Intravenous aviptadil and remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19-associated hypoxaemic respiratory failure in the USA (TESICO): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: There is a clinical need for therapeutics for COVID-19 patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure whose 60-day mortality remains at 30-50%. Aviptadil, a lung-protective neuropeptide, and remdesivir, a nucleotide prodrug of an adenosine analog, were compared with placebo among patients with COVID-19 acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure.

Methods: TESICO was a randomised trial of aviptadil and remdesivir versus placebo at 28 sites in the USA.

Safety of Moderate Hypothermia With Antegrade Cerebral Perfusion in Total Aortic Arch Replacement.

Background: Total aortic arch replacement (TOTAL) is a complicated operation and has traditionally required deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. In this study, the impact of moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA) and antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) for TOTAL were examined.

Methods: The ARCH International aortic database was queried and 3,265 patients undergoing TOTAL using ACP were identified.

Balloon Versus Computed Tomography Sizing of the Aortic Annulus for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and the Impact of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Calcification and Morphology on Sizing.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of balloon annular sizing in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Background: Multidetector cardiac computed tomography (MDCT) is the gold standard for aortic annular sizing in TAVR. Balloon sizing is increasingly used in patients with borderline annular size and severe calcification.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement has improved short-term but similar midterm outcomes in isolated aortic valve replacement after prior coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: An increasing number of patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) now present with severe aortic stenosis. The proposed benefit of surgical (SAVR) vs transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is unknown. The objective of this study was to compare short-term and midterm outcomes of patients undergoing isolated SAVR vs TAVR in those with prior CABG.