Clinical Outcomes of Percutaneous Left-Atrial Appendage Occlusion with Conscious Sedation without an Anesthesiologist on Site: Results from a Multicenter Study.

: Percutaneous left-atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion is an important therapeutic option for preventing cardioembolic stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) at high risk of thromboembolic events and with contraindications for oral anticoagulation (OAC). It is usually performed with transesophageal echocardiography (TOE) guidance under general anesthesia (GA). In this retrospective study, we present a multicenter experience of LAA occlusion performed with conscious sedation (CS) without an anesthesiologist on site.

Impact of trans-stent gradient on outcome after PCI: results from a HAWKEYE substudy.

To test whether quantitative flow ratio (QFR)-based trans-stent gradient (TSG) is associated with adverse clinical events at follow-up. A post-hoc analysis of the multi-center HAWKEYE study was performed. Vessels post-PCI were divided into four groups (G) as follows: G1: QFR ≥ 0.

Contact-Force Guided Posterior Wall Isolation as an Adjunctive Ablation Strategy for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: The efficacy of posterior wall isolation (PWI) on top of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients affected by persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is still controversial and little is known about the impact of contact-force (CF) technology.

Objective: In this retrospective study, we present our experience with PWI using CF sensing catheters and its efficacy and safety as an adjunctive ablation strategy on top of PVI for management of patients with persistent and longstanding persistent AF.

Methods: A total of 73 consecutive patients (20.

Angio-Based Fractional Flow Reserve, Functional Pattern of Coronary Artery Disease, and Prediction of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Result: a Proof-of-Concept Study.

Purpose: Wire-based coronary physiology pullback performed before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) discriminates coronary artery disease (CAD) distribution and extent, and is able to predict functional PCI result. No research investigated if quantitative flow ratio (QFR)-based physiology assessment is able to provide similar information.

Methods: In 111 patients (120 vessels) treated with PCI, QFR was measured both before and after PCI.

Gender Issues in Italian Catheterization Laboratories: The Gender-CATH Study.

Background Women represent an increasing percentage of interventional cardiologists in Italy compared with other countries. However, gaps exist in understanding and adapting to the impact of these changing demographics. Methods and Results We performed a national survey to analyze demographics, gender-based professional difference, needs in terms of catheterization laboratory (Cath-Lab) abstention, and radiation safety issues in Italian Cath-Lab settings.

Prognostic Value of QFR Measured Immediately After Successful Stent Implantation: The International Multicenter Prospective HAWKEYE Study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) quantitative flow ratio (QFR) measurements to predict clinical outcomes in patients with successful PCI.

Background: The prognostic value of QFR measured immediately after PCI has not been prospectively investigated.

Methods: Patients undergoing complete revascularization with successful PCI and stent implantation were eligible for acquisition of projections for QFR computation.

Outcomes of Optimised Implantation Technique with Bioresorbable scaffolds: A Pooled Analysis of ABSORB-IV and COMPARE-ABSORB Trials.

Randomised trials have demonstrated higher midterm rates of adverse events and device thrombosis with Absorb-BVS compared to contemporary drug-eluting-stents (DES). BVS failure was ascribed to the implantation technique and consequently two large randomised trials evaluated the clinical impact of an optimised scaffold-implant-procedure. However, pooling together data from ABSORB-IV and those of the COMPARE-ABSORB, the scaffold was still associated with a statistically significant increased risk of target-vessel myocardial-infarction (OR 1.

Real-World Data of Prasugrel vs. Ticagrelor in Acute Myocardial Infarction: Results from the RENAMI Registry.

Background: Limited data are available concerning differences in clinical outcomes for real-life patients treated with ticagrelor versus prasugrel after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Objective: Our objective was to determine and compare the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor and prasugrel in a real-world population.

Methods: RENAMI was a retrospective, observational registry including the data and outcomes of consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent primary PCI and were discharged with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) between January 2012 and January 2016.

