Polyvascular Disease: A Narrative Review of Risk Factors, Clinical Outcomes and Treatment.

Purpose Of Review: Polyvascular disease has a significant global burden and is associated with increased risk of major adverse cardiac events with each additional vascular territory involved. The purpose of this review is to highlight the risk factors, associated outcomes, emerging genetic markers, and evidence for screening and treatment of polyvascular disease.

Recent Findings: Polyvascular disease is the presence of atherosclerosis in two or more vascular beds.

Opportunities and Limitations of Renal Denervation: Where Do We Stand?

Hypertension is a primary contributor to cardiovascular disease, and the leading risk factor for loss of quality adjusted life years. Up to 50% of the cases of hypertension in the United States remain uncontrolled. Additionally, 8%-18% of the hypertensive population have resistant hypertension; uncontrolled pressure despite 3 different antihypertensive agents.

Access Site Selection and Outcomes for Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Interventions: Insights from the VA CART Program.

Background: There has been increasing use of transradial access (TRA) for non-chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). There are limited data on TRA for CTO PCI. The objectives of this study were to assess the temporal trends in the use of TRA versus transfemoral access (TFA), identify procedural and lesion characteristics associated with the use of TRA and TFA, and evaluate the association of access site with procedural complications and technical success among veterans undergoing attempted CTO PCI.

Cardiovascular and Limb Events Following Endovascular Revascularization Among Patients ≥65 Years Old: An American College of Cardiology PVI Registry Analysis.

Background We aimed to characterize the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular and limb events (MACE and MALE) among patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) undergoing peripheral vascular intervention (PVI), as well as associated factors in patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI). Methods and Results Patients undergoing PVI in the American College of Cardiology's (ACC) National Cardiovascular Data Registry's PVI Registry who could be linked to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data were included. The primary outcomes were MACE, MALE, and readmission within 1 month and 1 year following index CLTI-PVI or non-CLTI-PVI.

SCAI expert consensus update on best practices in the cardiac catheterization laboratory: This statement was endorsed by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the American Heart Association (AHA), and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) in April 2021.

The current document commissioned by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and endorsed by the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and Heart Rhythm Society represents a comprehensive update to the 2012 and 2016 consensus documents on patient-centered best practices in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Comprising updates to staffing and credentialing, as well as evidence-based updates to the pre-, intra-, and post-procedural logistics, clinical standards and patient flow, the document also includes an expanded section on CCL governance, administration, and approach to quality metrics. This update also acknowledges the collaboration with various specialties, including discussion of the heart team approach to management, and working with electrophysiology colleagues in particular.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With History of CABG Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization Via the Radial Versus Femoral Approach.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to examine rates of radial artery access in post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients undergoing diagnostic catherization and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), whether operators with higher procedural volumes and higher percentage radial use were more likely to perform diagnostic catherization and/or PCI via the radial approach in post-CABG patients, and clinical and procedural outcomes in post-CABG patients who undergo diagnostic catherization and/or PCI via the radial or femoral approach.

Background: There are limited data comparing outcomes of patients with prior CABG undergoing transradial or transfemoral diagnostic catheterization and/or PCI.

Methods: Using the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry, all diagnostic catheterizations and PCIs performed in patients with prior CABG from July 1, 2009, to March 31, 2018 (n = 1,279,058, 1,173 sites) were evaluated.

Venous thromboembolism among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at Veterans Health Administration Hospitals.

Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at heightened risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTE), though there is no data examining when these events occur following a COVID-19 diagnosis. We therefore sought to characterize the incidence, timecourse of events, and outcomes of VTE during the COVID-19 pandemic in a national healthcare system using data from Veterans Affairs Administration.

Successful Peripheral Vascular Intervention in Patients with High-risk Comorbidities or Lesion Characteristics.

Purpose Of Review: Certain comorbidities and lesion characteristics are associated with increased risk for procedural complications, limb events, and cardiovascular events following peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of high-risk modifiable and unmodifiable patient characteristics and its relative impact on clinical outcomes such as amputation risk and mortality. Furthermore, general approaches to potentially mitigating these risks through pre-intervention planning and use of modern devices and techniques are discussed.

Percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stable coronary artery disease and left ventricular systolic dysfunction: insights from the VA CART program.

Background: Revascularization of ischemic cardiomyopathy by coronary artery bypass grafting has been shown to improve survival among patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35%, but the role of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in this context is incompletely described. This study sought to evaluate the effect of PCI on mortality and hospitalization among patients with stable coronary artery disease and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis comparing PCI with medical therapy among patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy in the Veterans Affairs Health Administration.

Survival and Causes of Death Among Veterans With Lower Extremity Revascularization With Paclitaxel-Coated Devices: Insights From the Veterans Health Administration.

BACKGROUND The long-term safety of paclitaxel-coated devices (PCDs; drug-coated balloon or drug-eluting stent) for peripheral endovascular intervention is uncertain. We used data from the Veterans Health Administration to evaluate the association between PCDs, long-term mortality, and cause of death. METHODS AND RESULTS Using the Veterans Administration Corporate Data Warehouse in conjunction with () Procedure Coding System, Current Procedural Terminology, and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes, we identified patients with peripheral artery disease treated within the Veterans Administration for femoropopliteal artery revascularization between October 1, 2015, and June 30, 2019.

The Current Evidence for Lipid Management in Patients with Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease: What Is the Therapeutic Target?

Purpose Of Review: There is a lack of consistency among the ACC/AHA and ESC Guidelines on the treatment of patients with lower extremity PAD to a targeted LDL-c level. A review of the current guidelines, as well as the evidence that exists for use of various lipid-lower therapies in patients with PAD, is needed to guide clinical practice and to examine the current gaps in evidence that exist.

Recent Findings: There is evidence that statins and PCSK9 inhibitors reduce the risks of major adverse cardiovascular and limb events in patients with PAD.

Hot topics in interventional cardiology: Proceedings from the society for cardiovascular angiography and interventions 2020 think tank.

The society for cardiovascular angiography and interventions (SCAI) think tank is a collaborative venture that brings together interventional cardiologists, administrative partners, and select members of the cardiovascular industry community for high-level field-wide discussions. The 2020 think tank was organized into four parallel sessions reflective of the field of interventional cardiology: (a) coronary intervention, (b) endovascular medicine, (c) structural heart disease, and (d) congenital heart disease (CHD). Each session was moderated by a senior content expert and co-moderated by a member of SCAI's emerging leader mentorship program.

Considerations for cardiac catheterization laboratory procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic perspectives from the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions Emerging Leader Mentorship (SCAI ELM) Members and Graduates.

The novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is highly infectious, carries significant morbidity and mortality, and has rapidly resulted in strained health care system and hospital resources. In addition to patient-related care concerns in infected individuals, focus must also relate to diminishing community spread, protection of staff, case selection, and concentration of resources. The current document based on available data and consensus opinion addresses appropriate catheterization laboratory preparedness for treating these patients, including procedure-room readiness to minimize external contamination, safe donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) to eliminate risk to staff, and staffing algorithms to minimize exposure and maximize team availability.

Testing for Coronary Artery Disease in Older Patients With New-Onset Heart Failure: Findings From Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure.

Background: Current guidelines recommend evaluation for underlying heart disease and reversible conditions for patients with new-onset heart failure (HF). There are limited data on contemporary testing for coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with new-onset HF.

Methods: We performed an observational cohort study using the Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure registry linked to Medicare claims.