Multimodality Assessment of Ascending Aortic Diameters: Comparison of Different Measurement Methods.

Background: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been widely used to monitor aortic diameters, with no consensus as to the best measurement approach. Thus, the aim of this study was to establish the best measurement methods by two-dimensional (2D) TTE, MDCT, and MRI to achieve comparable aortic diameters.

Methods: One hundred forty patients with severe aortic valvular disease or aortic dilatation were prospectively evaluated using 2D TTE and MDCT (n = 70) or MRI (n = 70).

Safety and efficacy of prasugrel use in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and anticoagulated with bivalirudin.

The randomized TRial to Assess Improvement in Therapeutic Outcomes by Optimizing Platelet InhibitioN with Prasugrel-Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TRITON-TIMI) 38 trial compared prasugrel and clopidogrel in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients treated with prasugrel had fewer ischemic events but more procedure-related bleeding. In the present study, we aimed to determine the effect of bivalirudin on bleeding in patients treated with prasugrel.

Frequency of conduction disturbances after Edwards SAPIEN percutaneous valve implantation.

Disturbances in atrioventricular conduction and the additional need for a permanent pacemaker are recognized complications after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We analyzed the incidence of postprocedural conduction disorders and the need for permanent pacemaker implantation in patients undergoing TAVR with the Edwards SAPIEN valve. In 125 consecutive patients with symptomatic, severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR, a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram was obtained before and serially after the procedure.

Safety and efficacy of everolimus-eluting stents versus paclitaxel-eluting stents in a diabetic population.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the use of everolimus-eluting stents (EES) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) in an unrestricted diabetic population and to compare the performance of these two drug-eluting stents.

Background: EES have demonstrated superiority in efficacy when compared to PES in a general population. However, it is controversial whether this superiority holds true in a diabetic population.

Frequency of cardiac conduction disturbances after balloon aortic valvuloplasty.

Disturbances in atrioventricular conduction are well-recognized complications of transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) is a requisite step in transcatheter aortic valve replacement; however, the contribution of the BAV to atrioventricular conduction disturbances has not been elucidated. The present analysis was undertaken to ascertain the incidence and type of electrocardiographic changes associated with BAV and to consider the role of BAV in the conduction abnormalities after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Usefulness of real-time three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of chronic aortic dissection.

Aims: To assess the usefulness of three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (3D-TOE) vs. two-dimensional (2D)-TOE in the evaluation of morphological and dynamic findings of aortic dissection, and compare the results with those obtained by multi-slice computed tomography (CT).

Methods And Results: Twenty-six patients (21 men and 5 women, median age: 67 years, range: 28-74 years) diagnosed of chronic aortic dissection with patent false lumen were studied.