Familial cryptogenic stroke.

Familial cryptogenic stroke associated with atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale is rare. The presence of a family history of cryptogenic stroke may lead to the requirement for careful follow-up for younger family members.

Percutaneous closure of severe calcified patent ductus arteriosus with two amplatzer devices.

An 89-year-old woman was referred for closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Contrast-computed tomography showed Krichenko type C PDA with severe calcification (Figure 1). Initial angiography revealed severe calcification of the PDA (Figure 2, Video 1), and the mid-ductus diameter was 6 mm and the ductus length was 14 mm.

Congenital abnormalities of heart and kidney.

Patients with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) may be at risk for congenital cardiac defects or cardiomyopathies as comorbidities. It is crucial to recognize the coexistence of cardiac abnormalities and CAKUT and recommend screening for cardiac involvement in CAKUT patients using echocardiography.

Cyanosis in atrial septal defect with prominent crista terminalis.

Right-to-left shunt in atrial septal defect without pulmonary hypertension is a rare condition and can present with complications such as cyanosis. This is a rare case of cyanosis caused by right-to-left shunt atrial septal defect related to prominent crista terminalis.

Cryptogenic stroke caused by patent foramen ovale with thrombophilia and accessory tricuspid valve in a teenager.

Accessory tricuspid valve is rare congenital abnormality. We describe a case of cryptogenic stroke in teenager boy caused by patent foramen ovale with thrombophilia and accessory tricuspid valve.

Acute coronary syndrome of the left main coronary artery caused by a huge floating thrombus in the ascending aorta: a case report of intravascular ultrasound effectiveness.

Background: Left main coronary artery (LMCA)-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a rare complication of a floating thrombus in the ascending aorta. However, diagnosing the aetiology of LMCA-ACS during an emergency situation is challenging. We present a rare case of LMCA-ACS caused by a large thrombus in the ascending aorta, confirmed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Clinical Experience of Percutaneous Patent Foramen Ovale Closure Using the Amplatzer PFO Occluder in Japanese Patients to Prevent the Recurrence of Cryptogenic Stroke.

Objective Percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is a procedure widely used to prevent recurrence of cryptogenic stroke. Since December 2019, the Amplatzer PFO occluder device has been available in Japan through medical insurance. However, data on the clinical experience with this device are lacking, as it has been approved for use in only a limited number of institutions.

Reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy caused by patent foramen ovale-related cryptogenic stroke: a case report.

Background: Reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy (rTTC) is recognized as an atypical type of TTC. It has been suggested that neurological events are typical trigger of rTTC, especially in young individuals.

Case Summary: In this case report, we describe a 16-year-girl who presented with neurological deficits due to embolic stroke and acute heart failure.

Paradoxical Embolism of Stroke-Related Patent Foramen Ovale in a Nonagenarian Woman.

There are few clinical reports of elderly patients with paradoxical embolism in the current literature. Herein, we describe the case of a nonagenarian patient with paradoxical embolism of stroke-related patent foramen ovale (PFO). A 95-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of dysarthria.

Correction to: Percutaneous transcatheter closure of high-risk patent foramen ovale in the elderly.

In the original publication of the article, the below sentence were garbled.

Percutaneous transcatheter closure of high-risk patent foramen ovale in the elderly.

The efficacy of percutaneous transcatheter closure for preventing recurrent cerebrovascular events in elderly patients with high-risk patent foramen ovale (PFO) remains unclear, whereas in young patients, it has been shown to effectively prevent the recurrence of embolic stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous PFO closure in elderly patients with high-risk PFO. Between September 2012 and October 2018, 14 patients ≥ 60 years old with high-risk PFO underwent percutaneous closure to prevent recurrence of cerebrovascular events.

Efficacy and safety of percutaneous transcatheter aortic valvuloplasty prior to non-cardiac surgery in Japanese patients with severe aortic stenosis.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of percutaneous transcatheter aortic valvuloplasty (PTAV) performed prior to non-cardiac surgery and the safety of non-cardiac surgery after PTAV in elderly Japanese patients. Between March 2012 and August 2018, 14 patients who underwent PTAVs prior to non-cardiac surgery were enrolled. The mean age was 82.

Frequency and predictors of bleeding events after 2nd generation drug-eluting stent implantation differ depending on time after implantation.

Background: Antiplatelet therapy is required after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation, but bleeding events occur unexpectedly. We aimed to assess whether bleeding event predictors after 2nd generation DES (2nd DES) implantation differed by time after implantation.

Methods: We studied 1912 consecutive patients who underwent successful 2nd DES implantation (70±10 years, 72% male).

Comparison of Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Lesions Exhibiting Focal and Segmental Peri-Stent Contrast Staining.

Background: Peri-stent contrast staining (PSS) after metallic drug-eluting stent deployment is associated with target lesion revascularization and very late stent thrombosis. However, the type of PSS that influences the clinical outcomes is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to reveal which PSS type was influencing clinical outcomes.

Comparison of first- and second-generation drug-eluting stent efficacies for treating left main and/or three-vessel disease: a propensity matched study.

The efficacy of second-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) for the treatment of left main disease (LM) and/or three vessel disease (3VD) remains unclear. We compared 2-year outcomes of second- versus first -generation DES implantation among patients with LM and/or 3VD and to assess the differential of risk by complexity of coronary artery disease using synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with taxus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) scores. Between April 2007 and December 2012, 341 patients with LM and/or 3VD were treated by percutaneous coronary intervention; 154 with first-generation DES and 137 with second-generation DES.

Impact of ultra-long second-generation drug-eluting stent implantation.

Objectives: This study investigated the safety and prognosis of ultra-long second DES (UL-2nd DES) implantation in real-world practice.

Background: Long stenting is a widely known predictor of stent thrombosis (ST) or target lesion revascularization (TLR) in first-generation drug-eluting stents (DES).

Methods: Participants were 1,669 patients (2,763 lesions) who had undergone successful second DES implantation; they were assigned to one of three groups: ultra-long 2nd DES (UL-DES; >50 mm, 166 patients, 259 lesions), long second DES (L-DES; 20-50 mm, 758 patients, 1,212 lesions), or short second DES (S-DES; <20 mm, 745 patients, 1,292 lesions).

Nicorandil prevents microvascular dysfunction resulting from PCI in patients with stable angina pectoris: a randomised study.

Aims: Nicorandil, an ATP sensitive potassium channel opener, may reduce the incidence of microvascular dysfunction after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by dilating coronary resistance vessels. The aim of the study was evaluation of the impact of the administration of intravenous nicorandil on measuring the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) in PCI to patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP).

Methods And Results: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), fractional flow reserve (FFR), IMR and blood examination (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI) immediately post-PCI (and 24 hours later) were performed in 62 consecutive patients with SAP undergoing PCI.