Five-year outcomes of the randomized REDUCE study showed a continuous benefit from patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure compared with antiplatelet agents to prevent cryptogenic strokes. The most important aspect of this result seems to be the idea that PFO closure in selected patients offers durable benefit with guaranteed long-term safety. The original results from REDUCE...
Performing balloon predilation or valvuloplasty before a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may increase the incidence and magnitude of myocardial injury with new-generation balloon-expandable valves. Some papers argue in favor or against direct implantation, others remain neutral, but this research is the first one to express a different point of view. Historically, the biggest fear...
01- Efficacy of AstraZeneca’s Vaccine against COVID-19 This study, published in the Lancet, looks into the vaccine resulting from the collaboration of the Oxford University and AstraZeneca, among others. Read more HERE 02- Findings on Sputnik V Vaccine Against COVID-19 The Sputnik V vaccine was developed by Gamaleya NRCEM. Similarly to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, it is based on a viral vector,...
A J shaped curve illustrating the link between alcohol consumption and ischemic stroke has been reported, suggesting that a certain amount of alcohol would be beneficial compared against absolute abstinence and excessive consumption. In order to shed some light on this matter, this study looked at alcohol consumption patterns and their effect on stroke in...
Thrombectomy with stent retriever and direct aspiration have been considered equally effective in the treatment of anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke. But are they really? This study recently published in Stroke compares the safety and efficacy of both techniques per occlusion segment. This study analyzed data from the MR CLEAN registry at every endovascular therapy...
The FREEDOM has clearly established the benefit of myocardial revascularization surgery (CABG) over percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in diabetic patients with multivessel disease. Coronary physiology as guideline for revascularization works best precisely in this kind of patients and its impact has never been studied in diabetics. This study, published in Circ Cardiovasc Interv, assessed the...
There is little evidence in support of the axillary access for counterpulsation balloon insertion, but this evidence is null when it comes to microaxial ventricular support device placement (the Impella device family). Clinical indication of short-term mechanical circulatory support devices has been on the rise. Many patients present suboptimal iliofemoral access or early mobilization is...
In order to reduce cardiovascular events, dietary guidelines recommend restricting saturated fatty acids—without taking into account differences among them—to <10% of the daily caloric intake. It should be noted that there are many different saturated fatty acids, each with its own biological effect. Moreover, said biological effect could be modified by the food matrix and...
Periprocedural red blood cell transfusion in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) correlates with increased mortality and acute kidney injury. It also resulted an independent predictor of 30-day mortality, irrespective of bleeding and vascular complications. The global trend that limits transfusion, in all procedures in general, has finally reached TAVR. The multicenter registry TRITAVI (Transfusion Requirements...
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...