Ultrasound-Guided Transfemoral Access for Coronary Procedures: A Pooled Learning Curve Analysis From the FAUST and UNIVERSAL Trials.

Background: The learning curve for new operators performing ultrasound-guided transfemoral access (TFA) remains uncertain.

Methods: We performed a pooled analysis of the FAUST (Femoral Arterial Access With Ultrasound Trial) and UNIVERSAL (Routine Ultrasound Guidance for Vascular Access for Cardiac Procedures) trials, both multicenter randomized controlled trials of 1:1 ultrasound-guided versus non-ultrasound-guided TFA for coronary procedures. Outcomes included the composite of major bleeding or vascular complications and successful common femoral artery cannulation.

Bicuspid valve CT registry of balloon-expandable TAVR: BETTER TAVR registry.

Background: The anatomic substrate of bicuspid valves may lead to suboptimal TAVR stent expansion and geometry.

Aim: We evaluated determinants of stent geometry in bicuspid valves treated with Sapien transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) valves.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective registry of patients (February 2019 to August 2022) who underwent post-TAVR computed tomography to determine stent area (vs.

Effects of complete revascularization according to age in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel disease (COMPLETE-AGE).

Background: In ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), complete revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces major cardiovascular events compared with culprit-lesion-only PCI. Whether age influences these results remains unknown.

Methods: COMPLETE was a multinational, randomized trial evaluating a strategy of staged complete revascularization, consisting of angiography-guided PCI of all suitable nonculprit lesions, versus a strategy of culprit-lesion-only PCI.

Ultrasound-guided femoral access in patients with vascular closure devices: a prespecified analysis of the randomised UNIVERSAL trial.

Background: Whether ultrasound (US)-guided femoral access compared to femoral access without US guidance decreases access site complications in patients receiving a vascular closure device (VCD) is unclear.

Aims: We aimed to compare the safety of VCD in patients undergoing US-guided versus non-US-guided femoral arterial access for coronary procedures.

Methods: We performed a prespecified subgroup analysis of the UNIVERSAL trial, a multicentre randomised controlled trial of 1:1 US-guided femoral access versus non-US-guided femoral access, stratified for planned VCD use, for coronary procedures on a background of fluoroscopic landmarking.

Design and Rationale of Routine ltrasoud Gudance for ascular Accss fo Cardiac Procedure: Randomized Tria (UNIVERSAL).

Background: A significant limitation of femoral artery access for cardiac interventions is the increased risk of vascular complications and bleeding compared to radial access. Ultrasound (US)-guided femoral access may reduce major vascular complications and bleeding. We aim to determine whether routinely using US guidance for femoral arterial access for coronary angiography or intervention will reduce leeding cademic esearch onsortium (BARC) 2, 3, or 5 bleeding or major vascular complications.

Effects of routine early treatment with PCSK9 inhibitors in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial.

Background: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), early initiation of high-intensity statin therapy, regardless of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, is the standard of practice worldwide.  Aims: We sought to determine the effect of a similar early initiation strategy, using a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor added to the high-intensity statin, on LDL cholesterol in acute STEMI.

Methods: In a randomised, double-blind trial we assigned 68 patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to early treatment with alirocumab 150 mg subcutaneously or to a matching sham control.

Economics of Minimalist Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Results From the 3M-TAVR Economic Study.

Background: The 3M-TAVR trial (3M-Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) demonstrated the feasibility and safety of next-day hospital discharge after transfemoral TAVR with implementation of a minimalist pathway. However, the economic impact of this approach is unknown. Therefore, we evaluated costs for patients undergoing minimalist TAVR compared with conventional TAVR.

Bespoke valve sizing avoids annular rupture in patients treated with a balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valve.

Background: Annular and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) calcification increase the risk of annular rupture following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The outcomes of a strategy of routine use of a balloon-expandable valve (BEV) for all patients irrespective of annular or LVOT calcium is unknown.

Objectives: We evaluated the impact of bespoke sizing on annular rupture in patients treated with a BEV.

Routine Ultrasonography Guidance for Femoral Vascular Access for Cardiac Procedures: The UNIVERSAL Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: A significant limitation of femoral artery access for cardiac interventions is the increased risk of vascular complications and bleeding compared with radial access. Strategies to make femoral access safer are needed.

Objective: To determine whether routinely using ultrasonography guidance for femoral arterial access for coronary angiography/intervention reduces bleeding or vascular complications.

A Computed Tomography Protocol to Evaluate Coronary Artery Disease Before Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) computed tomographic angiography (CTA) images can be used to evaluate coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of consecutive TAVR patients from November 2019 to February 2021 to evaluate TAVR CTA assessment of CAD on the rate of pre-TAVR invasive angiography. Patients had CTA first or invasive angiography first at the discretion of their treating physicians.

Complete Revascularization in Patients Undergoing a Pharmacoinvasive Strategy for ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Insights From the COMPLETE Trial.

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Remote Ambulatory Cardiac Monitoring Before and After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Remote ambulatory cardiac monitoring (rACM) could identify high-grade atrioventricular block (AVB) before and after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing TAVR, with 14-day rACM before and after TAVR, was performed. Of 62 patients undergoing TAVR, 41 patients had rACM before TAVR.

