Obesity and coronary intervention: should we continue to use Body Mass Index as a risk factor?

Background: Central anthropometric indexes are better than the body mass index to discriminate elevated coronary risk. However, the Body Mass Index (BMI) is still the most frequently studied anthropometric index on outcomes of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCI).

Objective: To recognize, among several anthropometric indexes of obesity, which one best discriminates MACE (Major Adverse Cardiac Events) after PCI.

Changes in P-wave after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty in patients with mitral stenosis and left atrial enlargement.

Objective: To investigate potential clinical, echocardiographic and/or hemodynamic predictors of the regression of electrocardiographic (ECG) signs of left atrial enlargement (LAE) after successful percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV).

Methods: We studied 24 patients (75% female, mean age =37.1 +/- 11.

Treatment of calcific aortic stenosis with the percutaneous heart valve: mid-term follow-up from the initial feasibility studies: the French experience.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to study the feasibility, safety, efficacy, and durability of percutaneous heart valve (PHV) implantation in the aortic position.

Background: We developed a PHV (equine pericardium valve in a balloon-expandable, stainless-steel stent) to treat patients with inoperable aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods: Thirty-six patients (aortic valve area < or =0.

Mitral stenosis and percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (part 1).

Although the incidence and severity of rheumatic mitral stenosis have declined in developed countries, the disease is still highly prevalent in many of the poorer and most densely populated areas of the globe, remaining a major public health issue and reflecting the socioeconomic status of the region. In the last 30 years, mitral stenosis therapy has undergone a reorientation with the introduction of percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty. This manuscript is an updated review of percutaneous dilation of mitral stenosis in its different aspects, encompassing traditional techniques, technical innovations, the most significant case loads worldwide, an analysis of the procedure as well as immediate and late outcomes.

Randomized comparison between Inoue balloon and metallic commissurotome in the treatment of rheumatic mitral stenosis: immediate results and 6-month and 3-year follow-up.

The metallic commissurotome (MC) technique is a cheaper alternative to the Inoue balloon (IB) technique for percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV). There are no randomized trials comparing these techniques with longer follow-up of the patients. The objective of this study was to compare the immediate results and short- and medium-term follow-up of PMV using either the IB or the MC technique.

Acute improvement in global and regional left ventricular systolic function after percutaneous heart valve implantation in patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis.

Background: The newly developed percutaneous heart valve (PHV) implantation technique decreases transaortic pressure gradient in patients with aortic stenosis. PHV replacement effects on left ventricular (LV) global and regional systolic function are currently unknown.

Methods And Results: Eight patients with severe aortic stenosis had 2D echocardiography at baseline and 24 hours after PHV implantation to evaluate changes in LV volume and LV ejection fraction.

Dual anterior descending coronary artery associated with coronary artery disease.

The patient is a male with risk factors for coronary artery disease, who was referred for cardiac catheterization after acute myocardial infarction in the inferior wall. The patient underwent transluminal coronary angioplasty in the right coronary artery with successful stent implantation.

Percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty in pregnant women with mitral stenosis.

Forty-four consecutive pregnant patients with mitral stenosis were submitted to percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV) over a period of 12 years. The mean age was 28 +/- 6 years and the mean gestational age was 23 +/- 6 weeks. The mean mitral valve area had a significant increase from 1.