Comprehensive Overview of Retrograde-Antegrade Connection Techniques Without Externalization in Chronic Total Occlusion PCI: The Portal Techniques.

Background: Advancing the retrograde microcatheter (MC) into the antegrade guide catheter during retrograde chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can be challenging or impossible, preventing guidewire externalization.

Objectives: To detail and evaluate all the techniques focused on wiring to achieve intubation of the distal tip of a microcatheter, balloon, or stent with an antegrade or retrograde guidewire, aiming to reduce complications by minimizing tension on fragile collaterals during externalization and enabling rapid antegrade conversion in various clinical scenarios.

Methods: We describe the two main techniques, tip-in and rendezvous, and their derivatives such a facilitated tip-in, manual MC-tip modification, tip-in the balloon, tip-in the stent, deep dive rendezvous, catch-it and antegrade microcatheter probing.

Coils embolization use for coronary procedures: Basics, indications, and techniques.

The use of coils is fundamental in interventional cardiology and can be lifesaving in selected settings. Coils are classified by their materials into bare metal, fiber coated, and hydrogel coated, or by the deliverability method into, pushable or detachable coils. Coils are delivered through microcatheters and the choice of coil size is important to ensure compatibility with the inner diameter of the delivery catheter, firstly to be able to deliver and secondly to prevent the coil from being stuck and damaged.

Temporal Trends in Retrograde Crossing of Epicardial Collaterals in Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: The use of retrograde crossings in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) provides higher technical success rates in CTO-PCI. However, the use of epicardial collaterals carries a higher complication risk.

Methods And Results: In this study, we aimed to investigate the temporal trends in retrograde crossing of epicardial collaterals, introduction of new guidewires, in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and technical success rates in a large, multinational registry.

Global Chronic Total Occlusion Crossing Algorithm: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

The authors developed a global chronic total occlusion crossing algorithm following 10 steps: 1) dual angiography; 2) careful angiographic review focusing on proximal cap morphology, occlusion segment, distal vessel quality, and collateral circulation; 3) approaching proximal cap ambiguity using intravascular ultrasound, retrograde, and move-the-cap techniques; 4) approaching poor distal vessel quality using the retrograde approach and bifurcation at the distal cap by use of a dual-lumen catheter and intravascular ultrasound; 5) feasibility of retrograde crossing through grafts and septal and epicardial collateral vessels; 6) antegrade wiring strategies; 7) retrograde approach; 8) changing strategy when failing to achieve progress; 9) considering performing an investment procedure if crossing attempts fail; and 10) stopping when reaching high radiation or contrast dose or in case of long procedural time, occurrence of a serious complication, operator and patient fatigue, or lack of expertise or equipment. This algorithm can improve outcomes and expand discussion, research, and collaboration.

Feasibility and Evaluation of Surgical Simulation with Developed Crisis Scenarios: A Comparison of Performance by Vascular Surgery Training Paradigms.

Objectives: Surgical simulation is an integral component of training and has become increasingly vital in the evaluation and assessment of surgical trainees. Simulation proficiency determination has been traditionally based on accuracy and time to completion of various simulated tasks, but we were interested in assessing clinical judgment during a simulated crisis scenario. This study assessed the feasibility of creating a crisis simulator station for vascular surgery and evaluated the performance of vascular surgery integrated residents (0+5) and vascular surgery fellows (5+2) during a technical testing with an integrated crisis scenario.

Cryopreserved Allograft in the Management of Native and Prosthetic Aortic Infections.

Background: The management of patients with aortic native and prosthetic infections is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We describe a single-center experience with the use of cryopreserved allografts for the treatment of aortic infections, and compare outcomes with rifampin-soaked grafts and extra-anatomic bypass.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent an operative intervention for aortic infection at our tertiary care center from August 2007 to August 2017.

Subadventitial stenting around occluded stents: A bailout technique to recanalize in-stent chronic total occlusions.

Objectives: To evaluate the outcomes of subadventitial stenting (SS) around occluded stents for recanalizing in-stent chronic total occlusions (IS-CTOs).

Background: There is little evidence on the outcomes of SS for IS-CTO.

Methods: We examined the outcomes of SS for IS-CTO PCI at 14 centers between July 2011 and June 2017, and compared them to historical controls recanalized using within-stent stenting (WSS).

Coronary artery spatial distribution of chronic total occlusions: Insights from a large US registry.

Objective: To assess the spatial distribution of chronic total occlusions (CTOs) within the coronary arteries and describe procedural strategies and outcomes during CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: Acute occlusions due to plaque rupture tend to cluster within the proximal third of the coronary artery.

Methods: We examined the clinical and procedural characteristics of 1,348 patients according to lesion location within the coronary tree.

Relation of Left Ventricular Mass and Infarct Size in Anterior Wall ST-Segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction (from the EMBRACE STEMI Clinical Trial).

Biomarker measures of infarct size and myocardial salvage index (MSI) are important surrogate measures of clinical outcomes after a myocardial infarction. However, there is variability in infarct size unaccounted for by conventional adjustment factors. This post hoc analysis of Evaluation of Myocardial Effects of Bendavia for Reducing Reperfusion Injury in Patients With Acute Coronary Events (EMBRACE) ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) trial evaluates the association between left ventricular (LV) mass and infarct size as assessed by areas under the curve for creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and troponin I release over the first 72 hours (CK-MB area under the curve [AUC] and troponin I [TnI] AUC) and the MSI.

Clinical utility of carotid duplex ultrasound prior to cardiac surgery.

Objective: Clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of carotid duplex examination prior to cardiac surgery have been questioned by the multidisciplinary committee creating the 2012 Appropriate Use Criteria for Peripheral Vascular Laboratory Testing. We report the clinical outcomes and postoperative neurologic symptoms in patients who underwent carotid duplex ultrasound prior to open heart surgery at a tertiary institution.

Methods: Using the combined databases from our clinical vascular laboratory and the Society of Thoracic Surgery, a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent carotid duplex ultrasound within 13 months prior to open heart surgery from March 2005 to March 2013 was performed.

Significance of main pulmonary artery dilation on imaging studies.

Proper and early identification of patients who harbor serious occult illness is the first step in developing a disease-management strategy. Identification of illnesses through the use of noninvasive techniques provides assurance of patient safety and is ideal. PA dilation is easily measured noninvasively and is due to a variety of conditions, including pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Cost analysis of endovenous catheter ablation versus surgical stripping for treatment of superficial venous insufficiency and varicose vein disease.

Background: Due to its clinical efficacy and faster recovery, endovenous catheter ablation has become the treatment of choice over surgical intervention for patients with varicose veins secondary to saphenous vein reflux.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of costs was performed on patients undergoing vein stripping, endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA), endovenous laser treatment (EVLT), and phlebectomy of varicosities at a community hospital and a tertiary care hospital in southeastern Michigan.

Results: In 2010 to 2011, higher costs resulted in a net loss per case for vein stripping, RFA, and phlebectomy procedures performed in the operating room for the community hospital.

Effect of race on the frequency of postoperative atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass grafting.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) commonly complicates the postoperative course after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Among the general population, African Americans have been shown to have a lower prevalence of AF than European Americans. Although many factors have been identified to predict risk for postoperative AF, race has not been examined.