New-generation drug-eluting stents for left main coronary artery disease according to the EXCEL trial enrollment criteria: Insights from the all-comers, international, multicenter DELTA-2 registry.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been established as an alternative treatment option to coronary artery by-pass graft (CABG) surgery in patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD). Whether the findings of randomized controlled trials are applicable to a real-world patient population is unclear.

Methods: We compared the outcomes of PCI with new-generation DES in the all-comer, international, multicenter DELTA-2 registry retrospectively evaluating mid-term clinical outcomes with the historical CABG cohort enrolled in the DELTA-1 registry according to the EXCEL key inclusion or exclusion criteria.

Short term outcome following acute phase switch among P2Y inhibitors in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome treated with PCI: A systematic review and meta-analysis including 22,500 patients from 14 studies.

Introduction: The efficacy and safety of switching P2Y receptor antagonists in patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain unclear. We assessed the short-term clinical outcomes (in-hospital and within 30 days) of switching P2Y inhibitor (P2YI) drugs versus maintaining the same regimen by performing a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of available data.

Methods: MEDLINE/PubMed/SCOPUS/Cochrane databases were screened for studies regarding switching of P2YI in patients with ACS that reported 30 days follow-up.

Anemia in patients with acute coronary syndromes treated with prasugrel or ticagrelor: Insights from the RENAMI registry.

Introduction: Ticagrelor and prasugrel are recommended as first line therapy in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). However, patients with anemia are commonly treated with clopidogrel in routine clinical practice. The RENAMI registry (REgistry of New Antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute Myocardial Infarction) included ACS patients treated with prasugrel or ticagrelor at hospital discharge.

The DELTA 2 Registry: A Multicenter Registry Evaluating Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With New-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents in Patients With Obstructive Left Main Coronary Artery Disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes of unprotected left main coronary artery percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with new-generation drug-eluting stents in a "real world" population.

Background: PCI of the unprotected left main coronary artery is currently recommended as an alternative to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in selected patients.

Methods: All consecutive patients with unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis treated by PCI with second-generation drug-eluting stents were analyzed in this international, all-comers, multicenter registry.

Are acute coronary syndromes an ideal scenario for bioresorbable vascular scaffold implantation?

Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BRS) represent the latest innovation in the field of interventional cardiology. BRS have recently been introduced in routine clinical practice and their use has progressively extended in everyday clinical practice. The BRS use appears theoretically attractive in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) as they are generally young with long life expectancy, thus possibly benefiting more of the so-called vascular reparative therapy.

Optical coherence tomography compared with fractional flow reserve guided approach in acute coronary syndromes: A propensity matched analysis.

Aim: To compare in patients with ACS (acute coronary syndromes) a PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) approach based on FFR (fractional flow reserve) vs. one based on OCT (optical coherence tomography).

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients admitted for ACS and treated with a PCI approach based on OCT or on FFR (recruited in two different studies) were compared and matched with propensity score analysis.

PRotective Effect on the coronary microcirculation of patients with DIabetes by Clopidogrel or Ticagrelor (PREDICT): study rationale and design. A randomized multicenter clinical trial using intracoronary multimodal physiology.

Background: In diabetic patients a predisposed coronary microcirculation along with a higher risk of distal particulate embolization during primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) increases the risk of peri-procedural microcirculatory damage. However, new antiplatelet agents, in particular Ticagrelor, may protect the microcirculation through its adenosine-mediated vasodilatory effects.

Methods: PREDICT is an original, prospective, randomized, multicenter controlled study designed to investigate the protective effect of Ticagrelor on the microcirculation during PCI in patient with diabetes mellitus type 2 or pre-diabetic status.

Rationale and design of a multicenter, international and collaborative Coronary Artery Aneurysm Registry (CAAR).

Unlabelled: Coronary artery aneurysm is defined as a coronary dilation that exceeds the diameter of adjacent segments or the diameter of the patient's largest normal coronary vessel by 1.5×. It is an uncommon disease that has been diagnosed with increasing frequency since the widespread appearance of coronary angiography.