The CHOICE trial included 241 patients with severe aortic stenosis and high surgical risk who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) using transfemoral access. These patients were randomized to balloon-expandable valve (Edwards Sapien XT) vs. self-expanding valve (Medtronic CoreValve). The endpoints were all-cause mortality, stroke, readmission, valve function parameters as measured through an ultrasound, and<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2019/05/23/europcr-2019-choice-balloon-expandable-valves-vs-self-expanding-valves-in-high-risk-patients/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Patients: What They Really Want to Know about Their Disease
When we decide that 30-day mortality to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is at least twice as high with conventional surgery compared against endovascular treatment, many of us think choosing a strategy is far from hard, and recent stats show exactly that. However, are we sure our patient agrees with us, or at least<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2019/05/15/patients-what-they-really-want-to-know-about-their-disease/" title="Read more" >...</a>
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 patients. The randomized EXCEL trial (Evaluation of XIENCE versus Coronary<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2019/05/09/surprising-excel-outcomes-in-diabetics-with-main-left-stenosis/" title="Read more" >...</a>
SOLACI-SIAC-SDC-Virginia University Joint Session
Join us on May 15 thru 18 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, to celebrate the 27th Inter-American Congress and the 27th Dominican Congress of Cardiology, organized by the Inter-American Society of Cardiology (SIAC), where SOLACI will proudly hold a joint scientific session with the Inter-American Society of Cardiology (SIAC), the Dominican Society of Cardiology (SCD)<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2019/05/07/solaci-siac-sdc-virginia-university-joint-session/" title="Read more" >...</a>
The Most Read Scientific Articles in Interventional Cardiology
1- Long-Term Foramen Ovale Closure after Cryptogenic Stroke Patent foramen ovale closure is the standard treatment for cryptogenic stroke patients. However, there are is little information on its long-term evolution. Read more 2- Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: Is There a New Plan A? The last available evidence suggests that open surgery should be the<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2019/05/03/the-most-read-scientific-articles-in-interventional-cardiology/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Promising Results for Tricuspid Repair
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is more common than we thought. Around 1.6 million people in the US and over 3 million in Europe experience significant TR. It usually has a functional cause and its negative impact on patient prognosis is strong. Its surgical treatment is challenging, and it is important that its resolution<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2019/05/03/promising-results-for-tricuspid-repair/" title="Read more" >...</a>
PCI Right After CABG: How Bad Can it Be?
In-hospital PCI right after CABG is extremely rare, but it does increase morbidity, mortality and costs significantly. It is still unclear what predictors can be modified to prevent these very early angiography and angioplasty procedures in patients that generally leave the OR with visible EKG changes. Graft failure, distal vascular bed quality, technical error or<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2019/04/25/pci-right-after-cabg-how-bad-can-it-be/" title="Read more" >...</a>
EXCEL Outcomes: PCI vs CABG in Patients with Prior Cerebrovascular disease
Most certainly, as we read this title, we imagine the conclusion (as does the editor): patients with prior cerebrovascular disease (CEVD) benefit from a less invasive revascularization strategy, such as PCI. However, the EXCEL outcomes tell us that patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) and a history of CEVD will not benefit from<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2019/04/25/excel-outcomes-pci-vs-cabg-in-patients-with-prior-cerebrovascular-disease/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Long-Term Foramen Ovale Closure after Cryptogenic Stroke
Patent foramen ovale closure is the standard treatment for cryptogenic stroke patients. However, there are is little information on its long-term evolution. The aim of this study was to determine clinical outcomes (death, ischemic or bleeding events) after foramen ovale closure over a 10-year evolution. The study included 201 consecutive patients (mean age 47<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2019/04/22/long-term-foramen-ovale-closure-after-cryptogenic-stroke/" title="Read more" >...</a>
The Most Read Articles of March in Interventional Cardiology
1- What to Do with Blood Pressure Levels Between 130/80 and 139/89 mmHg The decision to be made with a treatment-free patient with systolic blood pressure over 160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure over 100 mmHg is an easy one. All guidelines agree: treatment should be started immediately alongside lifestyle changes. Read more 2-<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2019/04/22/the-most-read-articles-of-march-in-interventional-cardiology/" title="Read more" >...</a>