Temporal Trends in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: 10-Year Analysis of the TAVIDOR Registry.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has established itself as the preferential strategy to approach severe aortic stenosis. Information on procedural improvements and nationwide results obtained with the technique throughout the past decade are unknown.

Objectives: To assess the temporal variation of the demographic profile, procedural characteristics, and in-hospital outcomes of patients undergoing TAVI procedures at the Rede D'Or São Luiz.

Prognostic value of CT angiography in patients with inconclusive functional stress tests.

Objectives: We attempted to determine the prognostic value of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) in patients with inconclusive functional stress tests.

Background: Patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and inconclusive noninvasive cardiac stress tests represent a frequent management challenge.

Methods: We examined 529 consecutive patients with suspected CAD and prior inconclusive functional stress tests.

Assessing intermediate coronary lesions: angiographic prediction of lesion severity on intravascular ultrasound.

Background: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) can detect atherosclerotic compromise in coronary segments where conventional angiography cannot. However, IVUS is more invasive, expensive and laborious than angiography. We compared the detection of stenosis by IVUS and angiography and identified angiographic predictors of severe luminal stenosis on IVUS in patients with angiographically-intermediate coronary lesions.

Comparison of open commissurotomy and balloon valvuloplasty in mitral stenosis. A five-year follow-up.

Objective: To compare clinical and laboratory data in patients with mitral stenosis undergoing open commissurotomy or balloon valvuloplasty, who were followed up for 5 years.

Methods: Eighty-one patients were prospectively assessed prior to the procedure (PRE) and immediately after the procedure, in the immediate postoperative period (IPO), and followed up yearly for 5 years (PO12M, PO24M, PO36M, PO48M, and PO60M). They were randomized into the following 2 groups: GC (group undergoing open commissurotomy): 37 patients (32.

Comparison between percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty and open commissurotomy for mitral stenosis. A prospective and randomized study.

Eighty patients with tight and pliable mitral stenosis were randomized in a prospective trial comparing percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty and open commissurotomy. Mitral valve area increased significantly in both groups immediately after the procedures. However, a decrease in mitral valve area occurred in both groups at 6, 12 and 24 months during the follow-up.

Comparison of direct stenting versus stenting with predilation for the treatment of selected coronary narrowings.

Direct stenting may reduce costs, procedure times, and injury to the vessel wall, positively influencing acute and late results. This study was designed to demonstrate 6-month clinical outcome equivalence between direct and standard stenting techniques. Four hundred eleven patients (425 lesions) were randomized in 7 sites to undergo direct (210 patients, 216 lesions) or conventional (201 patients, 209 lesions) stent implantation.