Original title: Changes in Plaque Lipid Content After Short-Term Intensive Versus Standard Statin Therapy. The YELLOW Trial (Reduction in Yellow Plaque by Aggressive Lipid-Lowering Therapy). Reference: Annapoorna S. Kini et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013;62:21–9. Multiple studies have shown the benefits of statins in reducing all events, stabilize plaques and improve endothelial function. Coronary intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2013/07/15/high-doses-of-statins-may-reduce-the-lipid-content-in-severe-injury/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure With the AMPLATZER : a valid alternative when anticoagulation is contraindicated
Original title: Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure With the AMPLATZER Cardiac Plug Device in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation and Contraindication to Anticoagulation Therapy Reference: Marina Urena, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013:62:96-102. Anticoagulation is a good therapeutic strategy in nonvascular atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is contraindicated in approximately 10% of patients, due to the<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2013/07/10/percutaneous-left-atrial-appendage-closure-with-the-amplatzer-a-valid-alternative-when-anticoagulation-is-contraindicated/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Asymptomatic carotid injury, a disease not so silent
Original title: Association of the Recovery of Objective Abnormal CerebralPerfusion with Neurocognitive Improvement after CarotidRevascularization. Reference: Ching-Chang Huanget al. J Am CollCardiol 2013. Article in press. Cognitive impairment was observed in patients with severe asymptomatic carotid injury but a possible explanation for this is hyper-perfusion. Intuitively restored flow may improve neurocognitive capacity but so far studies have been<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2013/07/04/asymptomatic-carotid-injury-a-disease-not-so-silent/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Monoclonal antibodies to decrease peri-procedural myocardial damage
Original title: Effects of the P-Selectin Antagonist Inclacumab on Myocardial Damage After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Non–ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Results of the SELECT-ACS Trial. Reference: Jean-Claude Tardif et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013;61:2048–55. The pathophysiology of myocardial injury after angioplasty is multifactorial but it is clear that inflammation and platelet activation play a major role. P-selectin<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2013/07/03/monoclonal-antibodies-to-decrease-peri-procedural-myocardial-damage/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Rational use of bivalirudin, less bleeding and less costs using risk score
Original title: Pre-Procedural Estimate of Individualized Bleeding Risk Impacts Physicians’ Utilization of Bivalirudin During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. Reference: Seshu C. Rao et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013;61:1847–52 While safety of coronary angioplasty has improved over time, post-procedure bleeding is still frequent with a large variability between centers. Bleeding is associated with increased mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, increased<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2013/07/02/rational-use-of-bivalirudin-less-bleeding-and-less-costs-using-risk-score/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Direct Stent, no clinical utility in patients undergoing elective
Original title: The Independent Value of a Direct Stenting Strategy on Early and Late Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. Reference: Gabriel L. Sardi et al. Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions 81:949–956 (2013). The use of direct stenting (DS) without pre-stenting dilation has proven to be a safe strategy, especially with the<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2013/06/18/direct-stent-no-clinical-utility-in-patients-undergoing-elective/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Self-expandable stenting with jailed deep femoral artery (DFA) for proximal superficial femoral artery (SFA) lesions is safe
Original title: Deployment of Self-Expandable Stents for Complex Proximal Superficial Femoral Artery Lesions Involving the Femoral Bifurcation With Or Without Jailed Deep Femoral Artery. Reference: Masahiro Yamawaki et al. Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions 81:1031–1041 (2013). The endovascular management of chronic total occlusions of the lower extremities has seen great progress over the past years; however, specific segments require<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2013/06/12/self-expandable-stenting-with-jailed-deep-femoral-artery-dfa-for-proximal-superficial-femoral-artery-sfa-lesions-is-safe/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Safety and superior effectiveness over two years in femoropopliteal region with drug-eluting stents
Original title: Sustained safety and effectiveness of paclitaxel-eluting stents for femoropopliteal lesions: two-year follow-up from the Zilver PTX randomized and single-arm clinical studies. Reference: Michael D. Dake et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013. Article in press. Studies with long-term monitoring showed mainly the limited permeability of balloon angioplasty, especially over challenging injuries such as total occlusions or<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2013/05/13/safety-and-superior-effectiveness-over-two-years-in-femoropopliteal-region-with-drug-eluting-stents/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Aspirin, Clopidogrel and Warfarin. Is it safe or is a triple scheme necessary?
Original title: Use of clopidogrel with or without aspirin in patients taking oral anticoagulant therapy and undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: an open-label, randomised, controlled trial Reference: Dewilde WJ et al. Lancet. 2013 Mar 30;381(9872):1107-15 The question to answer was simple, relevant, and is increasingly frequent in everyday practice: what to do when a patient who is anticoagulated has<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2013/05/10/aspirin-clopidogrel-and-warfarin-is-it-safe-or-is-a-triple-scheme-necessary/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Hybrid revascularization, combining strengths in high-risk patients
Original title: One-Stop Hybrid Coronary Revascularization versus Coronary Artery Bypass Graft and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for the Treatment of Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease: Three-Year Follow-up Results from A Single Institution. Reference: Liuzhong Shen et al. J Am Coll Cardiol Intv 2013. Article in press. Accepted Manuscript. A mammary bridge to anterior descending artery (LMCA) with a permeability ><a href="https://solaci.org/en/2013/05/03/hybrid-revascularization-combining-strengths-in-high-risk-patients/" title="Read more" >...</a>