Perclose Proglide™ for vascular closure.

In the past 20 years, numerous percutaneous vascular closure devices have been tested and compared with manual compression and to surgical cut-down. The suture-mediated closure device Perclose ProGlide™ system (Abbott Vascular, CA, USA) emerged as a safe and effective alternative for many procedures requiring either small or large bore vascular accesses. In this review, we will discuss the characteristics of this vascular closure device and the main studies that proved its potential to reduce vascular complications, time to deambulation, time to discharge and patient discomfort.

Three-year results of repaired Barlow mitral valves via right minithoracotomy versus median sternotomy in a randomized trial.

Objectives: To clarify whether the results of repair of a complex mitral lesion (Barlow valve) at the intermediate-term follow-up are independent of the mode of surgical access [minithoracotomy vs. median sternotomy (MS)].

Methods: In a prospective randomized study of mitral repair for Barlow disease using either a minimally invasive (MI) approach or MS, we achieved an average follow-up of 3 years (echocardiography, physical examination and quality of life).

Immediate and midterm follow-up results of excimer laser application in complex percutaneous coronary interventions: Report from a single center experience.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of laser-assisted percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in an unselected population.

Methods: One hundred consecutive patients, who underwent a laser assisted PCI between January 2008 and March 2012, were included in the present study. Fifty-one patients underwent laser ablation for thrombus vaporization (Group 1), 36 patients for neointima/plaque debulking (Group 2) and 13 patients for lesion compliance modification in calcified lesions (Group 3).

Are age and gender associated to tobacco use and knowledge among general practitioners? Results of a survey in Italy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge and opinions of Italian general practitioners about the effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions and physicians' attitudes in addressing tobacco-related issues.

Methods: The survey was carried out through a questionnaire administered to general practitioners (GPs) attending a medical refresher course. 133 Italian GPs participated in the study with a mean age of 51.

[Adolescents' affectivity and sexuality: a randomized trial of the efficacy of a school health promotion intervention in a primary school].

A cluster randomised trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a health promotion intervention aimed at improving knowledge and preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STD) amongst Grade 9 primary school students in Salerno (Italy). Students were randomized to either one of two groups: intervention group or control group. The intervention group was required to attend three meetings, each lasting one and a half hours.

Mediterranean diet and familial dysmetabolism as factors influencing the development of acne.

Aim: To investigate the effects of adherence to the Mediterranean diet and familial dysmetabolisms on acne development.

Methods: A community-based case-control study was carried out in Italy enrolling cases as acneic outpatients of a dermatological ambulatory service and controls as clinically healthy acne-free subjects. Food consumption were evaluated with a validated food-frequency questionnaire, exploring the consumption of pasta, meat, cheese, fish, fruit, vegetables, and olive oil.

Large coronary aneurysm following laser angioplasty of the left anterior descending coronary artery.

Coronary aneurysm is a rare complication after coronary excimer laser angioplasty. A 45-year-old woman underwent laser angioplasty and bare metal direct stenting of the proximal segment of the left anterior descending artery (LAD); after 3 months, angiographic follow-up showed significant ostial stenosis of the LAD with a large sacciform aneurysm and diffuse intrastent restenosis.

Long-term results of ablation for isolated atrial fibrillation through a right minithoracotomy: toward a rational revision of treatment protocols.

Objective: Despite continued technical improvements, results of transcatheter radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation may be suboptimal in some patient subgroups. Short-term follow-up of minimally invasive epicardial ablation of isolated atrial fibrillation has been encouraging.

Methods: One hundred four patients with drug-refractory isolated atrial fibrillation underwent minimally invasive surgical ablation through right 3- to 4-cm minithoracotomy by isolation of pulmonary veins and were followed-up for an average of 17 months.

One-year results after implantation of the CorCap for dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure.

Background: We conducted a prospective study of the clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life after implantation of the CorCap support device (Acorn Cardiovascular Inc, St Paul, MN) for dilated cardiomyopathy.

Methods: The criteria adopted for CorCap implantation were dilated cardiomyopathy (left ventricular [LV] end-diastolic diameter≥60 mm, LV ejection fraction≤0.30 and >0.

Manual versus nonmanual thrombectomy in primary and rescue percutaneous coronary angioplasty.

Although many thrombectomy devices have been tested in ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI), there are no comparative data on safety or effectiveness in thrombectomy or ST-segment resolution. This study compares manual versus nonmanual thrombectomy devices in patients undergoing primary or rescue percutaneous coronary intervention in a tertiary care center. We identified 232 consecutive patients with STEMI and time from symptom onset to emergency room contact of < or = 12 h undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with coronary thrombectomy devices.

[Manual thrombus aspiration with the Export catheter during primary and rescue angioplasty. Predictors of failed myocardial reperfusion].

Background: Manual thrombus aspiration seems to improve myocardial reperfusion after coronary angioplasty in patients with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. We sought to assess the independent variables of complete myocardial reperfusion after primary and rescue coronary angioplasty with use of the Export manual thrombus aspiration catheter.

Methods: Myocardial reperfusion were judged complete if ST-segment resolution were >70% at 60 min post-procedure ECG.

[A rare case of a post-traumatic intraventricular defect].

Cardiac injury occurs in about 20-30% of major chest traumas; 80% of penetrating cardiac wounds are fatal; the survival rate is related to the mechanism of injury (whether by stab wound or gunshot wound), the extent of injury, the need for emergency room thoracotomy for resuscitation, and the presence of cardiac tamponade. The right ventricle and atrium are the most commonly involved cardiac chambers. We present a case of 63-year-old male patient who presented with a systolic murmur after a chest wall stab wound.

[Rheolytic percutaneous thrombectomy with Angiojet (Possis) catheter in acute coronary syndromes. Report of 3 cases and technical considerations].

Mechanical thrombolysis in acute coronary syndromes is poorly understood and is still considerably underused in interventional cardiology. The authors report 3 cases of thrombotic coronary obstruction successfully treated with the Possis Angiojet system. In the first case, coronary angiography which demonstrated a large subocclusive thrombus in the mid right coronary artery was performed in a patient with unstable angina following acute myocardial infarction.