Left-sided infective endocarditis in persons who inject drugs.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe left-sided infective endocarditis (LSIE) in persons who inject drugs (PWID) and compare that group to PWID with non-LSIE and to non-PWID with LSIE.

Methods: Retrospective single-center study of adult IE patients from 2011 to 2018.

Results: Of the 333 patients in our cohort, 54 were PWID with LSIE, 75 were PWID with non-LSIE, and 204 were non-PWID with LSIE.

The Effect of Preexisting Anticoagulation on Cerebrovascular Events in Left-Sided Infective Endocarditis.

Background: Stroke is a frequent complication of infective endocarditis, especially infection involving left-sided valves. Management of anticoagulation in left-sided infective endocarditis is controversial as it is unclear whether anticoagulation impacts stroke and bleeding risk in patients with this condition. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of anticoagulation on stroke occurrence and bleeding complications in patients with left-sided infective endocarditis.

Updated meta-analysis of closure of patent foramen ovale versus medical therapy after cryptogenic stroke.

Background: Among patients with cryptogenic stroke, PFO closure has remained controversial. We hypothesized that with the cumulative number of subjects in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), there is now sufficient power to ascertain whether PFO closure in patients with cryptogenic stroke improves the risk of stroke.

Methods: We performed an updated meta-analysis by including newer RCTs that examined the benefit of PFO closure compared with medical therapy for improvement in risk of stroke.

Association of asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease with vascular events in patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Background And Purpose: Patients with stroke and patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) are at high risk for vascular events and may not exhibit the signs and symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We investigated if asymptomatic PAD detected by ankle brachial index <0.9 is independently associated with recurrent vascular events in patients with stroke or TIA.

A prospective randomized clinical trial of the use of fluoroscopy in obtaining femoral arterial access.

Background: There is no consensus on the utility of fluoroscopy in obtaining common femoral artery (CFA) access.

Methods: Patients weighing < 136.4 kg (300 lbs) with palpable femoral pulses undergoing coronary angiography were randomized to arterial access with or without the use of fluoroscopy (using the center of the femoral head as the optimal site to enter the artery).

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists for the Prevention of Adverse events following percutaneous coronary Revascularization--results of the PPAR study.

Background: Patients with metabolic syndrome are at increased risk for cardiovascular complications. We sought to determine whether peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists had any beneficial effect on patients with metabolic syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: A total of 200 patients with metabolic syndrome undergoing PCI were randomized to rosiglitazone or placebo and followed for 1 year.

A simple prediction rule for significant renal artery stenosis in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.

Background: Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a potentially reversible cause of hypertension and renal insufficiency and is associated with poor prognosis.

Methods: We aimed to identify simple predictors of significant RAS among patients undergoing coronary angiography. Prospective data were collected on 843 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac catheterization and abdominal aortography.

Prevalence of symptomatic diastolic heart failure in patients hospitalized with cerebral or peripheral vascular disease.

The authors sought to determine the prevalence of diastolic heart failure (DHF) in patients hospitalized with their first stroke, transient ischemic attack, or new onset of peripheral vascular disease. A total of 216 prospective consecutive stroke, transient ischemic attack, and peripheral vascular disease patients (vascular group) were identified at their first noncardiac presentation to a hospital and compared with 164 age-matched control patients (nonvascular group). DHF was clinically defined as the presence of left ventricular ejection fraction>or=45% on echocardiography.

Rescue angioplasty after failed intra-arterial thrombolysis in acute middle cerebral artery stroke: a case report.

Intra-arterial thrombolysis is increasingly being used in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke with a failure rate of recanalization as high as 66%. We describe a case of acute ischemic stroke secondary to occlusion of the middle cerebral artery that failed intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy but responded to rescue balloon angioplasty.

A comparison of balloon-mounted and self-expanding stents in the carotid arteries: immediate and long-term results of more than 500 patients.

Purpose: To compare the rates of neurological complications and restenosis for balloon-mounted (BM) versus self-expanding (SE) stents deployed in the extracranial carotid arteries.

Methods: Among 513 patients (312 men; mean age 71.3 years, range 27-91) who underwent carotid artery stent placement, 496 received 520 stents.

Evaluation of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in carotid angioplasty and stenting.

Purpose: To review the immediate neurological and bleeding complications associated with the use of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients undergoing extracranial carotid artery stent placement.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 550 patients (321 men; mean age 71.1 years, range 28-91) who underwent carotid artery angioplasty and stent placement.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm size regression after endovascular repair is endograft dependent.

Objective: This study was performed to determine whether abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) regression is different with various endografts after endovascular repair.

Methods: A four-center retrospective review of size change after endovascular AAA repair was performed. Consecutive patients with at least 1-year follow-up and available imaging studies were included.