Transesophageal echocardiography-guided versus fluoroscopy-guided patent foramen ovale closure: A single center registry.

Background: Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) is conventionally performed under continuous transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) guidance. We aimed to evaluate whether a simplified procedural approach, including pure fluoroscopy-guidance and final TEE control, as well as an aimed 'next-day-discharge' is comparable with the conventional TEE-guided procedure in terms of periprocedural and intermediate-term outcomes.

Methods: All patients who underwent a PFO closure at our center between 2010 and 2022 were retrospectively included.

Indications and Outcome in Patients Undergoing Left Atrial Appendage Closure-The Austrian LAAC Registry.

Background: Complete real-world data on the indications and outcomes of left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) outside of clinical trials are rare. In this study, we stratified patients undergoing LAAC by indication groups.

Methods: This analysis of the national multicentre Austrian LAAC Registry comprised all patients that underwent LAAC up until 2018 at the currently active centres in Austria.

Impact of On-Site Cardiac Surgery on Clinical Outcomes After Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the outcome of high-risk and inoperable patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in hospitals with (iOSCS) versus without institutional on-site cardiac surgery (no-iOSCS).

Background: Current guidelines recommend the use of TAVR only in institutions with a department for cardiac surgery on site.

Methods: In this analysis of the prospective multicenter Austrian TAVI registry, 1,822 consecutive high-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis undergoing transfemoral TAVR were evaluated.

Thermic sealing in femoral catheterization: First experience with the Secure Device.

Background: Devices currently used to achieve hemostasis of the femoral artery following percutaneous cardiac catheterization are associated with vascular complications and remnants of artificial materials are retained at the puncture site. The Secure arterial closure Device induces hemostasis by utilizing thermal energy, which causes collagen shrinking and swelling. In comparison to established devices, it has the advantage of leaving no foreign material in the body following closing.