Transcatheter Closure of Postinfarct VSD With the Amplatzer PIVSD Occluder: Results of a US Study.

Background: A postinfarct ventricular septal defect (PIVSD) is associated with high mortality and morbidity, particularly in patients with hemodynamic instability who are not suitable candidates for surgical repair. The Amplatzer PIVSD Occluder (Abbott) is indicated for transcatheter PIVSD closure in patients who are not satisfactory candidates for surgical repair. The objective of this study was to evaluate associated clinical outcomes.

Successful Intravascular Lithotripsy Use for Acute Stent Underexpansion in Saphenous Vein Grafts.

Experience with intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) following stent deployment in saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions is limited. We present 2 cases of percutaneous intervention in SVG in which acute stent underexpansion was successfully managed with IVL. In the first case, recalcitrant plaque required prestent deployment IVL, with intracoronary imaging showing persistent calcification.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Low-Risk Patients at Four or More Years.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is accepted as an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis. Prior studies have shown that TAVR has comparable or superior outcomes to SAVR in intermediate and high-risk patients. However, there is paucity of data about outcome of TAVR vs SAVR in low-surgical-risk patients evaluated at 4 or more years post-procedure.

Economic Burden of Inpatient Care for Mitral Regurgitation in Maryland.

Background: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valvular disease in the United States and increases the risk of death and hospitalization. The economic burden of MR in the United States is not known.

Methods And Results: We analyzed inpatient hospitalization data from the 1 221 173 Maryland residents who had any in-state admissions from October 1, 2015, to September 30, 2019.