Complete versus incomplete revascularization in patients with a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: Analysis from the e-ULTIMASTER registry.

Background: Incomplete revascularization (ICR) has been associated with a worse prognosis after a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In NSTEMI patients with multivessel disease (MVD) however, the benefit of a complete revascularization (CR) remains unclear.

Methods: Patients presenting with an NSTEMI and MVD were selected from the global e-ULTIMASTER registry and grouped according to completeness of revascularization at index hospitalization discharge.

Very long-term efficacy and safety of paclitaxel-eluting balloon after a bare-metal stent for the treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction: 8-year results of a randomized clinical trial (PEBSI study).

Background: Drug-eluting stents (DES) are considered the therapy of choice in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI); however, a low persistent rate of revascularizations and stent thrombosis exist over the time. We have previously shown that a paclitaxel (PTX)-drug-coated balloon (DCB) after a bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation (DCB-combined strategy) yields superior angiographic and clinical results compared to BMS in the short term. However, the long-term safety and efficacy of this approach remain uncertain.

Bayesian analysis of the Substrate Ablation vs. Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy for Symptomatic Ventricular Tachycardia trial.

Background And Aims: Bayesian analyses can provide additional insights into the results of clinical trials, aiding in the decision-making process. We analysed the Substrate Ablation vs. Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy for Symptomatic Ventricular Tachycardia (SURVIVE-VT) trial using Bayesian survival models.

Spontaneous Variation of Ventriculo-Atrial Interval after Tachycardia Induction: Determinants and Usefulness in the Diagnosis of Supraventricular Tachycardias with Long Ventriculoatrial Interval.

Background: Determining the mechanism of supraventricular tachycardias with prolongedP ventriculoatrial (VA) intervals is sometimes a challenge. Our objective is to analyse the determinants, time course and diagnostic accuracy (atypical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardias [AVNRT] versus orthodromic reentrant tachycardias through an accessory pathway [ORT]) of spontaneous VA intervals variation in patients with narrow QRS tachycardias and prolonged VA. Methods: A total of 156 induced tachycardias were studied (44 with atypical AVNRT and 112 with ORT).

Substrate Ablation vs Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy for Symptomatic Ventricular Tachycardia.

Background: In patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), catheter ablation and antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) reduce ICD shocks, but the most effective approach remains uncertain.

Objectives: This trial compares the efficacy and safety of catheter ablation vs AAD as first-line therapy in ICD patients with symptomatic ventricular tachycardias (VTs).

Methods: The SURVIVE-VT (Substrate Ablation vs Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy for Symptomatic Ventricular Tachycardia) is a prospective, multicenter, randomized trial including patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and appropriated ICD shock.

Clinical outcomes of the proximal optimisation technique (POT) in bifurcation stenting.

Background: Optimal deployment of coronary stents in a bifurcation lesion remains a matter of debate.

Aims: We sought to capture the daily practice of bifurcation stenting by means of a worldwide registry and to investigate how post-implantation deployment techniques influence clinical outcomes.

Methods: Data from the e-ULTIMASTER registry were used to perform an analysis of 4,395 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for bifurcation lesions.

Timing of Ablation and Prognosis of Patients With Electrical Storm and Scar-Related Left Ventricular Dysfunction.

Although radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is indicated in electrical storm (ES) refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs, its most appropriate timing has not been determined. Our objective is to analyse the impact of the timing of RFCA on 30-day mortality in patients with ES and previous scar-related systolic dysfunction. In this multi-centre study, we analysed 104 patients (age: 72 ± 10, left ventricular ejection fraction: 30 ± 6%) attended consecutively due to an ES caused by monomorphic ventricular tachycardia.

Beta-blocker therapy is associated with a lower incidence of syncope due to fast ventricular tachycardias among implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients with left ventricular dysfunction: results from a multicenter study.

Introduction: Among implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients, a substantial proportion of syncopes are due to fast ventricular tachycardias (FVTs). In the experimental models of ventricular tachycardias, the arterial vasoconstriction plays an important role in recovering the arterial pressure. Since beta-blockers increase vascular resistance, we hypothesized that beta-blockers could reduce the occurrence of syncope due to FVTs.

Percutaneous closure of a giant coronary artery fistula after surgical pericardiectomy. Review of the literature.

Coronary artery fistulae (CAF) are uncommon heart defects defined as a communication between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber or vascular structure. They are frequently asymptomatic; nevertheless, they can produce angina, dyspnea or cardiac failure. CAF are believed to be congenital; however, isolated cases of CAF have been described as rare complications of cardiac surgery.

