Incidence, predictors and clinical impact of permanent pacemaker insertion in women following transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Insights from a prospective multinational registry.

Objectives: To describe the incidence, predictors, and clinical impact of permanent pacemaker insertion (PPI) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in women.

Background: Data on pacemaker insertion complicating TAVR in women are scarce.

Methods: The Women's International Transcatheter Aortic Valve implantation (WIN-TAVI) is a prospective registry evaluating the safety and efficacy of TAVR in women.

Prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of patient prosthesis mismatch in women undergoing TAVI for severe aortic stenosis: Insights from the WIN-TAVI registry.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence, predictors and outcomes of female patients with patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) following transcatheter aortic valve intervention (TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis (AS).

Background: Female AS TAVI recipients have a significantly lower mortality than surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) recipients, which could be attributed to the potentially lower PPM rates. TAVI has been associated with lower rates of PPM compared to SAVR.

Feasibility and Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Using the Left Axillary Artery as Primary Access Site.

Background: The femoral artery is generally used as primary access for transcatheter aortic valve implantation. However, peripheral artery disease often precludes femoral access. The purpose of this study was to describe clinical outcome of transcatheter aortic valve implantation using the left axillary artery (LAA) as primary access site.

Rationale and design of POPular-TAVI: antiPlatelet therapy fOr Patients undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Background: Despite improving experience and techniques, ischemic and bleeding complications after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remain prevalent and impair survival. Current guidelines recommend the temporary addition of clopidogrel in the initial period after TAVI to prevent thromboembolic events. However, explorative studies suggest that this is associated with a higher rate of major bleeding without a decrease in thromboembolic complications.

Surgical aortic valve replacement in patients older than 75 years: is there really a quality of life benefit?

Background: To evaluate the results of elective isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) on quality of life (QoL) in patients > 75 years.

Methods: 138 patients operated between January 2008 and December 2011 were included. The EuroQOL questionnaire (EQ-5D, EQ-VAS) was completed preoperatively, and 1- and 2-years postoperatively.

Prolonged anticoagulation therapy adjunctive to aspirin after successful fibrinolysis: from early reduction in reocclusion to improved long-term clinical outcome.

Background: Long-term addition of antithrombotics (clopidogrel, anticoagulants) to aspirin has improved outcome after acute coronary syndromes. Data on the impact after fibrinolysis are scarce. In Antithrombotics in the Prevention of Reocclusion In COronary Thrombolysis-2 (APRICOT-2), adjunctive moderate-intensity coumarin (median international normalized ratio 2.

The smoker's paradox after successful fibrinolysis: reduced risk of reocclusion but no improved long-term cardiac outcome.

Background: In smokers treated with fibrinolysis for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) a paradoxical beneficial short-term outcome has been reported. This was attributed to favorable clinical and angiographic baseline variables and a better response to fibrinolysis. During follow-up infarct artery reocclusion is an important prognosticator.

Sustained coronary patency after fibrinolytic therapy as independent predictor of 10-year cardiac survival Observations from the Antithrombotics in the Prevention of Reocclusion in COronary Thrombolysis (APRICOT) trial.

Background: Whether late coronary patency after myocardial infarction has prognostic impact independent of left ventricular function remains a matter of debate. Reocclusion rates in the first year after fibrinolysis vary between 20% and 30%. Of all reocclusions, about 30% present as clinical reinfarction, associated with a 2-fold-increased risk of mortality.

Lack of concordance between a rapid bedside and conventional laboratory method of cardiac troponin testing: impact on risk stratification of patients suspected of acute coronary syndrome.

Objectives: This study was designed to test the usefulness of a bedside assay as compared to a laboratory method of troponin testing to predict adverse cardiac outcome of chest pain patients.

Methods: We studied 358 ER visits of patients suspected of a non ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. cTnI (Immulite, DPC) on a lab analyser and cTnT (Cardiac Reader, Roche) at bedside were measured at baseline.

High-grade infarct-related stenosis after successful thrombolysis: strong predictor of reocclusion, but not of clinical reinfarction.

Background: After successful thrombolysis, a high-grade stenosis at 24-hour angiography is strongly predictive of reocclusion and is often believed to result in high reinfarction rates. However, routine angioplasty did not reduce death or reinfarction in past trials. Systematic angiographic follow-up shows that reocclusion often occurs without clinical reinfarction.