Guidance of percutaneous coronary interventions by multidetector row computed tomography coronary angiography.

Guidance of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides more precise information in terms of quantitative measurement and qualitative assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) than does conventional angiography. Several studies have tested the efficacy of IVUS to guide stent implantation. However, the conflicting results have left behind a continued debate as to whether IVUS-guided PCI has an impact on clinical outcome and angiographic restenosis.

Early assessment of myocardial viability by the use of delayed enhancement computed tomography after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: We sought to explore the relationship between established parameters of reperfusion and the extent of myocardial damage measured by the delayed enhancement (DE) of iodinated contrast by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) immediately after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: Early detection of myocardial viability should be valuable for risk stratification of patients with reperfused acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: Consecutive patients without a history of previous AMI who underwent primary PCI for an ST-segment elevation AMI were examined by DE-MDCT without an additional contrast injection immediately after completion of PCI.

New coating stent design for patients with high-risk coronary lesions for thrombotic events: early and long-term results of the Camouflage registry.

Background: Semisynthetic coating of the Camouflage bare-metal stent (BMS) (Eucatech AG, Rheinfelden, Germany) mimics luminal endothelial cell glycocalix, potentially preventing the activation of the coagulation system. Purpose. We sought to determine in a clinical registry the acute and long-term clinical and angiographic outcomes of this BMS design in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) or who were unable to be on long-term clopidogrel therapy.

Pilot study of oral rapamycin to prevent restenosis in patients undergoing coronary stent therapy: Argentina Single-Center Study (ORAR Trial).

Rapamycin-coated stents are associated with low restenosis rates, but the ability of oral rapamycin to prevent restenosis is unknown. From December 2001 through February 2002, thirty-four patients with 49 lesions were treated with oral rapamycin for 1 month following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with bare stents. Patients received a loading dose of 6 mg rapamycin followed by a daily dose of 2 mg.