A randomised trial of paclitaxel-eluting balloon after bare metal stent implantation vs. bare metal stent in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (the PEBSI study).

Aims: Our aim was to assess the safety and efficacy of paclitaxel-eluting balloon (PTX-B) treatment after bare metal stent (BMS) implantation in patients undergoing primary angioplasty.

Methods And Results: After BMS implantation, patients were randomised (1:1) to treatment with a PTX-B or no PTX-B treatment (BMS group). The primary endpoint was in-stent late luminal loss (LLL) at nine-month follow-up.

Acute Coronary Syndromes, Gastrointestinal Protection, and Recommendations Regarding Concomitant Administration of Proton-Pump Inhibitors (Omeprazol/Esomeprazole) and Clopidogrel.

The Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency sent a warning in 2010 discouraging the concomitant use of clopidogrel with omeprazole or esomeprazole. The purpose is to know the gastroprotective approach in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and the level of follow-up of the alert. In 17 hospitals with catheterization laboratory in Spain, 1 per region, we studied 25 consecutive patients per hospital whose diagnosis of discharge since October 1, 2013, had been any type of ACS.

A prospective randomised study of the paclitaxel-coated balloon catheter in bifurcated coronary lesions (BABILON trial): 24-month clinical and angiographic results.

Aims: Paclitaxel drug-eluting balloons (pDEB) could be an attractive option to minimise side branch (SB) restenosis in bifurcated coronary lesions. We compared angiographic and clinical outcomes with pDEB plus bare metal stent (BMS) versus drug-eluting stents (DES) in de novo bifurcated lesions.

Methods And Results: This multicentre randomised trial included 108 patients.

Noninvasive identification of epicardial ventricular tachycardia substrate by magnetic resonance-based signal intensity mapping.

Background: Endo-epicardial substrate ablation reduces ventricular tachycardia (VT) recurrences; however, not all patients in whom the epicardium is explored have a VT substrate. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (ceMRI) is used to characterize VT substrate after myocardial infarction.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if epicardial VT substrate can be identified noninvasively by ceMRI-based endo-epicardial signal intensity (SI) mapping.

Morphology of far-field electrograms and antitachycardia pacing effectiveness among fast ventricular tachycardias occurring in ICD patients: a multicenter study.

Introduction: Fast ventricular tachycardias (FVT) are less likely to be terminated by antitachycardia pacing (ATP). No information is available regarding the ability of far-field electrogram (Ff-EG) morphology (Ff-EGm) in predicting the result of the subsequent ATP. Our objective is to determine the relationship between Ff-EGm and ATP efficacy.

Chronic intrapericardial catheterization for repeated drug delivery: technical feasibility study in the Göttingen minipig.

Background: A minimally invasive pericardial access and chronic catheterization may enhance the therapeutic effects of intrapericardial drug delivery. We aimed to evaluate the technical feasibility of percutaneous intrapericardial implantation of a drug port system for chronic local drug delivery.

Methods And Results: Under fluoroscopic guidance, a percutaneous subxiphoid access to the pericardial space was obtained with fine needle and micropuncture set in 6 Göttingen minipigs.

Right versus left radial artery access for coronary procedures: an international collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis including 5 randomized trials and 3210 patients.

Background: Radial artery access is a mainstay in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease. However, there is uncertainty on the comparison of right versus left radial access for coronary procedures. We thus undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing right versus left radial access for coronary diagnostic and interventional procedures.

Titanium-nitride-oxIde-coated stents multicenter registry in diaBEtic patienTs: the TIBET registry.

We sought to explore the immediate clinical and angiographic results of the Titan(®) stent implantation in diabetic patients, as well as the major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 6-month follow-up. We enrolled 156 consecutive diabetic patients admitted to undergo percutaneous intervention for at least one significant (50%) coronary lesion. All lesions were treated with the Titan(®) stent implantation according to the contemporary interventional techniques.

The EXTREME registry: titanium-nitride-oxide coated stents in small coronary arteries.

Objectives: We sought to explore the immediate results of Titan2 stent implantation in small coronary arteries, as well as the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at six months follow-up.

Background: The safety of Titan2 stent has been confirmed in several studies in real-life unselected populations.

Methods: We enrolled 311 consecutive patients admitted for percutaneous intervention for at least one significant (50%) de novo lesion in a native small coronary artery (2.

[Right versus left radial artery approach for coronary angiography. Differences observed and the learning curve].

There are anatomical differences between right and left radial artery approaches for coronary catheterization that could influence application of the technique. We present the results of a randomized study that compared the effectiveness of the two approaches and identified factors associated with failure of the procedure. The study involved 351 consecutive patients: a left radial approach was used in 180, and a right radial approach, in 171.