01- Virtual ACC 2020 | Controversial Trial ISCHEMIA Finally in NEJM In November 2019, during the American Heart Association (AHA) 2019 Scientific Sessions, researchers presented this revolutionary trial that called the attention of all cardiologists. We had to wait until March to read the fine print; back then, a global pandemic such as the current one seemed...
Adult congenital heart disease is a life-long condition that requires appropriate follow-up by experts. Said follow-up is paramount to diagnosing specific and highly variable complications in a timely manner. The recently published European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of congenital heart disease calls for a summary of its most important aspects as “ten...
Using Sapien 3, transcatheter mitral valve replacement to treat failed bioprosthetic valves can be performed with a high degree of technical success. Failed mitral bioprosthetic valves are truly challenging due to how frequent symptoms are and the high morbidity/mortality associated with a new surgical replacement. Furthermore, there are no catheter options specifically designed to treat this...
01- Ticagrelor or Prasugrel in ST Elevation MI In patients undergoing ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) receiving primary PCI, no significative differences between prasugrel and ticagrelor were found. However, the latter was associated to a significantly higher number of repeat MI when considered separately. Read more HERE 02- Number of Hours of Sleep and...
The objective of this paper recently published in J Am Coll Cardiol Intv was to compare the outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with the new Sapien 3 Ultra vs. Sapien 3. Successful implantation was extremely high with both balloon-expandable devices, which also had a very low adverse event rates. However, Sapien Ultra was significantly better...
Evolocumab, a PCSK9 inhibitor, has shown significant reduction of complex coronary disease requiring revascularization (be it PCI or CABG). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors induce plaque regression and could eventually reduce the risk of coronary revascularization, especially complex revascularization. The FOURIER study randomized 27564 patients with stable CAD already on statins to evolocumab...
Results confirm the interim analysis, whereby the study was suspended for futility. Omega-3 fatty acids do not reduce cardiovascular events in patients with high triglycerides and low HDL. Previous studies, such as REDUCE-IT, had shown positive results, but given this new research (presented at the American Heart Association [AHA] 2020 Congress and simultaneously published in...
High risk patients undergoing elective PCI treated with a more potent antiplatelet scheme (ticagrelor) vs. the classic clopidogrel do not see a benefit in protection against periprocedural events and instead see increased costs and minor bleeding rate. These are the outcomes of the ALPHEUS study presented at AHA 2020 simultaneously published in the Lancet. Ticagrelor...
Elderly patients (>70) with high cholesterol levels have been systematically excluded from randomized studies on statins, despite their higher risk of cardiovascular events. Presented at AHA 2020 Scientific Sessions and published simultaneously in the Lancet, along comes this primary prevention study including patients between 70 and 100 years of age. The use of therapies to...
As interventional cardiologists, we cannot delegate the responsibility of providing adequate advice on healthy habits. More importantly, we cannot be ignorant about them. Our medical intervention does not end with the final angiography; this is actually the beginning, since cardiovascular disease is chronic. This paper assessed the important role played by inflammation on cardiovascular disease...