Left Atrial Volumes and Function by Three-Dimensional Echocardiography: Reference Values, Accuracy, Reproducibility, and Comparison With Two-Dimensional Echocardiographic Measurements.

Background: Our study sought to (1) identify reference values for left atrial (LA) volumes and phasic function indices by 3-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) and compare them with those measured by 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and (2) analyze their relationship with age, sex, body size, and left ventricular function. Accuracy and reproducibility of 3DE and 2DE have been also tested to evaluate the robustness of our data.

Methods And Results: We obtained maximal, minimal, and preA LA volumes by 3DE and 2DE in 276 healthy volunteers (18-79 years; 57% women).

Long-term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention of left main coronary artery for treatment of cardiac allograft vasculopathy after orthotopic heart transplantation.

The present study evaluated the safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) for the treatment of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) in consecutive unselected patients with orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). PCI in patients with OHT and develop CAV has been associated with greater restenosis rates compared to PCI in patients with native coronary artery disease. A paucity of short- and long-term data is available from patients with OHT who have undergone PCI for ULMCA disease.

Long-term outcomes of elective drug-eluting stenting of the unprotected left main coronary artery in patients with normal left ventricular function.

Objectives: To evaluate the early and long-term outcomes of patients with normal left ventricular function who undergo elective unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES).

Background: Although the standard of care for patients with ULMCA disease is coronary artery bypass surgery, the current guidelines recommend PCI in clinical conditions that predict an increased risk of adverse surgical outcomes. The long-term outcomes of patients with low risk of adverse surgical outcomes who undergo PCI are unknown.

Sirolimus- versus paclitaxel-eluting stents for the treatment of cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) in the treatment of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV).

Background: PCI in patients with CAV is associated with increased rates of restenosis compared with PCI in patients without CAV. There are no dedicated studies on the influence of different drug-eluting stents (DES) on the outcomes of patients with CAV.