Is it possible for a soccer match to trigger an infarction? Is it possible for the stress derived from watching our national team play to trigger a cardiovascular event? Many might think that these are exaggerations. However, not only is it possible, but it has been proved beyond the shadow of a doubt for some<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/06/28/cardiovascular-events-during-world-cup-soccer-an-old-article-worth-remembering/" title="Read more" >...</a>
A new edition of EuroPCR has come and gone. Now is the time to make a balance and review the main presentations at one of the most important European congresses on cardiovascular interventions. Thus, we have selected the six most relevant studies presented at the event. In our opinion, you cannot afford to miss them!<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/06/07/europcr-2018-highlights-the-best-of-a-congress-that-left-plenty-of-news/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Courtesy of Dr. Alejandro Lakowsky, MTSAC (Full Member of the Argentine Society of Cardiology) The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) recently published an article about the POINT trial (simultaneously presented at the European Stroke Organisation Conference), a long-awaited randomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/06/06/what-antiplatelet-therapy-should-we-use-in-patients-with-stroke-tia-interesting-results-for-the-point-trial/" title="Read more" >...</a>
This study aimed to assess the outcome of Culotte stenting with newer-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) in Medina 1, 1, 1 bifurcation lesions. The 2nd-generation device used was permanent-polymer everolimus-eluting stent Xience, a device for which there is comparatively plenty of evidence available. Alternatively, the 3rd-generation stent used was thin-strut abluminal bioresorbable-polymer everolimus-eluting stent SYNERGY. Patients with<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/05/31/europcr-2018-2nd-and-3rd-generation-des-for-bifurcation-lesions-nothing-new-under-the-sun/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Since the publication of the original SYNTAX trial, there have been great technical advancements that have influenced the results of angioplasty: New tools for risk stratification using the SYNTAX II score which integrate clinical and anatomical variables to the team’s decision-making process. Functional revascularization (hybrid use of fractional flow reserve or instantaneous wave-free ratio). Optimization of<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/05/31/europcr-2018-syntax-ii-results-at-2-years-for-best-angioplasty-vs-surgery-in-multivessel-disease/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Most drug-eluting stents are coated by a polymer that is used to contain the antiproliferative drug. Once the drug is released, the polymer remains in place and its presence has been associated with inflammation, restenosis, and neoatherosclerosis. The MiStent device features a polymer that becomes bioabsorbable once the drug has been released, which could, theoretically,<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/05/31/europcr-2018-dessolv-iii-bioabsorbable-vs-durable-polymer-at-2-years/" title="Read more" >...</a>
The study included 36292 consecutive patients undergoing acute myocardial infarction receiving PCI with the new generation stent SYNERGY (thin struts, bioresorbable polymer and everolimus eluting); 39.7% presented ST elevation MI. Kaplan-Meier curves at 2 years of patients receiving the SYNERGY vs patients receiving other drug eluting stents resulted very similar for thrombosis (0,69% vs 0,81%,<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/05/31/europcr-2018-swedish-registry-on-the-synergy-des-tested-in-primary-pci-for-the-first-time/" title="Read more" >...</a>
After a 5-year follow-up, and for the first time, functional assessment with fractional flow reserve (FFR) showed clear benefit for a hard endpoint: acute myocardial infarction. Use of FFR in patients with stable coronary artery disease so as to identify hemodynamically significant lesions in order to restrict angioplasty treatment to them has long-term benefits compared<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/05/28/europcr-2018-fame-2-ffr-shows-5-year-benefit-for-hard-endpoints/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Classical symptomatic low-flow, low-gradient (LFLG) severe aortic stenosis is associated with low survival rates at 3 years (<50%). However, in the medium term and with surgery, those rates improve (although mortality rates are 6%-30%, depending on the series). In patients without contractile reserve, surgical mortality is higher. Patient evolution in TAVR is still mostly unclear. <a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/04/12/tavr-in-patients-with-classical-low-flow-low-gradient/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Delayed coronary obstruction (after TAVR, outside the cath lab) is a rare complication with high mortality rates, not unlike acute obstruction. Cardiologists should be expectant and, upon the slightest suspicion of this complication, patients should be brought back to the cath lab for a coronary angiography. Occlusion immediately after implant release has been well-studied and<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/04/11/delayed-coronary-obstruction-after-tavr-a-complication-we-had-not-considered/" title="Read more" >...</a>