Temporal trends of case-fatality in patients undergoing dual-injection coronary chronic total occlusion recanalization.

Aims: Recently, interventional techniques and material to treat chronic total occlusion (CTO) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have evolved significantly. Nevertheless, it is still unknown whether this progress improved treatment success and patients' outcome. In a nationwide sample, we sought to analyze trends of patients' characteristics, complications and in-hospital case-fatality of patients undergoing CTO revascularization in Germany.

Evaluation of right-ventricular function by two-dimensional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with successful RCA CTO recanalization.

Objectives: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the right coronary artery (RCA) is common in patients with coronary artery disease. Although revascularization techniques and success rates have improved significantly in recent years, there are still no studies investigating possible effects of successful recanalization of RCA CTO on the right-ventricular (RV) function. With this study, we aimed to evaluate RV function after recanalization of the RCA by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2DE) and additional two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE).

Anemia and periprocedural complications determine contrast-associated acute kidney injury after recanalization of chronic coronary occlusions in chronic kidney disease.

Background: Contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) is a potential risk associated with the percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for chronic total coronary occlusions (CTO) particularly with pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD). The determinants of CA-AKI in patients with pre-existing CKD in an era of advanced strategies of CTO recanalization techniques need to be considered for a risk evaluation of the procedure.

Methods: A consecutive cohort of 2504 recanalization procedures for a CTO between 2013 and 2022 was analyzed.

Evaluation of right atrial function by two-dimensional echocardiography and strain imaging in patients with RCA CTO recanalization.

Objectives: The right heart is mainly supplied with blood by the right coronary artery (RCA). The impact of RCA chronic total occlusion (CTO) on the function of the right heart [right atrium (RA) and ventricle (RV)] and whether successful recanalization of a RCA CTO improves the function of the right heart is not clearly understood yet. We aimed to evaluate right atrial function after recanalization of the RCA using transthoracic echocardiography with additional strain imaging.

Cardiac Troponins for the Clinical Management of Patients with Claudication and without Cardiac Symptoms.

Many patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) exhibit undiagnosed obstructive coronary artery disease. We aim to identify the patients with lifestyle limiting claudication due to PAD and without cardiac symptoms, requiring coronary revascularization based on high-sensitive troponin T (hsTnT) values. We assessed hsTnT in consecutive patients referred for elective endovascular treatment due to claudication [Rutherford categories (RC) 2 & 3] between January 2018 and December 2021.

Iatrogenic atrial septal defects after transseptal puncture for percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion and their hemodynamic effects.

Background: Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) requires puncture of the interatrial septum. The immediate hemodynamic effects of iatrogenic atrial septal defects (iASD) after LAAO have not been examined so far. We aimed at evaluating these effects through invasive measurements of pressure and oxygen saturation.

Use of intravascular ultrasound for optimal vessel sizing in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aim: The aim of this study is to provide evidence on how use of standardized intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) use impacts stent size choice in the setting of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared to visual estimation.

Methods And Results: Data of 82 consecutive patients who had successfully undergone IVUS-guided revascularization of CTO at the University Medical Center Mainz were analyzed. Angiography-based stent size prediction for the proximal and distal vessels was compared to the implanted stent diameter after IVUS assessment.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion in a frail, high-risk, octogenarian patient population, after having undergone transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) represents an alternative stroke prevention method in patients with atrial fibrillation and an increased bleeding risk, chronic kidney disease or contraindications to oral anticoagulants. Aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of percutaneous LAAO in high-risk, frail patients having undergone transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: Thirty-one patients having undergone TAVI and scheduled for LAAO were prospectively included in our study.

Percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion in octogenarians: a propensity score study.

Feasibility and efficacy of complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the elderly, a more frail population due to more comorbidities is incompletely understood. We therefore set out to compare success and complication rate of PCI for chronic total occlusion (CTO) in octogenarians, in comparison to non-octogenarians. Data from 267 patients (58 patients over 80 years of age and 209 under 80 years of age) who had undergone CTO PCI were analyzed.

Pre-Procedural Right Ventricular Longitudinal Strain and Post-Procedural Tricuspid Regurgitation Predict Mortality in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI).

Background: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction has been linked to worse outcomes in patients undergoing TAVI. Assessment of RV function is challenging due to its complex morphology. RV longitudinal strain (LS) assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is a novel measure that may overcome most of the limitations of conventional echocardiographic parameters of RV function.

Prevalence of Sleep Disordered Breathing in Patients with Primary Mitral Regurgitation Undergoing Mitral Valve Surgery.

Background: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a frequent comorbidity in cardiac disease patients. Nevertheless, the prevalence and relationship between SDB and severe primary mitral regurgitation (PMR) has not been well investigated to date.

Methods: A cohort of 121 patients with significant PMR undergoing mitral valve surgery were prospectively enrolled and received a cardiorespiratory single night polygraphy screening using ApneaLink before surgery.

The Bioengineered Combo Dual-Therapy CD34 Antibody-Covered Sirolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent in Patients with Chronic Total Occlusion Evaluated by Clinical Outcome and Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging Analysis.

We sought to determine the effects of the use of a Bioengineered Combo Dual-Therapy CD34 Antibody-Covered Sirolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent (Combo DTS) in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) by evaluating clinical outcomes and by performing an optical coherence tomography (OCT) analysis. We retrospectively analyzed data from 39 patients who had successfully undergone OCT-guided revascularization of a CTO being treated with a Combo DTS. Clinical assessment, angiography (with quantitative coronary angiography analysis) and OCT examination were performed at baseline and at follow-up.

