[Stent loss and successful retrieval with the loop snare technique].

A 79-year-old woman was admitted to our coronary care unit for non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Urgent left transradial coronary angiography showed mid-distal high-grade stenosis of the left circumflex coronary artery. During percutaneous coronary intervention, stent dislodgement from the balloon catheter occurred.

Transradial versus transfemoral intervention for acute myocardial infarction: a propensity score-adjusted and -matched analysis from the REAL (REgistro regionale AngiopLastiche dell'Emilia-Romagna) multicenter registry.

Objectives: This study sought to assess whether transradial intervention, by minimizing access-site bleeding and vascular events, improves outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction compared with the transfemoral approach.

Background: Bleeding and consequent blood product transfusions have been causally associated with a higher mortality rate in patients with myocardial infarction undergoing coronary angioplasty.

Methods: We identified all adults undergoing percutaneous intervention for acute myocardial infarction in Emilia-Romagna, a region in the north of Italy of 4 million residents, between January 1, 2003, and July 30, 2009, at 12 referral hospitals using a region-mandated database of percutaneous coronary intervention procedures.

Bone marrow cell transplantation improves cardiac, autonomic, and functional indexes in acute anterior myocardial infarction patients (Cardiac Study).

Aims: Bone marrow (BM) stem cells improve cardiac function and outcome after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI). In this randomized controlled trial, the effects of intracoronary transfer of autologous BM cells on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and volumes (2D-echo and resting SPECT), stroke volume [impedance cardiography (ICG)], autonomic control [heart rate variability (HRV)], baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), and exercise tolerance (cardiopulmonary exercise test) were assessed in post-MI patients. Exercise stress SPECT was also performed.

Clinical impact of an inter-hospital transfer strategy in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty: the Emilia-Romagna ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction network.

Aims: This study sought to evaluate the impact of an inter-hospital transfer strategy on treatment times and in-hospital and 1 year cardiac mortality of patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous intervention (p-PCI) in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, where an efficient region-wide system for reperfusion has been established.

Methods And Results: 3296 patients with STEMI, undergoing on-site p-PCI (2444 patients) (OS group) or p-PCI after inter-hospital transfer (852 patients) (T group) between 1 January 2004 and 30 June 2006 in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, were considered. During the study period, the number of patients undergoing p-PCI increased both for patients admitted to interventional centres and for those admitted to peripheral hospitals.

Percutaneous treatment of multivessel coronary disease in the drug eluting stent era: comparison of bare-metal stents, drug-eluting stents and a mixed approach in a large multicentre registry.

Background: Restenosis and a high incidence of new revascularisations reduce the long-term efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.

Aims: To determine the modality of utilisation and the clinical efficacy of drug eluting stents (DES) in a real world multivessel PCI scenario.

Methods: From July 2002 to December 2004, 1726 consecutive patients enrolled in the REAL Registry (Registro REgionale AngiopLastiche Emilia-Romagna) underwent elective multivessel PCI with multiple stents in at least two different vessels; among them, 939 (54%) received only bare-metal stents (BMS group), 288 (17%) only DES (DES group) and 499 (29%) were treated with BMS and DES in different vessels (MIX group).

Safety and long-term efficacy of sirolimus eluting stent in ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction: the REAL (Registro REgionale AngiopLastiche Emilia-Romagna) registry.

Background: Limited data are available for sirolimus eluting stent (SES) implantation in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Aim: To confirm the safety and effectiveness of SES in patients with STEMI in a real-world scenario (multicentric registry).

Methods: From July 2002 to June 2004, clinical and angiographic data of 1617 patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have been collected.

Transradial approach for renal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting: a feasibility pilot study.

Background: Stent implantation of renal stenosis (RS) has been reported on extensively; this technique is perceived as superior to balloon angioplasty alone and less invasive than surgical revascularization. With the development of new accessories and stents, we can now improve and optimize procedural and clinical results. In this pilot study, we tested an alternative minimally invasive approach for renal stenting: the transradial artery catheterization (TAC) and a 6 French (Fr) system for stenting.