Cost-effectiveness of a photopethysmographic procedure for screening for atrial fibrillation in 6 European countries.

Background: Strokes cause an estimated annual health care burden of 170 billion euros across Europe. Atrial fibrillation is one of the major risk factors for stroke and increases the individual risk 4.2-fold.

Feasibility of digital atrial fibrillation screening in an elderly population : The Ulm heart rhythm weeks.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) screening in risk populations has the potential to prevent strokes. The authors tested the feasibility of a digital program with initial photoplethysmographic (PPG) self-screening and cardiologist-attended electrocardiographic (ECG) confirmation of screen-positive cases.

Methods: Inhabitants of the city of Ulm aged ≥ 65 years were invited to participate.

iPhone App compared with standard blood pressure measurement -The iPARR trial.

Background: The possibility to use built-in smartphone-cameras for photoplethysmographic (PPG) recording of pulse waves lead to the release of numerous health apps, claiming to measure blood pressure (BP) based on PPG signals. Even though these apps are highly popular, not a single one is clinically validated. Aim of the current study was to test systolic BP (sBP) estimation by a promising new algorithm in a large clinical setting.

Sealing of Coronary Perforations With a Second-Generation Covered Stent Graft - Results From the PAST-PERF Registry.

Background: The PAST-PERF registry was initiated to collect data on the PK Papyrus covered stent, a second-generation device for the treatment of coronary artery perforations with enhanced mechanical properties, but with limited available data.

Methods: Patients treated for coronary artery perforations with the PK Papyrus stent at 14 international centers were retrospectively identified. The primary effectiveness outcome was successful sealing of the perforation.

A cost-effectiveness analysis model of Preventicus atrial fibrillation screening from the point of view of statutory health insurance in Germany.

Background: With atrial fibrillation (AF) the risk of stroke is 4.2-fold increased to a comparable population without AF. This risk decreases by up to 70% if AF is detected early enough and effective stroke preventive measures are taken as recommended by international guidelines.

Prevalence and Predictors of Coronary Artery Perforation During Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (from the ORPKI National Registry in Poland).

Coronary artery perforation (CAP) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). With a growing number of PCIs in complex lesions, the problem of CAP becomes even more important nowadays. Data on CAP rates in Poland are lacking.

PK Papyrus covered stent: Device description and early experience for the treatment of coronary artery perforations.

Background: Coronary artery perforation during percutaneous revascularization is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The PK Papyrus covered stent provides a physical barrier to seal perforated arteries and prevent associated complications including death.

Methods: In a survey of patients treated for coronary artery perforation with the PK Papyrus stent in 16 countries, procedural and in-hospital outcomes were ascertained.

Detection of atrial fibrillation with a smartphone camera: first prospective, international, two-centre, clinical validation study (DETECT AF PRO).

Aims: Early detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) is essential for stroke prevention. Emerging technologies such as smartphone cameras using photoplethysmography (PPG) and mobile, internet-enabled electrocardiography (iECG) are effective for AF screening. This study compared a PPG-based algorithm against a cardiologist's iECG diagnosis to distinguish between AF and sinus rhythm (SR).

A molecular intravascular ultrasound contrast agent allows detection of activated platelets on the surface of symptomatic human plaques.

Background And Aims: Activated platelets are amongst the most attractive imaging targets in atherosclerosis due to their important role in early processes of atherogenesis and thrombus formation. We developed a molecular intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) approach to detect activated platelets ex vivo on the surface of human plaques, using an IVUS system applied in clinical routine.

Methods: Human carotid endarterectomy specimens were obtained directly from the operating room and exposed to artificial arterial flow conditions for incubation with the contrast agent.

First experience with the Watchman FLX occluder for percutaneous left atrial appendage closure.

Background: We aimed to evaluate efficacy and safety of left atrial appendage (LAA) closure with the new Watchman FLX and analyze procedural features in a consecutive series of high risk non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients.

Methods And Results: Twelve consecutive non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients (age 76.6±7.

Third generation drug eluting stent (DES) with biodegradable polymer in diabetic patients: 5 years follow-up.

Objective: To report the long-term safety and efficacy data of a third generation drug eluting stent (DES) with biodegradable polymer in the complex patient population of diabetes mellitus after a follow-up period of 5 years.

Background: After percutaneous coronary intervention patients with diabetes mellitus are under higher risk of death, restenosis and stent thrombosis (ST) compared to non-diabetic patients.

Methods: In 126 centers worldwide 3067 patients were enrolled in the NOBORI 2 registry, 888 patients suffered from diabetes mellitus (DM), 213 of them (14%) being insulin dependent (IDDM).

Left ventricular ejection fraction and presence of myocardial necrosis assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging correctly risk stratify patients with stable coronary artery disease: a multi-center all-comers trial.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has become a diagnostic modality that allows for prognostic risk stratification in various cardiac diseases. CMR derived detection of myocardial necrosis by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and assessment of left ventricular functional parameters such as left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) have been proven to be significantly associated with outcome and prognosis. Our study focusses on the validation of specific thresholds for these parameters in a multi-center daily all-comers cohort of stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.

