need within the first month after successful transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are limited.   The registry included all TAVR patients surviving index hospitalization between January and February 2013 for readmission incidence, predictors, causes and costs within 30 days.  <a href="https://solaci.org/en/2017/01/28/4-readmission-predictors-after-successful-tavr/" title="Read more" >...</a>

Thrombus Aspiration during Primary PCI Does Not Improve Clinical Outcomes

Thrombus aspiration during primary PCI in ST elevation MI has been extensively used; however, recent studies have questioned its efficacy and safety.   This meta-analysis looked into individual patient data to determine the benefit and safety of thrombus aspiration during primary PCI.   It included all randomized and controlled studies assessing manual thrombectomy vs. conventional<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2017/01/09/thrombus-aspiration-during-primary-pci-does-not-improve-clinical-outcomes/" title="Read more" >...</a>

TAVR: Pre-Existing Complete Right Bundle Branch Block Is Associated with Mortality

Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. The fact that the presence of a complete right bundle branch block (RBBB) increases the risk of bradycardia, high-grade atrioventricular block, and need for a permanent pacemaker (PPM) after TAVR is well-known.   The impact of pre-existing complete right bundle branch block has not been well-studied.    This article analyses 749 patients enrolled in<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/12/05/tavr-pre-existing-complete-right-bundle-branch-block-is-associated-with-mortality/" title="Read more" >...</a>

Eventos en mujeres por reserva de flujo coronario alterado

Women: More Prone to Lower Coronary Flow Reserve

Compared to men, women have less chances of developing obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), but this new study suggests they are more prone to have lower coronary flow reserve, which is also a risk factor.   Evidently, ischemic cardiomyopathy entails far more than assessing and treating plaque burden in epicardial arteries. In women, the most<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/11/30/women-more-prone-to-lower-coronary-flow-reserve/" title="Read more" >...</a>

oclusiones totales cronicas plataformas bioabsorbibles stents liberadores de droga

Chronic Total Occlusion: Bioresorbable Scaffolds or Drug Eluting Stents?

There is little evidence to support the safety and efficacy of bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) for the treatment of chronic total occlusions (CTO).   This multicenter registry included consecutive patients with CTO receiving BRS (Absorb; Abbott Vascular) vs. 2nd generation drug eluting stents (DES).   Primary end point was target vessel failure at long term (composite<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/10/24/chronic-total-occlusion-bioresorbable-scaffolds-or-drug-eluting-stents/" title="Read more" >...</a>

Percutaneous Device Closure of PVL: An Alternative to Surgery

Paravalvular Leak (PVL) occurs in 5 to 17% of patients undergoing surgical valve replacement. Percutaneous device closure of PVL represents an alternative to repeat surgery.   All centers in UK and Ireland performing percutaneous PVL closure delivered their data to the UK PVL registry. Data were analyzed for factors associated with mortality and major cardiovascular<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/10/06/percutaneous-device-closure-of-pvl-an-alternative-to-surgery/" title="Read more" >...</a>

bifurcaciones tap o culotte provisional stenting

Culotte vs. TAP in Bifurcations: Which is Better?

Courtesy of Dr. Agustín Vecchia.   In treating bifurcations, the provisional stenting strategy continues to be preferred. However, a percentage of these lesions must be treated with two stents, which involves different techniques. In provisional stenting, when two stents are required, a recent consensus document of the European Bifurcation Club has recently recommended the TAP<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/09/14/culotte-vs-tap-in-bifurcations-which-is-better/" title="Read more" >...</a>

Coronary Perforation in PCI: Associated to Negative Outcomes

Courtesy of Dr. Guillermo Migliaro.   Coronary perforation (CP) is a rare but serious complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with an estimated incidence of 0.5%. Arterial blood entering the pericardium may cause a rapid elevation of intrapericardial pressure and collapse the right cavities (tamponade) creating hemodynamic compromise.   Historically, surgical drainage has been the<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/08/31/coronary-perforation-in-pci-associated-to-negative-outcomes/" title="Read more" >...</a>

Sex Specific Outcomes: Women after TAVI

Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. The benefits of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have been widely shown, but there is no evidence on sex-specific outcomes. Some studies have shown lower mortality and better evolution of the ventricular function in women, yet with more bleeding and stroke; however, it remains unclear.   This study included 1,019 patients<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/08/10/sex-specific-outcomes-women-after-tavi/" title="Read more" >...</a>

Low risk patients: TAVI or surgical replacement?

Original Title: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Compared With Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Low-Risk Patients. Reference: Stefano Rosato et al. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2016 May;9(5):e003326. The proved efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in high risk patients is leading the expansion of its indication for lower risk patients. All the same, compared to the<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2016/05/27/low-risk-patients-tavi-or-surgical-replacement/" title="Read more" >...</a>

cardiac failure