The antiplatelet treatment strategy providing optimal balance between thrombotic and bleeding risks in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization surgery is unclear. What does seem somewhat certain is that some antiplatelet therapy is necessary to prevent early thrombosis, mainly in vein grafts, but (as opposed to what happens with angioplasty) there are other relevant factors such as...
Last Congress Day Full of SOLACI Activities
The last day of the SOLACI-SBHCI 2019 Congress was full of sessions where different SOLACI areas were widely represented. The first morning session was “From SOLACI to SBHCI // México, Centro América and El Caribe Present: Más Allá de las Coronarias,” which addressed issues related to coronary angioplasty, the importance of imaging in structural procedures,...
Amount of Baseline Ischemia in Patients with Multivessel Disease and Long-Term Progress
According to this recent analysis of the MASS II trial, which will soon be published in JAMA, baseline ischemia is not associated with events at 10 years in patients with chronic stable angina. The ischemic burden induced through exercise does not predict events or long-term ventricular function. Such data add some suspense to the results...
Though Systolic BP Seems More Important, Diastolic BP Should Not Be Disregarded
Systolic hypertension is more often associated to cardiovascular events. However, diastolic blood pressure should not be disregarded, since it can also predict even worse outcomes. Although systolic blood pressure is very frequently associated to adverse cardiovascular events, by no means should diastolic blood pressure be considered unimportant. Such is the message of this study recently...
DES with Bioresorbable Polymer vs. Bare Metal Stents in Primary PCI
Long after myocardial revascularization guidelines had established no medical reason justifies the use of bare metal stents (BMS), along comes this study to refresh the old trials comparing drug eluting vs bare metal stents in the context of primary PCI. The problem for many countries is that primary PCI obviously occurs in the context of...
After Much Toing and Froing, Gastrointestinal Protection Is Back to the Forefront
Several clinical guidelines differ in their recommendation regarding the prescription of proton pump inhibitors to patients being treated with dual antiplatelet therapy after infarction. In 2015, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommended their use in patients with high bleeding risk; however, in the 2017 update that recommendation became general after the assumption that, for...
SOLACI in Support of the Stent — Save a Life! Initiative
The Latin American Society of Interventional Cardiology has signed a cooperation agreement with the Stent — Save a Life! Initiative, a project created by the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) and PCR in 2009. Its aim is to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes worldwide. The mission of this...
The Most Read Articles of may in Interventional Cardiology
1- Surprising EXCEL Outcomes in Diabetics with Main Left Stenosis This study especially designed to compare PCI vs. CABG in patients with left main coronary artery disease and low to intermediate Syntax score showed that 30-day and 3 -year outcomes of PCI with everolimus eluting stents vs CABG were consistent both in diabetic and non-diabetic...
EuroPCR 2019 | REVELATION: Drug Coated Balloons in ST Elevation MI
Drug coated balloons in the context of ST elevation acute myocardial infarction seem safe and feasible under certain circumstances. This single center study is the kickoff to keep studying the possibility of “leaving nothing behind” after primary PCI. This small randomized study revives drug coated balloons to be used particularly instead of stents in young...
Staged Complete Revascularization vs. Culprit Vessel PCI at Long-Term
Staged complete revascularization in patients with acute myocardial infarction and multivessel coronary disease is superior to culprit PCI only at five-year follow-up. The outcomes of this retrospective analysis show the benefit of staged PCI, though it might be attenuated in diabetic patients. Outcomes are consistent with previously published randomized studies. Nevertheless, we should remain cautious...