Incidence, Predictors, and Outcomes of Unplanned Coronary Angiography After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) is critical in managing severe aortic stenosis. Unplanned coronary angiography after TAVR, with or without percutaneous coronary intervention, may present significant challenges.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of unplanned coronary angiography after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Rate of Ascending Aortic Enlargement in a Large Echocardiographic Cohort: Associated Risk Factors and Adverse Aortic Events.

Background: Understanding ascending aortic aneurysm growth and associated risk factors is critical to advising appropriate echocardiographic follow-up intervals for patients. The aim of this study was to identify aortic aneurysm growth rate on serial echocardiography as well as the clinical and demographic variables that contribute to baseline aortic size and subsequent aortic growth.

Methods: Patients identified with ascending aortic aneurysms and undergoing serial echocardiograms within 5 years were evaluated.

Routine Versus Selective Distal Perfusion Catheter Use in Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Although current studies support the use of prophylactic distal perfusion catheters (DPCs) to decrease limb ischemia in patients on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO), methods for monitoring limb ischemia differ between studies. We evaluated the safety of a selective rather than prophylactic DPC strategy at a single center with a well-established protocol for limb ischemia monitoring. Distal perfusion catheters were placed selectively if there was evidence of hypoperfusion at any point until decannulation.

In Vivo Computed Tomography Sizing for Redo-Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Evolut Valves: Impact on Sizing, Feasibility, and Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch.

Background: SAPIEN3 (S3) is a ubiquitous redo-transcatheter aortic valve (TAV) replacement alternative for degenerated Evolut valves, but S3 sizing for S3-in-Evolut remains unclear. We sought to compare the impact of in vivo computed tomography (CT)-sizing on redo-TAV feasibility for S3-in-Evolut with traditional bench-sizing.

Methods: CT scans of 290 patients treated using Evolut R/PRO/PRO+ between July 2015 and December 2021 were analyzed.

Examining the impact of median arcuate ligament-induced celiac artery compression on target vessel patency, long-term survival and device integrity in fenestrated and branched endovascular repairs.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of celiac artery (CA) compression by median arcuate ligament (MAL) on technical metrics and long-term CA patency in patients with complex aortic aneurysms undergoing fenestrated/branched endograft repairs (F/B-EVARs).

Methods: Single-center, retrospective review of patients undergoing fenestrated/branched endovascular aortic aneurysm repairs and requiring incorporation of the CA between 2013 and 2023. Patients were divided into two groups-those with (MAL+) and without (MAL-) CA compression-based on preoperative computed tomography angiography findings.

Infection prevention and control and related practices in African neonatal units: The Pan-African neonatal care assessment study (PANCAS).

Background: The burden of neonatal mortality is primarily borne by low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including deaths due to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Few studies have assessed infection prevention and control (IP&C) practices in African units caring for small and/or sick newborns aimed to reduce HAIs.

Methods: We performed a mixed-methods study composed of a survey and virtual tour to assess IP&C and related practices.

Iso-osmolar vs low-osmolar contrast agents for coronary optical coherence tomography: a blinded prospective randomized controlled study.

Background: The impact of contrast type on coronary optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging has received limited research.

Methods: We conducted a blinded, prospective, single-center, randomized, controlled crossover study comparing iso-osmolar contrast media (IOCM) with low-osmolar contrast media (LOCM) in patients undergoing clinically indicated coronary OCT imaging. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo OCT imaging with either IOCM or LOCM as the initial contrast medium.

Use of the Indigo CAT RX aspiration system during percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: The use of the Indigo CAT RX Aspiration System (Penumbra Inc.) during percutaneous coronary intervention has received limited study.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics, outcomes, and follow-up of patients who underwent mechanical aspiration thrombectomy with the Indigo CAT RX system (Penumbra Inc.

Preprocedural Computed Tomography Planning for Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Selection of transcatheter valve size using preprocedural computed tomography (CT) is standardized and well established. However, valve sizing for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is currently performed intraoperatively by using sizers, which may result in variation among operators and risk for prosthesis-patient mismatch. This study evaluated the usefulness of CT annulus measurement for SAVR valve sizing.

