Percutaneous coronary intervention vs. coronary artery bypass grafting in emergency and non-emergency unprotected left-main revascularization.

Background: The optimal revascularization strategy in patients with left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease in the emergency setting is still controversial. Thus, we aimed to compare the outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) vs. coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with and without emergent LMCA disease.

Weight Loss and Its Predictors During Participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation.

We aimed to assess the prevalence and magnitude of clinically meaningful weight loss among cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participants who were overweight or obese and identify its predictors. We analyzed subjects with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 who were enrolled in a 12-week CR outpatient program from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019, and had paired pre- and post-CR weight data. Patients who lost 3% or more of their body weight by the end of the program were compared with the remaining participants.

Reduced myocardial blood flow reserve in kidney transplant candidates may hamper risk stratification.

Background: Vasodilator nuclear stress testing is frequently ordered for risk stratification prior to kidney transplantation. Since Rb-positron emission tomography-computed tomography can measure myocardial blood flow (MBF), the response to vasodilator stress can be verified rendering the results of the scan more reliable.

Methods: We reviewed the MBF response to dipyridamole infusion in 328 patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) prior to transplant (188 hemodialysis-HD, 120 peritoneal dialysis-PD, and 20 pre-dialysis patients-CKD5) and in 100 controls with normal kidney function.

Inter-ethnic marriages and severity of coronary artery disease: A multicenter study of Arabian Gulf States.

Aim: To assess the association of inter-ethnic intra-ethnic marriage with severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in men undergoing angiography.

Methods: We conducted a prospective multicenter, multi-ethnic, cross sectional observational study at five hospitals in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in which we used logistic regression analysis with and without adjustment for baseline differences.

Results: Data were collected for 1068 enrolled patients undergoing coronary angiography for clinical indications during the period of April 1, 2013 to March 30, 2014.

Ultrasound guidance for vascular access in patients undergoing coronary angiography via the transradial approach.

Background: We assessed the value of routine real-time ultrasound (RTUS) guidance to improve transradial access (TRA) for cardiac catheterization.

Methods: A prospective, single-center descriptive observational study of patients presenting for cardiac catheterization via the transradial approach. The first phase of the study enrolled 100 consecutive patients who underwent TRA without the assistance of RTUS followed by 100 consecutive patients who underwent TRA using RTUS guidance.