A Randomized Trial to Assess Regional Left Ventricular Function After Stent Implantation in Chronic Total Occlusion: The REVASC Trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusions (CTOs) improves left ventricular function.

Background: The benefit of PCI in CTOs is still controversial.

Methods: Patients with CTOs who were candidates for PCI were eligible for the study and were randomized to PCI or no PCI of CTO.

Long-term results after PCI of unprotected distal left main coronary artery stenosis: the Bifurcations Bad Krozingen (BBK)-Left Main Registry.

Aims: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of unprotected distal left main stenosis (UDLM) is increasingly performed as an alternative to surgical treatment. The optimal strategy for stenting in this setting is still a matter of debate. Therefore, this analysis investigated the long-term clinical outcome of a single- versus a double-stenting strategy for treatment of UDLM.

Medium-Term Follow-Up of Early Leaflet Thrombosis After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate medium-term outcomes in patients with leaflet thrombosis (LT).

Background: The clinical significance of early LT after transcatheter aortic valve replacement, diagnosed by computed tomography angiography in approximately 10% of patients, is uncertain.

Methods: In this observational study, computed tomographic angiography was performed a median of 5 days after transcatheter aortic valve replacement and assessed for evidence of LT.

Temporal changes in outcomes of women and men undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion: 2005-2013.

Objective: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) has undergone impressive progress during the last decade, both in strategies and equipment. It is unknown whether technical refinement has translated into improved outcomes in women undergoing CTO-PCI.

Method And Results: A total of 2002 consecutive patients (17% females, mean age 65.

Impact of the type of transcatheter heart valve on the incidence of early subclinical leaflet thrombosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether balloon-expandable and self-expandable transcatheter heart valves (THVs) differ in terms of the incidence of early subclinical leaflet thrombosis (LT).

Methods: Electrocardiographic-gated cardiac dual-source computed tomography angiography was performed at a median of 5 days after transcatheter aortic valve implantation and assessed for evidence of LT.

Results: Of the 629 consecutive patients, 538 (86%) received a balloon-expandable THV and 91 (14%) a self-expandable THV.

Outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion according to baseline renal function.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) adversely affects outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. Data on the impact of renal impairment on prognosis of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) are scarce.

Methods: A total of 2002 patients undergoing CTO PCI were stratified according to baseline renal function (group 1: estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≥ 90 ml/min/1.

Impact of anemia on long-term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion.

Objectives: A single-centre, observational study was performed in order to investigate the relationship between anemia and outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO).

Background: Anemia has been identified as adverse predictor in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing coronary revascularization. Data on the impact of anemia on outcomes in patients undergoing PCI for CTO lesions are lacking.

Hemodynamic classification of paravalvular leakage after transcatheter aortic valve implantation compared with angiographic or echocardiographic classification for prediction of 1-year mortality.

Objectives: We sought to assess angiographic, echocardiographic and hemodynamic grading of paravalvular leakage (PVL) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with respect to prediction of 1-year mortality.

Background: Meaningful criteria for the severity of PVL are needed to allow intraprocedural guidance and patient management after TAVI.

Methods: We pooled the prospective TAVI databases of 2 German centers.

Preprocedural Leucocyte Count Predicts Risk in Patients with Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion.

 As technologies of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) have improved, great uncertainty exists regarding patient selection and long-term benefit of CTO-PCI. Given that white blood cell (WBC) count has been associated with cardiovascular risk, we hypothesized that the latter might provide incremental prognostic value in patients undergoing CTO-PCI.  Our study population consisted of 1,262 consecutive patients (76.

Clinical implications of periprocedural myocardial injury in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion: role of antegrade and retrograde crossing techniques.

Aims: Periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI) is frequently observed after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO). We aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of PMI with the antegrade as compared to the retrograde crossing technique.

Methods And Results: A total of 1,909 patients undergoing CTO PCI were stratified according to the presence/absence of PMI (elevation of cardiac troponin T [cTnT] >5x99th percentile of normal), and divided according to tertiles of the difference between peak and baseline cTnT within 24 hours (∆cTnT).

Comparison of Benefit of Successful Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion in Patients With Versus Without Reduced (≤40%) Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

Successful recanalization of chronic total occlusions (CTO) has been associated with improved survival. Data on outcomes in patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for CTO, however, are scarce. Between January 2005 and December 2013, a total of 2,002 consecutive patients undergoing elective CTO percutaneous coronary intervention at a tertiary care center were divided into patients with (LV ejection fraction ≤ 40%) and without (LV ejection fraction > 40%) LV systolic dysfunction as defined by transthoracic echocardiography.

