Routine Spironolactone in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists have been shown to reduce mortality in patients after myocardial infarction with congestive heart failure. Whether routine use of spironolactone is beneficial after myocardial infarction is uncertain.

Methods: In this multicenter trial with a 2-by-2 factorial design, we randomly assigned patients with myocardial infarction who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention to receive either spironolactone or placebo and either colchicine or placebo.

Photoplethysmography using a smartphone application for assessment of ulnar artery patency: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Radial artery access is commonly performed for coronary angiography and invasive hemodynamic monitoring. Despite limitations in diagnostic accuracy, the modified Allen test (manual occlusion of radial and ulnar arteries followed by release of the latter and assessment of palmar blush) is used routinely to evaluate the collateral circulation to the hand and, therefore, to determine patient eligibility for radial artery access. We sought to evaluate whether a smartphone application may provide a superior alternative to the modified Allen test.

Safety and Feasibility of a Novel, Second-Generation Robotic-Assisted System for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: First-in-Human Report.

Objectives: The goal of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the second-generation robotic-assisted system CorPath GRX (Corindus) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: The first-generation CorPath 200 robotic-assisted system for PCI is effective, but is limited by the lack of an active robotic guide-catheter control. The CorPath GRX device enables robotic guide-catheter manipulation, in addition to guidewire and balloon/stent delivery.

Robotically-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention: Reasons for partial manual assistance or manual conversion.

Background: Robotically-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (R-PCI) is feasible for simple coronary lesions.

Objectives: To determine the frequency and reasons for partial manual assistance or manual conversion during R-PCI in clinical practice.

Methods: The CorPath 200 System (Corindus, Waltham, MA) enables the operator to sit in a radiation-shielded cockpit and remotely control intracoronary devices including guidewires, balloons, and stents.

A Bleeding Heart: Coronary-Cameral Fistula After Septal Myomectomy.

Coronary-cameral fistulas are relatively rare communications arising within the coronary vasculature entering into one of the four cardiac chambers. This case highlights a striking angiographic example of coronary-cameral fistula occurring after septal myomectomy, a complication occurring somewhat frequently with typical spontaneous resolution.