Safety and clinical effectiveness of drug-eluting stents for saphenous vein graft intervention in older individuals: Results from the medicare-linked National Cardiovascular Data Registry(®) CathPCI Registry(®) (2005-2009).

Objectives: To evaluate the safety of drug-eluting stents (DES) when treating patients with failing saphenous vein grafts (SVG).

Background: DES reduce target vessel revascularization in patients with failing SVGs; however, compared with bare metal stents (BMS), DES have been variably associated with increased mortality.

Methods: Clinical records from National Cardiovascular Data Registry(®) CathPCI Registry(®) (49,325 older individuals [≥65 years] who underwent SVG stenting 2005-2009) were linked to Medicare claims to create a longitudinal record.

Three-year outcomes associated with embolic protection in saphenous vein graft intervention: results in 49 325 senior patients in the Medicare-linked National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry.

Background: Information is limited on contemporary use and outcomes of embolic protection devices (EPDs) in saphenous vein graft interventions.

Methods And Results: We formed a longitudinal cohort (2005-2009; n=49 325) by linking National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry to Medicare claims to examine the association between EPD use and both procedural and long-term outcomes among seniors (65+ years), adjusting for clinical factors using propensity and instrumental variable methodologies. Prespecified high-risk subgroups included acute coronary syndrome and de novo or graft body lesions.

Pulmonary vein calcification by EBCT in patients with drug refractory nonvalular atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Pulmonary veins in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have been shown to be highly arrhythmogenic. Calcification in these veins may play an adjunctive role in the pathogenesis of AF.

Methods And Results: A case control study was performed in patients with drug refractory nonvalvular AF whose preablation computed tomography chest scans demonstrated pulmonary vein (PV) calcification.

Influence of Prior Coronary Stenting on the Immediate and Mid-term Outcome of Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Background: : There has been little emphasis on the possible consequences of prior stent placement on the outcome of coronary bypass surgery (CABG). We compared the results of isolated CABG patients who had prior stents with those who had not with respect to preoperative status, operative procedure, and postoperative immediate and long-term outcome.

Methods: : Records of 1471 patients undergoing isolated CABG at our institution between January 1, 2000, and March 31, 2005, were reviewed.

Treatment of stent-jailed side branch stenoses with rotational atherectomy.

Unlabelled: While debulking with rotational atherectomy (RA) prior to balloon angioplasty (BA) improves acute results by reducing elastic recoil, treatment of an ostial side branch lesion that is covered (jailed) by a stent represents a particular challenge. We report our experience with RA in conjunction with BA for the treatment of ostial stenosis in jailed side branches.

Methods And Results: Thirty-two lesions in side branches jailed by a stent were treated with RA and BA 39 times in 30 patients.

Extensive ablation during pulmonary vein antrum isolation has no adverse impact on left atrial function: an echocardiography and cine computed tomography analysis.

Background: Although pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI) may cure atrial fibrillation (AF) and improve left atrial (LA) function, the effect of extensive LA ablation on LA function is not well known.

Objective: To assess the impact of PVAI on LA function remotely postablation.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing PVAI had either transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiography (n = 41) or cine EBCT (n = 26) performed preablation and 6 months postablation.