[Transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation in a patient with a degenerative sutureless aortic bioprosthesis: case report and literature review].

Sutureless aortic bioprostheses (SAB) provide shorter aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass duration compared to conventional aortic valve replacement. Similarly to other bioprostheses, reintervention may become necessary in some cases because of long-term structural degeneration of the valve. Valve-in-valve (ViV) transcatheter aortic valve replacement may represent an effective and safe alternative to aortic valve replacement in patients with degenerated bioprostheses who carry a high risk for reintervention.

Procedural Reassessment of Radiofrequency Renal Denervation in Resistant Hypertensive Patients.

Introduction: Recent anatomical and clinical studies have led to the hypothesis that in several cases of failure of response to renal denervation (RDN), the procedure has not been technically correct.

Aim: To perform procedural reassessment in patients with true resistant hypertension who underwent RDN.

Methods: We retrospectively reassessed the procedural technique of RDN in 10 true resistant hypertensive patients, comparing the sites of renal ablations with the knowledge of animal and human post mortem evidences.

Relationship between early administration of abciximab and TIMI flow in STEMI patients undergoing primary angioplasty: findings from a large regional STEMI network.

Aims: The aim of this study is to assess whether in S-T Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) a relationship between early administration of abciximab and Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow before and after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 960 consecutive patients exists.

Methods: From 1 February 2001 onward, in the Province of Mantua it has been operating a 'Cardiology Network for the Acute Infarction Care' having its Hub in the Central Coronary ICU/Cath Lab of Mantua Hospital and being its Spokes centers represented by the emergency rooms and Central Coronary ICUs of the four territorial hospitals.

Results: T1 (time from symptoms onset to first medical contact) and T2 (time from first medical contact to angioplasty) are shorter for patients rescued by first aid units rather than for those presented in emergency rooms as well as Ta (time from symptoms onset to abciximab administration).

[A novel standard protocol of long-term follow-up shared with general practitioners after percutaneous coronary intervention: appropriateness and economic impact].

Background: Follow-up modalities for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are not well defined and standard protocols have been not established. The purpose of this study was to assess: a) the frequency and patterns of cardiology visits, echocardiographic examinations and stress tests after PCI in clinical practice; b) the impact of a multidisciplinary protocol of long-term follow-up after PCI shared with general practitioners on the appropriateness and reduction in healthcare costs.

Methods: A total of 780 patients who underwent PCI in 2010 in two Italian hospitals were analyzed.

A clinical and angiographic study of the XIENCE V everolimus-eluting coronary stent system in the treatment of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease: the EXECUTIVE trial (EXecutive RCT: evaluating XIENCE V in a multi vessel disease).

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the efficacy and performance of the XIENCE V everolimus-eluting stent (EES) (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California) in the treatment of de novo coronary lesions in patients with 2- to 3-vessel multivessel coronary artery disease (MV-CAD).

Background: Drug-eluting stents (DES) have emerged as an alternative to conventional coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with MV-CAD although first-generation DES yielded inferior efficacy and safety compared with surgery.

Methods: Prospective, randomized (1:1), multicenter feasibility trial was designed to assess angiographic efficacy of EES compared with the TAXUS paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) in 200 patients, and a prospective, open-label, single-arm, controlled registry was designed to analyze the clinical outcome of EES at 1-year follow-up in 400 MV-CAD patients.

Prognostic implications of early and long-term bleeding events in patients on one-year dual antiplatelet therapy following drug-eluting stent implantation.

Background: Bleeding has emerged as a predictor of early and late mortality after percutaneous coronary interventions. However, the prevalence and predictors of long-term bleeding events in patients on prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation has been poorly explored.

Methods: A total of 1,437 patients undergoing DES implantation discharged on DAPT with aspirin and clopidogrel for 1 year were studied.

Safety of clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors in patients undergoing drug-eluting stent implantation.

Objective: A pharmacodynamic interaction between clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has been suggested, leading to reduced clopidogrel-induced platelet inhibitory effects. However, data from clinical studies are conflicting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of long-term clopidogrel and PPI therapy.

[Percutaneous coronary revascularization in patients over eighty: acute and long-term results].

Background: As a consequence of prolonged life expectancy the number of older patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease is constantly increasing. The aim of the study was to evaluate procedural success, immediate and long-term outcomes and the predictive factors of prognosis in patients aged > 80 years with high-risk coronary artery disease treated with coronary angioplasty.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we report the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies adopted in patients aged > 80 years admitted to our institution for acute coronary syndrome with or without ST-segment elevation or disabling angina (CCS class 3-4) and the immediate and long-term results of patients treated with coronary angioplasty.

[The use of the Export Catheter device in a patient with acute myocardial infarction for thrombotic occlusion of the venous graft on the left anterior descending coronary artery: a case report].

Coronary angioplasty, eventually followed by stent implantation, represents the gold standard of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treatment. Optimal reperfusion implies both patency of the infarct-related artery and a good myocardial microrevascularization with normal tissue reperfusion. The so called no-reflow phenomenon mainly occurs in the presence of highly thrombotic lesions, especially during primary angioplasty and it represents a negative prognostic factor of the outcome of AMI patients treated with angioplasty.