Left atrial global function in chronic heart failure patients with functional mitral regurgitation after MitraClip.

Background: Left atrial (LA) volumes and function are believed to improve following interventional reduction of mitral regurgitation (MR) with MitraClip. However, exact LA alterations after MitraClip in patients with functional MR and functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) are unknown.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effect of MitraClip on LA volumes and global function in patients with FMR and its importance for patients' prognosis.

Systematic investment in the delivery of guideline-coherent therapy reduces mortality and overall costs in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: Results from the Stent for Life economic model for Romania, Portugal, Basque Country and Kemerovo region.

Aims: The Stent for Life initiative aims at the reduction of mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction by enhancing timely access to primary percutaneous coronary intervention. To assess the associated health and socioeconomic impact, the Stent for Life economic project was launched and applied to four model regions: Romania, Portugal, the Basque Country in Spain, and the Kemerovo region in the Russian Federation.

Methods And Results: The Stent for Life economic model is based on a decision tree that incorporates primary percutaneous coronary intervention rates and mortality.

Paclitaxel-coated balloon angioplasty vs. drug-eluting stenting for the treatment of coronary in-stent restenosis: a comprehensive, collaborative, individual patient data meta-analysis of 10 randomized clinical trials (DAEDALUS study).

Aims: Consensus is lacking regarding the best treatment for coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR). The two most effective treatments are angioplasty with paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) and repeat stenting with drug-eluting stent (DES) but individual trials were not statistically powered for clinical endpoints, results were heterogeneous, and evidence about comparative efficacy and safety in relevant subsets was limited.

Methods And Results: The Difference in Anti-restenotic Effectiveness of Drug-eluting stent and drug-coated balloon AngiopLasty for the occUrrence of coronary in-Stent restenosis (DAEDALUS) study was a comprehensive, investigator-initiated, collaborative, individual patient data meta-analysis comparing angioplasty with PCB alone vs.

Cardiovascular implantable electronic device infections due to enterococcal species: Clinical features, management, and outcomes.

Background: Enterococcal cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infections are not well characterized.

Methods: Data from the Multicenter Electrophysiologic Device Infection Cohort, a prospective study of CIED infections, were used for descriptive analysis of adults with enterococcal CIED infections.

Results: Of 433 patients, 21 (4.

Single-center five-year outcomes after interventional edge-to-edge repair of the mitral valve.

Background: The MitraClip procedure was established as a therapeutic alternative to mitral valve surgery for symptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) at prohibitive surgical risk. In this study, the aim was to evaluate 5-year outcomes after MitraClip.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing the MitraClip system were prospectively included.

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients with suspected stable coronary artery disease (CAD): diagnostic impact and clinical consequences in the German Cardiac CT Registry depending on stress test results.

To evaluate diagnostic impact of clinical use of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients with suspected stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and its consequences in daily practice for patient management, depending on stress test results in daily practice. Between 2009 and 2014 of a total population of 1352 patients of the German Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT) Registry who had previously undergone stress tests, CCTA visualizations were carried out on the coronary arteries with suspected stable CAD. Patients were divided into three groups according to stress test results: Group 1 with inconclusive (n = 178, 13.

Decompensated right heart failure, intensive care and perioperative management in patients with pulmonary hypertension: Updated recommendations from the Cologne Consensus Conference 2018.

In June 2016, members of the German Society of Cardiology (DGK), the German Society of Respiratory Medicine (DGP) and the German Society of Pediatric Cardiology (DGPK) met for a Consensus Conference in Cologne, Germany. Aim of this Conference was to compile consensus based practice recommendations based on the 2015 European Pulmonary Hypertension guidelines, aiming at their practical implementation, considering country-specific issues, and including new evidence, where available. This article summarizes the results and updated recommendations 2018 of the working group on decompensated right heart failure (RHF), intensive care and perioperative management in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Visceral artery aneurysms.

Visceral artery aneurysms are rare with an incidence of only 0.01-0.1% of the population.

Angiographic and clinical performance of a paclitaxel-coated balloon compared to a second-generation sirolimus-eluting stent in patients with in-stent restenosis: the BIOLUX randomised controlled trial.

Aims: Although several studies have shown positive outcomes after the use of drug-coated balloons (DCB) for in-stent restenosis (ISR), data on randomised controlled trials versus latest-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) are limited. Therefore, in this randomised trial, we sought to evaluate whether a butyryl-tri-hexyl citrate (BTHC)-based paclitaxel DCB is non-inferior to a biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES) therapy in patients with ISR in either a bare metal stent (BMS) or DES.

Methods And Results: A total of 229 patients with ISR in BMS or DES from 13 German centres and one Latvian centre were 2:1 randomly allocated to DCB (n=157) or DES (n=72).

Attempted salvage of infected cardiovascular implantable electronic devices: Are there clinical factors that predict success?

Background: Published guidelines mandate complete device removal in cases of cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infection. Clinical predictors of successful salvage of infected CIEDs have not been defined.

Methods: Data from the Multicenter Electrophysiologic Device Infection Collaboration, a prospective, observational, multinational cohort study of CIED infection, were used to investigate whether clinical predictors of successful salvage of infected devices could be identified.

Feasibility and Diagnostic Value of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging After Acute Ischemic Stroke of Undetermined Origin.

Background And Purpose: Etiology of acute ischemic stroke remains undetermined (cryptogenic) in about 25% of patients after state-of-the-art diagnostic work-up.

