The length of hospital stay after elective coronary angioplasty varies significantly among operators and hospitals, according to a recent survey of interventional cardiologists in the United States (US), Canada, and the United Kingdom (UK), published in Catherization and Cardiovascular Interventions. While same-day discharge is a routine proceeding in the UK, most interventional cardiologists surveyed mentioned…
Angioplasty in lesions due to radiation treatment presents similar mortality rates
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. Thoracic radiation causes cardiac lesions, and coronary arteries are among the most affected structures. Furthermore, it provokes obstructive lesions due to wall fibrosis. Generally, patients with this background are not eligible for surgery and receive angioplasty, a seemingly great alternative. However, there is no clear information on outcomes yet. This…
Is Impella an option in high-risk angioplasty?
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. Provitional ventricular assist devices are increasingly used in high-risk angioplasties, particularly those involving unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) with defective ventricular functioning. However, so far its true role has not been well-studied. This study analyzed 127 consecutive patients in the USpella registry from 2008 to 2015. These subjects underwent high-risk…
Promising outcomes for DEB in long femoropopliteal artery lesions
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. For type A and B femoropopliteal artery lesions, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with balloon has proven beneficial; however, drug-eluting balloons (DEB) have shown superiority as regards restenosis. Some studies have reported favorable outcomes for DEB in type C and D lesions, but its real benefit is still unclear. This study prospectively…
Proximal anterior descending artery angioplasty: what are its long-term outcomes?
Courtesy of Dr. Javier Castro. Certain coronary lesions have been historically discouraged for endovascular treatment. Among these can be found left main coronary artery lesions, multivessel disease, and proximal anterior descending artery lesions. As a matter of fact, the latter is actually considered separately as a criterion for choosing the revascularization method. Endovascular treatment of…