Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. The incidence of kidney disease is increasing. In its final stage, this pathology is related with coronary disease and increased mortality. Furthermore, we know that, in many occasions, it is associated with diabetes. Nowadays, the evidence comparing the progress of patients with impaired kidney function who have undergone left main...
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. The presence of CTO hovers around 15, 20% in coronary angiographies of patients with chronic stable angina, but only 5% receive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). One of the obstacles to percutaneous revascularization is the lack of relevant studies justifying it, though we do have different comparative studies that improve symptoms, ventricular...
Courtesy of Dr. Alejandro Lakowsky, MTSAC (Full Member of the Argentine Society of Cardiology) The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) recently published an article about the POINT trial (simultaneously presented at the European Stroke Organisation Conference), a long-awaited randomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin...
Intentional leaflet laceration before mounting the prosthesis on the release system, so as to reduce the risk of acute coronary occlusion, seems a desperate maneuver to force transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Unfortunately, we will always encounter patients without other real choice; in those cases, creativity may start as compassionate treatment and then be upgraded...
This work compared the safety and efficacy of angioplasty with thin-strut (80 µm) sirolimus-eluting stents with a cobalt chromium structure (Ultimaster) vs. thick-strut (120 µm) biolimus-eluting stents with a cobalt chromium structure (Nobori). This study compared two prospective multicenter single-arm registries: e-Ultimaster and NOBORI 2. The Ultimaster Registry included over 37,000 patients in 4 continents, while the NOBORI 2 Registry included...
This study aimed to assess the outcome of Culotte stenting with newer-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) in Medina 1, 1, 1 bifurcation lesions. The 2nd-generation device used was permanent-polymer everolimus-eluting stent Xience, a device for which there is comparatively plenty of evidence available. Alternatively, the 3rd-generation stent used was thin-strut abluminal bioresorbable-polymer everolimus-eluting stent SYNERGY. Patients with...
The index of microcirculatory resistance might guide therapy and controlled intermittent coronary sinus occlusions, improve microvascular function, and reduce infarct size. This study included patients with prior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty. Researchers measured the index of microcirculatory resistance before stenting and intermittent coronary sinus occlusion was used if the result was...
The intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation affects patients through a combination of coronary flow improvement and afterload reduction. It has been the subject matter of several studies, but its benefit as mechanical support has not been proven. This work aims to prove the benefits of balloon counterpulsation in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction who, after...
Since the publication of the original SYNTAX trial, there have been great technical advancements that have influenced the results of angioplasty: New tools for risk stratification using the SYNTAX II score which integrate clinical and anatomical variables to the team’s decision-making process. Functional revascularization (hybrid use of fractional flow reserve or instantaneous wave-free ratio). Optimization of...
Most drug-eluting stents are coated by a polymer that is used to contain the antiproliferative drug. Once the drug is released, the polymer remains in place and its presence has been associated with inflammation, restenosis, and neoatherosclerosis. The MiStent device features a polymer that becomes bioabsorbable once the drug has been released, which could, theoretically,...