Methods: One-hundred and three patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-proven acute ischemic stroke of undetermined origin were prospectively enrolled and underwent 3-T cardiac MRI and magnetic resonance angiography of the aortic arch in addition to state-of-the-art diagnostic work-up, including transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). We analyzed the feasibility, diagnostic accuracy, and added value of cardiovascular MRI (cvMRI) compared with TEE for detecting sources of stroke.

Left ventricular assist devices and gastrointestinal evaluation: Results of a consecutive case series.

Aims: To evaluate the benefit of preoperative gastrointestinal endoscopic evaluation in patients undergoing continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) implantation.

Methods And Results: A retrospective review of all fifty-three patients undergoing CF-LVADs at West-German Heart and Vascular Center, University of Duisburg-Essen was performed. A routine preoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed in seven patients to assess gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.

Long-term clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary artery bypass grafting for acute coronary syndrome from the DELTA registry: a multicentre registry evaluating percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary artery bypass grafting for left main treatment.

Aims: Our aim was to compare, in a large unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) all-comer registry, the long-term clinical outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with first-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods And Results: Of a total of 2,775 patients enrolled in the Drug Eluting Stents for Left Main Coronary Artery Disease (DELTA) multicentre registry, 379 (13.7%) patients with ACS treated with PCI (n=272) or CABG (n=107) were analysed.

Polymer-free Drug-Coated Coronary Stents in Patients at High Bleeding Risk.

Background: Patients at high risk for bleeding who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) often receive bare-metal stents followed by 1 month of dual antiplatelet therapy. We studied a polymer-free and carrier-free drug-coated stent that transfers umirolimus (also known as biolimus A9), a highly lipophilic sirolimus analogue, into the vessel wall over a period of 1 month.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind trial, we compared the drug-coated stent with a very similar bare-metal stent in patients with a high risk of bleeding who underwent PCI.

First outline and baseline data of a randomized, controlled multicenter trial to evaluate the health economic impact of home telemonitoring in chronic heart failure - CardioBBEAT.

Background: Evidence that home telemonitoring for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) offers clinical benefit over usual care is controversial as is evidence of a health economic advantage.

Methods: Between January 2010 and June 2013, patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CHF were enrolled and randomly assigned to 2 study groups comprising usual care with and without an interactive bi-directional remote monitoring system (Motiva®). The primary endpoint in CardioBBEAT is the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) established by the groups' difference in total cost and in the combined clinical endpoint "days alive and not in hospital nor inpatient care per potential days in study" within the follow-up of 12 months.

Final results of a self-apposing paclitaxel-eluting stent fOr the PErcutaNeous treatment of de novo lesions in native bifurcated coronary arteries study.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of the STENTYS self-apposing paclitaxeleluting stent (STENTYS-PES) in bifurcation lesions in routine clinical practice.

Methods And Results: The primary endpoint of the study was the composite major adverse cardiac events (MACE: cardiac death, myocardial infarction, clinically driven target lesion revascularisation, or emergent bypass surgery) assessed at six months after enrolment. This was reported in 21 patients (10.

Reduction of QTD--A Novel Marker of Successful Reperfusion in NSTEMI. Pathophysiologic Insights by CMR.

Background/objectives: Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) poses similar detrimental long-term prognosis as ST-segment elevation MI. No marker on ECG is established to predict successful reperfusion in NSTEMI. QT dispersion is increased by myocardial ischemia and reduced by successful restoration of epicardial blood flow by PCI.

Propensity-matched comparison between Direct Flow Medical, Medtronic Corevalve, and Edwards Sapien XT prostheses: Device success, thirty-day safety, and mortality.

Aims: To compare 30-day performance of three different type of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) prosthesis: Direct Flow Medical (DFM), Medtronic Corevalve (MCV), and Edwards Sapien XT (ES).

Methods And Results: Forty consecutive patients treated with DFM for severe aortic stenosis were matched to an equal sample of patients undergoing TAVI with MCV and ES (1:1:1 propensity score-matching). Primary end-point was 30-day safety, defined according to the valve academic research consortium (VARC-2) criteria.

Integrated 18F-FDG PET/MR imaging in the assessment of cardiac masses: a pilot study.

Unlabelled: The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether integrated (18)F-FDG PET/MR imaging could improve the diagnostic workup in patients with cardiac masses.

Methods: Twenty patients were prospectively assessed using integrated cardiac (18)F-FDG PET/MR imaging: 16 patients with cardiac masses of unknown identity and 4 patients with cardiac sarcoma after surgical therapy. All scans were obtained on an integrated 3-T PET/MR device.

Comparison of percutaneous coronary intervention (with drug-eluting stents) versus coronary artery bypass grafting in women with severe narrowing of the left main coronary artery (from the Women-Drug-Eluting stent for LefT main coronary Artery disease Registry).

Women typically present with coronary artery disease later than men with more unfavorable clinical and anatomic characteristics. It is unknown whether differences exist in women undergoing treatment for unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease. Our aim was to evaluate long-term clinical outcomes in women treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Cardiac MRI: T2-Mapping Versus T2-Weighted Dark-Blood TSE Imaging for Myocardial Edema Visualization in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of T2 mapping for the detection of myocardial edema in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to compare this diagnostic accuracy with that of the current standard for myocardial edema imaging, which is T2w dark-blood TSE imaging.

Materials And Methods: 29 patients with AMI were examined at 1.5 T.