Coronary dominance and prognosis in patients with chronic total occlusion treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aim: The prognostic value of coronary artery dominance pattern in patients with chronic total occlusions (CTO) is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of coronary vessel dominance on short and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for CTO.

Methods And Results: Our study population consisted of 2002 consecutive patients (17% females, mean age 65.

Outcomes of patients with periprocedural atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion.

Background: Successful CTO recanalization has been associated with clinical benefit. Outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing CTO PCI have not been investigated, yet.

Aims: This study sought to evaluate the association between atrial fibrillation and outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTO).

Comparison of Outcomes in Men Versus Women After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion.

Conflicting evidence exists on gender differences in outcomes after coronary stenting, and gender-based data in patients with chronic total occlusions (CTO) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are scarce. Consecutive patients who underwent CTO PCI from January 2005 to December 2013 were included in the analysis and stratified according to gender. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality.

Impact of multi-vessel versus single-vessel disease on outcomes after percutaneous coronary interventions for chronic total occlusions.

Background: Successful chronic total occlusion (CTO) revascularization has been associated with prognostic benefits. Whether the extent of coronary artery disease interferes with these benefits has not been investigated yet.

Aims: We sought to compare the survival after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for CTO between patients with multi- (MVD) and single-vessel disease (SVD).

Survival after percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion in elderly patients.

Aims: Few data are available on outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) in very elderly patients in the drug-eluting stent (DES) era. We aimed to investigate long-term survival in a single-centre cohort of elderly patients following CTO PCI using DES.

Methods And Results: A total of 2,002 consecutive patients who underwent PCI of a CTO at our centre between January 2005 and December 2013 were followed for a median of 2.

Course of early subclinical leaflet thrombosis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with or without oral anticoagulation.

Background: After transcatheter aortic valve implantation, early leaflet thickening, presumably reflecting thrombus, has recently been described on computed tomography angiography (CTA) in ~10% of the patients. We sought to investigate the impact of the antithrombotic regimen on the course of leaflet thickening.

Methods: The study comprised 51 patients with leaflet thickening.

Impact of body mass index on long-term mortality in women and men undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion.

Background: The obesity paradox has been described in different patient populations. Data on the relation between obesity and outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) are lacking. Therefore, long-term mortality in patients undergoing CTO PCI was assessed according to different body mass index (BMI) categories.

Survival after percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion.

Background: There is limited data on prognosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) in the era of drug-eluting stents (DES).

Aims: This study investigates the specific contribution of CTO recanalization to the survival benefit of complete revascularization.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent PCI of a CTO at our center between 01/2005 and 12/2013 were followed for a median of 2.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients With Previous Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion.

Successful revascularization of chronic total occlusions (CTOs) has been associated with clinical benefit. Data on outcomes in patients with previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for CTO, however, are scarce. A total of 2,002 consecutive patients undergoing PCI for CTO from January 2005 to December 2013 were divided into patients with and without previous CABG, and outcomes were retrospectively assessed.

Culotte stenting vs. TAP stenting for treatment of de-novo coronary bifurcation lesions with the need for side-branch stenting: the Bifurcations Bad Krozingen (BBK) II angiographic trial.

Aims: In percutaneous coronary intervention for de-novo coronary bifurcation lesions, the optimal technique for provisional side-branch stenting is still a matter of debate. We tested whether in this setting culotte stenting reduces the incidence of restenosis as compared with T-and-protrusion (TAP) stenting.

Methods And Results: This trial included 300 patients with a coronary bifurcation lesion requiring a side-branch stent.

Long-term outcomes of routine versus provisional T-stenting for de novo coronary bifurcation lesions: five-year results of the Bifurcations Bad Krozingen I study.

Aims: Previously, we reported that the nine-month angiographic result after treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions with provisional T-stenting was not significantly different from that with routine T-stenting. To compare long-term clinical outcomes of the two stenting strategies, we extended the follow-up of our study on bifurcation stenting.

Methods And Results: One hundred and one patients with coronary bifurcation lesions had been randomly assigned to provisional T-stenting and 101 to routine T-stenting, using sirolimus-eluting stents.

Discordant cardiac biomarker levels independently predict outcome in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Aims: To investigate the prognostic relevance of elevated Troponin T (cTnT) levels in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without significant creatine kinase (CK) elevation on admission.

Methods And Results: From January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2006 patients with STEMI without significant CK elevation (<2-fold) on admission treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included and stratified according to cTnT plasma levels. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to find independent predictors for mortality.

Early hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening in balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic heart valves.

Aims: We sought to evaluate the frequency of early hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) of the SAPIEN 3 transcatheter aortic valve (S3).

Methods And Results: Of 249 patients who had undergone S3 implantation, we studied 156 consecutive patients (85 women, median age 82.2 ± 5.