Invasive Hemodynamic Assessment of Patients with Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension.

Right heart catheterization (RHC) with a pulmonary artery (PA) catheter is a minimally invasive method of obtaining hemodynamic data (e.g., right atrial and pulmonary pressures, cardiac output, pulmonary vascular resistance), which are used to diagnose and manage patients with advanced heart failure (HF), HF with preserved ejection fraction, and pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Gender Differences in In-Hospital Outcomes After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Women historically have a greater risk of operative mortality than men after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). There is paucity of contemporary data in gender outcomes of surgical revascularization and understanding modifiable factors that contribute to gender differences are critical for quality improvement and practice change. We, therefore, sought to examine whether the gender gap in CABG outcomes is closing in the contemporary era by conducting a retrospective analysis from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2003 to 2012.

Continuation of Dual-Antiplatelet Therapy Following Percutaneous Revascularization with a Drug-Eluting Stent: What Duration Is Optimal?

Dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is required after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents (DESs) to prevent thrombotic complications, particularly stent thrombosis (ST). However, there is still disagreement regarding the optimal duration of DAPT post-DES placement. Compared to bare metal stents, DESs are known to reduce restenosis and target vessel revascularization but may be more prone to late and very late ST due to delayed endothelialization.