Updates on Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Closure.

Purpose Of Review: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been previously linked to left circulation thromboembolism and stroke. This review article aims to discuss the latest evidence, updated societal guidelines, diagnostic algorithms and novel therapeutic devices for PFO closure.

Recent Findings: PFO closure for cryptogenic stroke and systemic embolization is supported by a large body of evidence and has a strong societal recommendation.

3-Year Outcomes After Transcatheter or Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Low-Risk Patients With Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Randomized data comparing outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with surgery in low-surgical risk patients at time points beyond 2 years is limited. This presents an unknown for physicians striving to educate patients as part of a shared decision-making process.

Objectives: The authors evaluated 3-year clinical and echocardiographic outcomes from the Evolut Low Risk trial.

OCT utilization: Summary statistics from the LightLab clinical initiative.

Objectives: The study describes the evolution of optical coherence tomography (OCT) adoption and performance during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following implementation of a standardized LightLab (LL) workflow.

Background: The purpose of the LL Clinical Initiative was to evaluate the impact of a standardized workflow on physician efficiency, decision making, and image quality.

Methods: The LL Clinical Initiative is a multicenter, prospective, observational clinical program.

Lessons for Treating Structural Heart Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond.

Background: We sought to compare characteristics and outcomes of structural heart disease (SHD) patients treated during the regional peak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic ("COVID era") compared with historical controls. During the COVID era, elective SHD procedures at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center were canceled but urgent cases were still performed. We enacted several practice changes in an effort to minimize complications, prevent COVID transmission, and decrease hospital stay during the pandemic.

CoreValve bioprosthesis dysfunction treated with a Sapien 3 valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement and BASILICA technique.

Structural deterioration of transcatheter heart valve (THV) has been previously described. With the expansion of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) indications toward treating lower risk patients with longer life expectancy, there will be increased necessity of managing the patients with THV dysfunction including those at risk for coronary obstruction or sinus sequestration. Coronary access also remains a challenge in such cases with THV dysfunction undergoing valve-in-transcatheter heart valve (ViTHV) TAVR.

Case report: percutaneous closure of residual leak following left atrial appendage occlusion.

Background: Transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) using Watchman device has been demonstrated to be efficacious in decreasing stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation who are not suitable for long-term anticoagulation. Residual leaks are frequently encountered following LAAO procedures and their clinical implications and optimal management remain controversial.

Case Summary: In this report, we describe a case of peri-Watchman device leak treated successfully with percutaneous device closure using an Amplatzer Vascular Plug II device.

Strategies for Successful Catheterization Laboratory Recovery From the COVID-19 Pandemic.

As the world slowly starts to recover from the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic, health care systems are now thinking about resuming elective cardiovascular procedures, including procedures in cardiac catheterization laboratories. Rebooting catheterization laboratories will be an arduous process, in part because of limited health care resources, new processes, and fears stemming from the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. The authors propose a detailed phased-in approach that considers clinical, patient-centered, and operational strategies to safely and effectively reboot catheterization laboratory programs during these unprecedented times.

Preclinical comparative assessment of a dedicated pediatric poly-L-lactic-acid-based bioresorbable scaffold with a low-profile bare metal stent.

Background: Polymer-based bioresorbable scaffolds (PBBS) have been assessed for coronary revascularization with mixed outcomes. Few studies have targeted pediatric-specific scaffolds. We sought to assess safety, efficacy, and short-term performance of a dedicated drug-free PBBS pediatric scaffold compared to a standard low-profile bare metal stent (BMS) in central and peripheral arteries of weaned piglets.

Post hoc closure of large bore vascular access using the MANTA closure device.

Successful closure of large bore vascular access (≥12 Fr) is facilitated by the MANTA vascular closure device; however, it requires a critical first step of measuring "skin to arterial wall" depth of the access site using the depth locator before dilating the vessel above 8 Fr. It may be challenging at times to acquire the deployment depth at the onset of the procedure due to case urgency, delayed closure, or when large bore access is obtained at a different institution. We discuss a novel technique of measuring the deployment depth and successful delayed closure of large bore arterial access using the MANTA closure device.

Left atrial appendage occlusion using a Watchman device in a transplanted heart with biatrial anastomosis.

A percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion using a Watchman device was performed in a patient with prior biatrial anastomosis orthotopic heart transplant (OHT). Due to the anatomical changes following biatrial anastomosis, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) imaging and transseptal puncture become technically challenging. We describe how the standard LAA views on TEE were obtained for device sizing, and how the transseptal puncture was modified to cross the scarred septum.

Left ventricular perforation in a patient with a left ventricular aneurysm during NOGA® catheter mapping.

Endocardial mapping of the left ventricle (LV) using the NOGA® XP Cardiac Navigation System can identify chronically ischemic and viable myocardium in patients with coronary artery disease by generating electromechanical maps. These maps are very useful when targeting myocardial tissue for injection of stem cells. We present the case of a woman who developed a perforation at the site of an LV aneurysm during NOGA mapping prior to the transendocardial injection of stem cells, as part of a multicenter clinical trial.