Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease in Chronic Total Occlusion Management and Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Data on the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on clinical outcomes in chronic total occlusion (CTO) patients is scarce, and the optimal treatment strategy for this population is not well established. This study aims to compare differences in CTO management and long-term clinical outcomes, including all-cause and cardiac mortalities, according to baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Methods: All patients with at least one CTO diagnosed in our center between 2010 and 2014 were included.

Clinical Impact of Medical Therapy Versus Revascularization in Patients With Chronic Coronary Total Occlusions.

Background: Chronic total occlusions (CTOs) are prevalent angiographic findings in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. Conflicting results of randomized controlled trials and registries have not clarified the therapeutic approach for patients with CTO in clinical practice. Therefore, we sought to analyze variables influencing the decision-making process and their relationship with clinical outcomes according to the type of selected therapy.

Giant aneurysm of the right coronary artery, report of a case and review of the literature.

Coronary artery aneurysms are described as a localized dilatation that exceeds the normal diameter by 1.5 times. This is a rare condition; its incidence varies from 0.

Giant aneurysm of the right coronary artery, report of a case and review of the literature.

Coronary artery aneurysms are described as a localized dilatation that exceeds the normal diameter by 1.5 times. This is a rare condition; its incidence varies from 0.

Does manual thrombus aspiration help optimize stent implantation in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction?

Aim: To evaluate the impact of thrombus aspiration (TA) on procedural outcomes in a real-world ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) registry.

Methods: From May 2006 to August 2008, 542 consecutive STEMI patients referred for primary or rescue percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled and the angiographic results and stent implantation characteristics were compared according to the performance of manual TA.

Results: A total of 456 patients were analyzable and categorized in TA group (156 patients; 34.

Randomized comparison between polymer-free versus polymer-based paclitaxel-eluting stent: two-year final clinical results.

Background: Most drug-eluting stents currently in use are coated with a polymer carrying the drug that is released for several weeks. However, a durable polymer may provoke hypersensitive reaction, delayed artery healing, and eventually stent thrombosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of a polymer-free paclitaxel-eluting stent (PF-PES) versus a polymer-based PES (PB-PES).

Distal side-branch technique: a new use for the Tornus® Catheter.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outcomes of chronic total occlusions (CTO) lesions have improved in recent years due to a better understanding of the physiopathology of the disease, more effective techniques and improvement in the design of new devices. We describe a new use of the Tornus® Catheter in the anterograde approach for CTO treatment.

Predictors and clinical implications of stent thrombosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: Insights from the EXAMINATION trial.

Background: Few data are available about safety of second generation drug eluting stents in an all-comer ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) population. We sought to investigate the predictors and clinical implications of 1-year stent thrombosis (ST) in patients with STEMI, included in the EXAMINATION trial.

Methods And Results: The EXAMINATION trial is an all-comer prospective, randomized 1:1 controlled trial, testing everolimus-eluting stent (EES) vs.

One-year head to head comparison of the neointimal response between sirolimus eluting stent with reservoir technology and everolimus eluting stent: an optical coherence tomography study.

Objective: to compare the vascular healing process between the sirolimus-eluting NEVO and the everolimus-eluting Xience stent by optical coherence tomography (OCT) at 1-year follow-up.

Background: Presence of durable polymer on a drug-eluting metallic stent may be the basis of an inflammatory reaction with abnormal healing response. The NEVO stent, having a bioresorbable polymer eluted by reservoir technology, may overcome this problem.

Right coronary artery dissection following blunt chest trauma.

Chest trauma is a major health problem with a high mortality. Myocardial infarction secondary to coronary dissection following blunt chest trauma is a rare entity. We describe the case of an inferior MI following blunt chest trauma.

Endothelial and smooth muscle cells dysfunction distal to recanalized chronic total coronary occlusions and the relationship with the collateral connection grade.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the vascular function in patients with chronic total coronary occlusions (CTO) immediately after successful percutaneous recanalization and its relation with the pre-existing collateral circulation.

Background: CTOs represent a long-acting occlusion of a coronary vessel, in which the progressively developed collateral circulation may limit ischemia and symptoms. However, it is unknown if the coronary segment distal to the occlusion has a preserved vascular function.

Adequate antiplatelet regimen in patients on chronic anti-vitamin K treatment undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aim: To investigate the impact of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) in patients on anti-vitamin K (AVK) regimen requiring percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Between February 2006 and February 2008, 138 consecutive patients under chronic AVK treatment were enrolled in this registry. Of them, 122 received bare metal stent implantation and 16 received drug eluting stent implantation.

Emergent versus elective percutaneous stent implantation in the unprotected left main: long-term outcomes from a single-center registry.

Background: Unprotected left main (ULM) coronary disease is considered by contemporary guidelines a class I indication for surgery. However, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is often carried out in the ULM in either emergent or high-risk elective procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate ULM-PCI as a feasible and safe procedure in the emergent setting, and to analyze outcomes in both scenarios.

[Usefulness of the Tornus® catheter in nondilatable coronary chronic total occlusion].

The treatment of coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) remains a challenge for the interventional cardiologist. Failure of balloon angioplasty is the second more common cause of an unsuccessful procedure. We describe our experience with the use of the new Tornus® catheter (Asahi Intecc, Aichi, Japan) designed specifically for the treatment of "nondilatable" CTO.

Endothelial progenitor cell capturing stent and short dual antiplatelet therapy in patients on chronic anti-vitamin k regimen undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions: long-term outcomes of a single centre registry.

Aims: To evaluate outcomes of the endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) capture stent in patients on chronic anti-vitamin K (AVK) regimen, requiring percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods And Results: Between February 2007 and February 2008, 78 consecutive patients under chronic AVK treatment undergoing PCI were enrolled in the registry and received an EPC capture stent. The incidence of comorbid conditions was analysed by the Charlson index.