Medium-Term Bioresorbable Scaffold Outcomes Utilising Data From an Australian Clinical Quality Registry.

Background: Bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) are a novel technology in coronary intervention. However, recent trials demonstrate higher rates of device failure compared to contemporary drug-eluting stents. This study sought to utilise a clinical quality registry to assess the medium-term safety of the Abbott Absorb BRS (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA), in an Australian context.

An Australian longitudinal pilot study examining health determinants of cardiac outcomes 12 months post percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a very common revascularisation procedure for coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate cardiac outcomes, health related quality of life (HRQoL), resilience and adherence behaviours in patients who have undergone a PCI at two time points (6 and 12 months) following their procedure.

Methods: A longitudinal pilot study was conducted to observe the cardiac outcomes across a cohort of patients who had undergone a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Right and left heart catheterization via an antecubital fossa vein and the radial artery--a prospective study.

Right heart catheterization has been described via the arm but previous reports have been retrospective, performed for limited indications, and may not give an accurate assessment of the success rate or safety of this technique. We sought to prospectively examine the feasibility and safety of left and right heart catheterization entirely via the arm using the radial artery and an antecubital fossa vein for a broad range of indications. Fifty-eight consecutive procedures were included.

Cardiac epithelioid leiomyosarcoma and the role of cardiac imaging in the differentiation of intracardiac masses.

Primary malignant cardiac neoplasms are extremely rare and can be difficult to differentiate from other intracardiac masses. We present a case of left atrial epithelioid leiomyosarcoma and review the imaging modalities available to diagnose and characterize intracardiac masses. We demonstrate how multimodal imaging aided diagnosis and proved crucial to establishing the tumor's location, degree of invasion, and involvement of surrounding structures prior to surgical resection.

Side-branch wire entrapment during bifurcation PCI: avoidance and management.

An LAD/D1 bifurcation intervention was complicated by side-branch wire entrapment and unravelling requiring goose-neck snare removal. Residual microfilaments were retrieved from the main branch after further balloon inflations with a satisfactory final angiographic result and one-year follow-up. Various methods are available to avoid and deal with this complication.

The right not to know and coronary angiography: is the common law of Australia consistent with patients' wishes?

In "The Right Not to Know: Patient Autonomy or Medical Paternalism?" (2000) 7 JLM 286 Judy Gutman qualitatively examined the direction of the law relating to the duty of medical practitioners to disclose information to their patients about risks associated with medical treatment. Prompted by theoretical issues raised in that article, a quantitative study was performed. The study focused on the wishes of patients referred for coronary angiography regarding information about the risks inherent in that procedure.