A method for standardized computed tomography angiography-based measurement of aortic valvar structures.

Aims: Reliable assessment of the aortic valvar apparatus (AVAp) is essential as it may facilitate consistent outcomes with percutaneous aortic valvar therapies. The commonly referenced aortic annulus is problematic since this measurement does not correspond to any actual anatomic structure. We aim to describe a reliable method of measuring relevant structures of the AVAp based on widely available computed tomography analyses.

Fatigue, depressive symptoms, and hopelessness as predictors of adverse clinical events following percutaneous coronary intervention with paclitaxel-eluting stents.

Objective: We investigated the relative effects of fatigue, depressive symptoms, and hopelessness on prognosis at 2-year follow-up in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients.

Methods: Consecutively admitted PCI patients (n=534) treated with paclitaxel-eluting stent as the default strategy completed the Maastricht Questionnaire (MQ) at baseline. Apart from an overall vital exhaustion score, the MQ also assesses fatigue (seven items; Cronbach's alpha=.