Increased local temperature in human coronary atherosclerotic plaques: an independent predictor of clinical outcome in patients undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: We investigated the midterm clinical significance of human coronary atherosclerotic plaques temperature after a successful percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Previous studies have shown an increased temperature in human atherosclerotic plaques. However, the prognostic significance of atherosclerotic plaque temperature in patients undergoing a successful percutaneous intervention is unknown.

Retrograde nontransseptal balloon mitral valvuloplasty by the brachial artery approach.

Retrograde nontransseptal balloon mitral valvuloplasty is a purely transarterial technique for percutaneous treatment of mitral stenosis. We report the first use of this technique via the brachial artery for a patient with aortoiliac atherosclerosis, and we comment on the difficulties and perspectives of this approach.

Implantation of stents covered by autologous arterial grafts in human coronary arteries: a new technique.

Unlabelled: A renewed interest in radial artery conduits for bypass surgery has emerged during the last few years. In order to combine a surgical with a percutaneous technique, stents were covered by radial arterial grafts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of, and the immediate and long-term results after, intracoronary implantation of stents covered by autologous arterial grafts.

Stents covered by autologous venous grafts: feasibility and immediate and long-term results.

Background: Previous experimental studies with a new covered stent, the autologous venous graft-covered stent (AVGCS), have shown favorable results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of this new technique in human coronary arteries and to compare the long-term outcome with uncovered stents.

Methods And Results: A venous graft was removed from an upper limb.