Percutaneous mitral valve repair: A new treatment for mitral regurgitation.

Mitral valve disease affects more than 4 million people in the United States. The gold standard of treatment in these patients is surgical repair or replacement of the valve with a prosthesis. The MitraClip (Abbott Vascular, Menlo Park, CA) is a new technology, which offers an alternative to open surgical repair or replacement via a minimally invasive route.

The evanescent right atrial mass.

An unusual cause of pulmonary emboli from an evanescent right atrial mass is described in this case report. The systematic approach from initial presentation to a definite diagnosis of a rare condition is described.

Reduction of Iatrogenic Atrial Septal Defects with an Anterior and Inferior Transseptal Puncture Site when Operating the Cryoballoon Ablation Catheter.

The cryoballoon catheter ablates atrial fibrillation (AF) triggers in the left atrium (LA) and pulmonary veins (PVs) via transseptal access. The typical transseptal puncture site is the fossa ovalis (FO) - the atrial septum's thinnest section. A potentially beneficial transseptal site, for the cryoballoon, is near the inferior limbus (IL).

Highlights of the Scottsdale Interventional Forum 2014, how-to symposiums: advances in chronic total occlusion therapy.

The tenth annual Scottsdale Interventional Forum (SIF), which took place in Scottsdale, Arizona from March 5-8, 2014, brought together some of the leading experts in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to review some of the current concepts and advances in this field. The topics discussed included review of the diagnostic coronary angiogram in the context of CTO-PCI; strategic approaches to CTO-PCI; the CTO toolbox; and review of antegrade and retrograde techniques.

TEE-guided transcatheter aortic valve implantation with "zero contrast" - a viable alternative for patients with chronic kidney disease.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) stage II-III has been associated with a higher short-term and long-term mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We present a patient with AKI where fluoroscopic landmarks and TEE imaging were used exclusively, sparing the patient a contrast load, and describe patient-tailored modifications.

Comparison of the use of hemodynamic support in patients ≥80 years versus patients <80 years during high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (from the Multicenter PROTECT II Randomized Study).

The outcomes of hemodynamic support during high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention in the very elderly are unknown. We sought to compare outcomes between the patients ≥80 years versus patients <80 years enrolled in the PROTECT II (Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial of Hemodynamic Support with the Impella 2.5 versus Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump in Patients undergoing High Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) randomized trial.

Novel utility of cryoablation for ventricular arrhythmias arising from the left aortic cusp near the left main coronary artery: a case series.

Background: Ablation of ventricular tachycardia and premature ventricular contraction arising at the aortic root has been described. The use of radiofrequency ablation energy has been associated with life-threatening collateral damage. The use of cryoablation as a safer alternative energy source at the aortic root has not been previously described.

Early results with the LARIAT device for left atrial appendage exclusion in patients with atrial fibrillation at high risk for stroke and anticoagulation.

Objectives: To evaluate early outcomes of left atrial appendage (LAA) closure via a percutaneous LAA ligation approach with the SentreHeart LARIAT(™) snare device.

Background: Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke 4-5 fold, which can have devastating outcomes. Exclusion of the LAA is believed to decrease the risk of embolic stroke.

Aortic annulus measurement and relevance to successful transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a new technique using 3D TEE.

Background: There are limitations of using 2D imaging to accurately size the aortic annulus. This article highlights the limitations of 2D technology and proposes a new 3D TEE method for sizing of the aortic annulus.

Methods: Three-dimensional echocardiography with the method described can identify the "true" aortic annulus with precision.