The pandemic tsunami of COVID-19 has hit all cath lab services, especially those performing primary PCI. Passively waiting for the first patient suspected of infection only to improvise in the early hours means heading for disaster. Several scientific societies have published recommendations, but not based on clear data. It seems pertinent to bear in mind...
Several United States societies (the American Heart Association [AHA] among them) have answered the question of many physicians in the front lines: what is the ideal strategy for the treatment of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) during the COVID-19 pandemic? This document intends to ensure that patients with STEMI continue to receive adequate, proven...
The truth is this question has no clear answer and what with do with peripheral stenting is transfer the evidence we have on coronary stenting, given the lack of standards and poor reporting on antithrombotic therapy outcomes in randomized studies on endovascular intervention. Heterogeneity is worse when it comes to venous territory. Some time ago...
Low colchicine doses reduce the risk of post-AMI ischemic events according to the COLCOT trial, originally presented at AHA 2019 scientific sessions, and simultaneously published in NEJM. The new information delivered at the virtual ACC 2020 addresses its cost-effectiveness. Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory drug indicated in the treatment of gout and pericarditis, but its price...
Myocardial injury, as defined by an increased troponin level, can occur due to both ischemic and nonischemic processes. Myocarditis would be an example of a nonischemic event. A severe, acute respiratory infection causing hypoxia, especially due to COVID-19, can cause this myocardial injury. Elevated troponin levels have been described in patients infected with COVID-19, with...
The Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically altered reperfusion therapy access in patients undergoing ST elevation MI. In these adverse times, it seems prudent to reassess the reperfusion algorithm. Even though primary PCI is the standard reperfusion strategy, to fully benefit from it is essential to keep first medical-contact-to-PCI time between 90 to 120 minutes (depending on...
Patients with cardiovascular disease infected with COVID-19 are at a particular risk for morbidity and mortality. In any case, it should be noted that most patients requiring cardiovascular care due to ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, or structural heart disease are not infected. Being prepared to face this pandemic is as important as guaranteeing...
Magnetic resonance (MR) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) correlate moderately as regards the assessment of non-culprit lesions in patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction who underwent primary angioplasty. For a similar degree of diagnostic accuracy, we would require a visual, semiquantitative, or fully quantitative comprehensive assessment of lesions. This work, soon to be published in...
Low doses of colchicine reduce the risk of ischemic events after an acute myocardial infarction, according to the COLCOT trial, originally presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2019 Scientific Session and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The new information featured at the virtual ACC 2020 refers to its cost-effectiveness. Colchicine...
We thank all the presenters of the Peru Sessions2018 who shared their presentations to contribute to our mission of promoting scientific dissemination in the field of Interventional Cardiology in Latin American level. See them below. Dr. Marcelo Halac: “Enfermedad Cardiovascular en la Mujer: Características que la hacen diferente”. (Spanish version) ...