The Changing Paradigm in the Treatment of Structural Heart Disease and the Need for the Interventional Imaging Specialist.

Percutaneous interventions in structural heart diseases are emerging rapidly. The variety of novel percutaneous treatment approaches and the increasing complexity of interventional procedures are associated with new challenges and demands on the imaging specialist. Standard catheterisation laboratory imaging modalities such as fluoroscopy and contrast ventriculography provide inadequate visualisation of the soft tissue or three-dimensional delineation of the heart.

Does Simulation-Based Training Improve Procedural Skills of Beginners in Interventional Cardiology?--A Stratified Randomized Study.

Objective: To assess whether mentored simulation-based-training can improve the procedural skills of beginners in coronary interventional procedures.

Background: Simulation based-catheter training is a valuable tool to practice interventional procedures. Whether this type of training enhances the procedural skills of fellows learning percutaneous coronary interventions has never been studied.

Paclitaxel-coated balloon plus bare-metal stent for de-novo coronary artery disease: final 5-year results of a randomized prospective multicenter trial.

Background: The PERfECT Stent Study compared paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) angioplasty plus bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation with BMS alone in de-novo lesions in native coronary artery disease. Angiographic follow-up after 6 months showed the superiority of the additional PCB. We evaluated a potential late catch-up phenomenon with the use of PCB.

Long-Term Outcomes After Treatment With a Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Versus Balloon Angioplasty: Insights From the PEPCAD-DES Study (Treatment of Drug-eluting Stent [DES] In-Stent Restenosis With SeQuent Please Paclitaxel-Coated Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty [PTCA] Catheter).

Objectives: The intention this PEPCAD-DES (Treatment of Drug-eluting Stent [DES] In-Stent Restenosis With SeQuent Please Paclitaxel Eluting Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty [PTCA] Catheter) study update was to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) angioplasty in patients with DES-ISR at 3 years.

Background: In the PEPCAD-DES trial late lumen loss and the need for repeat target lesion revascularization (TLR) was significantly reduced with PCB angioplasty compared with plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) in patients with drug-eluting stent in-stent restenosis (DES-ISR) at 6 months. We evaluated whether the clinical benefit of reduced TLR and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was maintained up to 3 years.

Lack of "obesity paradox" in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction including cardiogenic shock: a multicenter German network registry analysis.

Background: Studies have associated obesity with better outcomes in comparison to non-obese patients after elective and emergency coronary revascularization. However, these findings might have been influenced by patient selection. Therefore we thought to look into the obesity paradox in a consecutive network STEMI population.

One-year outcomes in 1,010 unselected patients treated with the PROMUS Element everolimus-eluting stent: the multicentre PROMUS Element European Post-Approval Surveillance Study.

Aims: The PROMUS™ Element™ European Post-Approval Surveillance Study (PE-Prove) is a prospective, open-label, multicentre observational study designed to assess outcomes following PROMUS Element everolimus-eluting stent implantation in an unselected patient population.

Methods And Results: A total of 1,010 patients were enrolled at 40 clinical sites in Europe, including 24.9% with medically treated diabetes, 50.

Similar outcome of ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention regardless of presence of cardiac surgery on-site.

Background: The growing penetration of mechanical reperfusion in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been achieved by the creation of new percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centres which have helped to shorten delays but have compromised PCI volumes.

Aim: To compare the outcomes in STEMI patients treated in PCI centres with or without surgical back-up.

Methods: Data concerning 1,650 registry patients was analysed.

Impact of long-term statin pretreatment on myocardial damage in ST elevation myocardial infarction (from the AIDA STEMI CMR Substudy).

Nonrandomized studies suggested lower mortality rates with statin pretreatment in patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, clinical data are still inconclusive and the mechanisms of these presumed beneficial effects require further exploration. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging offers the possibility of studying a variety of markers of myocardial damage and reperfusion injury after myocardial infarction.

Do gender differences in primary PCI mortality represent a different adherence to guideline recommended therapy? a multicenter observation.

Background: It is uncertain whether gender differences in outcome after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are only attributable to different baseline characteristics or additional factors.

Methods: Databases of two German myocardial infarction network registries were combined with a total of 1104 consecutive patients admitted with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and treated according to standardized protocols.

Results: Approximately 25% of patients were females.

Comparison of cardiogoniometry and ECG at rest versus myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.

Background: Cardiogoniometry (CGM) is a novel resting electrocardiac method based on computer-generated three-dimensional data derived from cardiac potentials. The purpose of this study was to determine CGM's and electrocardiography's (ECG) accuracy for detecting myocardial ischemia and/or lesions in comparison with stress/rest myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (single photon emission computer tomography [SPECT]).

Method: A cohort of consecutively enrolled patients (n = 100) with suspected or known coronary artery disease (mean age 67.