Long-term clinical outcome and routine angiographic follow-up after successful recanalization of complex coronary true chronic total occlusion with a long stent length: a single-center experience.

Objectives: To evaluate clinical and angiographic outcomes after successful recanalization of chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO) with implantation of a long total stent length (SL).

Background: Routine follow-up angiogram (RFUA) data after successful recanalization of CTO with a long SL are lacking.

Methods: RFUAs were performed at 6 months after successful recanalization of 106 CTOs using drug-eluting stents (DESs) with a long SL (≥ 20 mm) in 102 consecutive patients.

Immediate and long-term results of a modified simultaneous kissing stenting for percutaneous coronary intervention of coronary artery bifurcation lesions.

Objectives: We propose a modified simultaneous kissing stenting technique (MSKS) based on systematic implantation of a protective stent in the proximal main vessel (PMV) proximally to the bifurcation before simultaneous kissing stenting (SKS).

Background: SKS has been proposed in large-size coronary vessel bifurcation lesions (BLs) when the PMV can accommodate two stents. SKS implies, however, low-pressure simultaneous final balloon inflations to avoid retrograde PMV dissection or rupture and therefore may not ensure optimal final stent apposition.

Return to work after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in the modern era of reperfusion by direct percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Previous studies have evaluated return to work after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated medically, after bypass surgery or after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for stable coronary artery disease. However, there are few data regarding return to work after acute STEMI treated by direct PCI.

Aims: To analyse the factors influencing return to work after STEMI treated by direct PCI.

A new approach of primary angioplasty for ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction based on minimalist immediate mechanical intervention.

Objectives: No reflow has been reported in 12-30% of the patients directly revascularized by angioplasty for acute ST elevation myocardial infarction with the highest incidence after primary stenting in patients with initial thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade 0 flow. We hypothesized that a minimalist immediate mechanical intervention (MIMI) based on the use of very small size balloons to avoid both large dissection and distal embolization may be sufficient to restore flow in emergency and that recanalization may be sustained by maximized antithrombotic regimen (abcximab, clopidogrel, aspirin and heparin) allowing one to postpone stenting in better conditions.

Methods: MIMI was performed in 93 patients for ST elevation myocardial infarction with initial TIMI grade 0 flow.