Use of physician-modified inverted limb in conjunction with Zenith fenestrated stent graft to rescue failed previous endovascular and open repair.

Objective: To evaluate outcomes and performance of inverted limbs (ILs) when used in conjunction with Zenith fenestrated stent grafts (Zfens) to treat patients with short distance between the lowest renal artery (RA) and aortic or graft bifurcation (A/GB).

Methods: This study was a multicenter, retrospective review of prospectively maintained database of patients with complex aortic aneurysms, failed endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), or open surgical repair (OSR) with short distance between LRA and A/GB treated using a combination of Zfen and an IL between 2013 and 2023. Endpoints included technical success, aneurysm sac regression, long-term device integrity, and target vessel patency.

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention Resources for Infectious Diseases in Sub-Saharan African Hospitals Caring for Children.

The Children's Hospitals in Africa Mapping Project survey was developed and implemented to assess the readiness of hospitals in sub-Saharan African to respond to emergencies, epidemics, and pandemics affecting children. This sub-study analyzed 56 survey questions that characterized the hospitals and assessed resources for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of community-acquired infections and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Twenty-four sites were recruited and 20 (from 15 countries) completed the survey in 2018 to 2019.

Mortality in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries and Mimickers.

Importance: The clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with nonobstructive coronaries (MINOCA) are largely unknown.

Objective: To assess differences in 5-year mortality in patients presenting with STEMI due to MINOCA and MINOCA mimickers as compared with obstructive disease.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A retrospective analysis of a prospective registry-based cohort study of consecutive STEMI activations at 3 regional Midwest STEMI programs.

Comprehensive Myocardial Assessment by Computed Tomography: Impact on Short-Term Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Quantification of myocardial changes in severe aortic stenosis (AS) is prognostically important. The potential for comprehensive myocardial assessment pre-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) by computed tomography angiography (CTA) is unknown.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate whether quantification of left ventricular (LV) extracellular volume-a marker of myocardial fibrosis-and global longitudinal strain-a marker of myocardial deformation-at baseline CTA associate with post-TAVR outcomes.

Incidence, treatment and outcomes of coronary artery dissection during percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Coronary artery dissection is a feared and potentially life-threatening complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We examined the clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics, and outcomes of coronary dissection at a tertiary care institution.

Results: Between 2014 and 2019, unplanned coronary dissection occurred in 141 of 10,278 PCIs (1.

Development of a Novel Score to Predict Urgent Mechanical Circulatory Support in Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Estimating the likelihood of urgent mechanical circulatory support (MCS) can facilitate procedural planning and clinical decision-making in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We analyzed 2,784 CTO PCIs performed between 2012 and 2021 at 12 centers. The variable importance was estimated by a bootstrap applying a random forest algorithm to a propensity-matched sample (a ratio of 1:5 matching cases with controls on center).

Comparative Analysis of Patients With STEMI and COVID-19 Between Canada and the United States.

Background: Important health care differences exist between the United States (US) and Canada, which may have been exacerbated during the pandemic. We compared clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, and clinical outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and COVID-19 (STEMI-COVID) treated in the US and Canada.

Methods: The North American COVID-19 Myocardial Infarction registry is a prospective, investigator-initiated study enrolling patients with STEMI with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in the US and Canada.

Causes and clinical consequences of inappropriate shocks experienced by patients wearing a cardioverter-defibrillator.

Background: The LifeVest® wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) prevents sudden cardiac death in at-risk patients who are not candidates for an implantable defibrillator. The safety and efficacy of the WCD may be impacted by inappropriate shocks (IAS).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the causes and clinical consequences of WCD IAS in survivors of IAS events.

Building global vaccine manufacturing capacity: Spotlight on Africa.

Africa is set to experience a three-fold increase in vaccine demand by 2040, yet the continent possesses few domestic capabilities for vaccine production. This lack of production capacity, heavy reliance on foreign aid, disruptions of hard-won immunization progress due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and fluctuating vaccine market dynamics threaten to hinder ongoing efforts to increase vaccination rates on the continent. In order meet the vaccine demands of a rapidly growing population, and to be able to provide novel vaccines to its population in the future, the African continent must develop a sustainable vaccine manufacturing infrastructure.