Myocardial adaptation as assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography after isolated mitral valve surgery for primary mitral regurgitation.

The risk of left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) maladaptation after surgery for isolated primary mitral regurgitation (PMR) is poorly defined. We aimed to evaluate LV and RV contractile function using speckle-tracking analysis alongside with quantification of exercise tolerance in patients with PMR after mitral valve surgery. All consecutive patients with symptomatic PMR undergoing mitral valve surgery between July 2015 and May 2017 were prospectively enrolled.

Predictors for Target Vessel Failure after Recanalization of Chronic Total Occlusions in Patients Undergoing Surveillance Coronary Angiography.

(1) Background: Knowledge about predictors for the long-time patency of recanalized chronic total coronary occlusions (CTOs) is limited. Evidence from invasive follow-up in the absence of acute coronary syndrome (routine surveillance coronary angiography) is scarce. (2) Methods: In a monocentric-retrospective analysis, we obtained baseline as well as periprocedural data of patients undergoing routine invasive follow-up.

Procedural Predictors for Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold Thrombosis: Analysis of the Individual Components of the "PSP" Technique.

The technique used at the time of implantation has a central role in determining the risk of thrombosis in bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BRS). Different definitions of the "optimal" implantation technique exist, however. The impact of individual procedural characteristics on the risk of scaffold thrombosis (ScT) was evaluated in a single-center observational study that enrolled 657 patients (79% males, mean age 63 ± 12 years) with 763 lesions who received a total of 925 BRS for de novo lesions.

Bioresorbable everolimus-eluting vascular scaffold for patients presenting with non STelevation-acute coronary syndrome: A three-years follow-up1.

Aim: To investigate three-year outcomes of patients presenting with nonSTelevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) treated with bioresorbable everolimus-eluting vascular scaffolds (BRS).

Methods And Results: The study included a total of 488 consecutive patients, enrolled between May 2012 and December 2013 (median age 65 [56-74], 392 men. 269 patients presented with either NSTEMI or unstable angina at the time of enrolling, 219 patients with stable or silent angina.

Risk marker profiles in patients treated with percutaneous septal ablation for symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Background And Study Objective: Different studies have shown a good long-term survival with improvement of symptoms and hemodynamics after percutaneous septal ablation (PTSMA), similar to myectomy considered to be the therapeutic "gold standard" for symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Furthermore, desobliteration of left ventricular (LV) outflow may modify features of the disease considered to be risk-relevant, such as magnitude of LV hypertrophy, outflow gradient, and left atrial (LA) size. The aim oft this study was to examine predictors of long-term mortality in a large cohort of patients with HOCM treated with PTSMA.

Impact of sheath diameter of different sheath types on vascular complications and mortality in transfemoral TAVI approaches using the Proglide closure device.

Objective: Evaluation of the impact of the sheath diameter on vascular complications and mortality in transfemoral aortic valve implantation.

Method: Between 2012 and 2014, 183 patients underwent the procedure using a sheath diameter of 18-24 F. This collective was divided into two groups: group 1, with a sheath diameter of 18F (G1, n = 94), consisted of patients with 18F Medtronic Sentrant and 18 F Direct Flow sheaths, and group 2 with a sheath diameter of 19-24 F (G2, n = 89) consisted of patients with Edwards expandable e-sheath and Solopath sheaths.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Nonagenarians: Procedural Outcome and Mid-Term Results.

Background: For nonagenarians with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a feasible therapeutic option. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the procedural outcomes and mid-term follow-up in this patient group and compare this to octogenarians.

Methods: From 1359 patients who underwent TAVI at our institution between March 2009 and February 2016, 82 patients were nonagenarians and 912 were octogenarians.

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).

Impact of closure devices on vascular complication and mortality rates in TAVI procedures.

Background: Currently two closure devices are available for the vascular access in TAVI procedures. Their impact on vascular complications and mid-term mortality is yet unknown.

Methods: Between 2009 and 2014, 398 patients underwent TAVI TF procedures in which two different closure devices were used, Prostar® XL (n=215) and Perclose-Proglide® (n=183).

Left ventricular adaptation after TAVI evaluated by conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Objective: Our study aimed to evaluate myocardial adaption and outcome after transfemoral aortic valve implantation (TAVI TF) for severe aortic stenosis by LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and speckle tracking analysis.

Methods And Results: From 168 patients who underwent TAVI TF between 2010 and 2013 in our institution, n=95 with a follow-up period ≥3months were included and grouped (G) according to baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; G1: LVEF<40%, G2: 40%-55%, G3: >55%). LV function was evaluated using conventional and speckle-tracking based parameters.

Acute improvement of pulmonary hemodynamics does not alleviate Cheyne-Stokes respiration in chronic heart failure-a randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover trial.

Objectives: This randomized, controlled trial aimed to investigate whether acute improvement of pulmonary congestion would reduce the severity of Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods: Twenty-one consecutive patients with CHF and CSR (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥15/h) underwent right heart catheterization with titration of intravenous (IV) glyceryltrinitrate (GTN) to a maximum tolerable dosage and inhalation of iloprost 10 μg/mL after a washout phase. Maximum tolerable dosages of GTN and iloprost were randomly applied during full cardiorespiratory polysomnography within two split-night procedures and compared with IV or inhaled sodium chloride (NaCl) 0.