Nonculprit Lesion Severity and Outcome of Revascularization in Patients With STEMI and Multivessel Coronary Disease.

Background: In the COMPLETE (Complete vs Culprit-only Revascularization to Treat Multi-vessel Disease After Early PCI for STEMI) trial, angiography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of nonculprit lesions with the aim of complete revascularization reduced major cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) and multivessel coronary artery disease.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of nonculprit-lesion stenosis severity measured by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) on the benefit of complete revascularization.

Methods: Among 4,041 patients randomized in the COMPLETE trial, nonculprit lesion stenosis severity was measured using QCA in the angiographic core laboratory in 3,851 patients with 5,355 nonculprit lesions.

Comparison of Heart Team vs Interventional Cardiologist Recommendations for the Treatment of Patients With Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease.

Importance: Although the heart team approach is recommended in revascularization guidelines, the frequency with which heart team decisions differ from those of the original treating interventional cardiologist is unknown.

Objective: To examine the difference in decisions between the heart team and the original treating interventional cardiologist for the treatment of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this cross-sectional study, 245 consecutive patients with multivessel coronary artery disease were recruited from 1 high-volume tertiary care referral center (185 patients were enrolled through a screening process, and 60 patients were retrospectively enrolled from the center's database).

Very Early Changes in Quality of Life After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Results From the 3M TAVR Trial.

Background: Patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis derive substantial 30-day quality of life (QOL) benefit from transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Whether the QOL benefit of TAVR emerges earlier is unknown. We used data from the Multimodality, Multidisciplinary but Minimalist (3M) TAVR study to assess early changes in QOL after transfemoral (TF) TAVR.

Precautions and Procedures for Coronary and Structural Cardiac Interventions During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Guidance from Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology.

The globe is currently in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. This pandemic has placed considerable stress on health care resources and providers. This document from the Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology- Association Canadienne de Cardiologie d'intervention, specifically addresses the implications for the care of patients in the cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Vancouver 3M (Multidisciplinary, Multimodality, But Minimalist) Clinical Pathway Facilitates Safe Next-Day Discharge Home at Low-, Medium-, and High-Volume Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Centers: The 3M TAVR Study.

Objectives: The authors sought to prospectively determine the safety and efficacy of next-day discharge using the Vancouver 3M (Multidisciplinary, Multimodality, but Minimalist) Clinical Pathway.

Background: Transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an alternative to surgery in high- and intermediate-risk patients; however, hospital stays average at least 6 days in most trials. The Vancouver 3M Clinical Pathway is focused on next-day discharge, made possible by the use of objective screening criteria as well as streamlined peri- and post-procedural management guidelines.

Thrombus Aspiration in Patients With High Thrombus Burden in the TOTAL Trial.

Background: Routine thrombus aspiration in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) does not improve clinical outcomes. However, there is remaining uncertainty about the potential benefit in those patients with high thrombus burden, where there is a biological rationale for greater benefit.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefit of thrombus aspiration among STEMI patients with high thrombus burden.

Polygenic Contribution in Individuals With Early-Onset Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Despite evidence of high heritability, monogenic disorders are identified in a minor fraction of individuals with early-onset coronary artery disease (EOCAD). We hypothesized that some individuals with EOCAD carry a high number of common genetic risk variants, with a combined effect similar to Mendelian forms of coronary artery disease, such as familial hypercholesterolemia.

Methods And Results: To confirm the polygenic contribution to EOCAD (age of ≤40 years for men and ≤45 years for women), we calculated in 111 418 British participants from the UK Biobank cohort a genetic risk score (GRS) based on the presence of 182 independent variants associated with coronary artery disease (GRS182).

Avoiding S3 Valve Over-Sizing by Deployment Balloon Over-Filling: Impact on Rates of Permanent Pacemaker and Other Procedural Complications During TAVR.

Objectives: Patients with annular areas just above nominal S3 valve areas are at increased risk of over-sizing if a larger valve is implanted. We therefore evaluated the rate of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation associated with avoiding over-sizing by selective deployment balloon over-filling during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with the Sapien 3 (S3) valve.

Methods: We included consecutive patients treated with the S3 valve from January 2016 to May 2017.

Adult Congenital Heart Disease Intervention: The Canadian Landscape.

Once considered a childhood disease, the number of adults living with congenital heart disease (CHD) has now exceeded the number of pediatric patients. The landscape of percutaneous intervention for adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) has evolved over the past decade and has yet to be characterized in Canada. The aim of this study was to begin to understand the current infrastructure underlying ACHD interventions in Canada and to characterize the type and number of interventions being carried out across the country.

Structural Heart Disease Intervention: The Canadian Landscape.

Cardiovascular disease encompasses coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease, and the prevalence of both increases with age. Over the past decade, the landscape of interventional cardiology has evolved to encompass a new set of percutaneous procedures outside the coronary tree, including transcatheter aortic valve implantation, transcatheter mitral valve repair, and left atrial appendage occlusion. These interventions have sparked a new discipline within interventional cardiology referred to as structural heart disease (SHD) intervention.