Recurrence rates and risk factors in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB), defined in 2010, involves bleeding from the GI tract that remains unexplained after standard diagnostic procedures. OGIB, which accounts for about 5% of all GI bleeds, poses diagnostic and management challenges, particularly due to the anatomical features of the small intestine. Advances in capsule endoscopy (CE) and balloon-assisted endoscopy have improved the diagnostic and therapeutic landscape for small intestinal lesions. Objective: To determine the recurrence rate and identify risk factors for recurrence following diagnostic and therapeutic interventions using CE and balloon-assisted endoscopy in patients with OGIB. Methods: A retrospective cohort study at Gifu University Hospital analyzed CE procedures for patients with OGIB from 2008 to 2022. Patients underwent CE with subsequent treatments based on the findings. Statistical analyses, including Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models, were used to estimate cumulative recurrence rates and identify recurrence risk factors. Results: Out of 417 patients, 65.2% had positive CE findings, leading to therapeutic interventions in 16.3% of cases. The cumulative recurrence rates at 12, 24, and 36 months were 4.3%, 9.0%, and 13.9%, respectively. Liver cirrhosis (hazard rate: 4.15, 95% confidence interval 1.88-9.18, p < 0.01) was identified as a significant risk factor for recurrence. Conclusions: A significant recurrence rate in OGIB patients, with liver cirrhosis being a major risk factor. Despite diagnostic and therapeutic advances, a comprehensive approach including careful follow-up and consideration of risk factors is essential for management.

Treatment of Patients With De Novo Small-Vessel Coronary Lesions: Analysis of Six Randomised Controlled Trials Comparing Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons With Drug-Eluting Stents.

Both paclitaxel-coated balloons (PCB) and drug-eluting stents (DES) are indicated for the treatment of de novo small-vessel coronary lesions. Since the evidence comparing these two types of devices is limited, we undertook a meta-analysis on this issue. Our meta-analysis compared the efficacy of PCB vs. DES in the treatment of patients with de novo coronary lesions of size ≤ 2.75 mm. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. The two treatments under comparison were PCB vs DES; the endpoint was the rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Our statistical methods were based on the reconstruction of individual patient data from Kaplan-Meier curves using the IPDfromKM algorithm. After this reconstruction, our statistical calculations included hazard ratio (HR) estimation with a 95% confidence interval (CI), assessment of between-trial heterogeneity, and risk of bias for each RCT. Our literature search identified six RCTs that met our inclusion criteria (PICCOLETO, BELLO, RESTORE SVD, BASKET-SMALL2, PICCOLETO-II, and DISSOLVE). In our main analysis, the six treatment groups using PCB were compared with the six control groups using DES. The results showed an HR of 1.029 (95%CI, 0.7446 to 1.422; P=0.86) over a follow-up of 36 months. Heterogeneity analysis across the six control groups showed worse outcomes in the BELLO trial and better outcomes in the three trials employing a limus-eluting stent. To evaluate trial heterogeneity through the comparison of the six PCB arms, five trials showed similar outcomes while the BELLO trial fared significantly worse. Risk of bias for each RCT was appropriate.  Our results indicate that in de novo small-vessel coronary lesions, PCB and DES showed similar outcomes, despite some cross-study variability. Our results provided meta-analytic confirmation that no recommendations can be made in favor of PCB or DES in the treatment of de novo small-vessel coronary lesions based on current data.

Seasonal and geographic viability of high altitude balloon navigation.

Control of the geographic location of high-altitude balloons has been desired for decades due to the cost and simplicity of the systems. These balloon systems rely on variations in wind direction with altitude so that when a balloon changes height, it also changes the direction of its horizontal motion. An altitude control system can thus also control the horizontal position by transitioning to a wind layer with favorable winds. The system's ability to navigate successfully thus relies on the existence of certain wind conditions. In this paper, we explore how the ability of a balloon to station-keep varies based on the geographic location and season. We used spatially and temporally variant ERA5 wind data with a tree-search-based algorithm to traverse potential trajectories, and we selected the altitude transitions that maximize time within 50 km of a target. The simulation's outputs show large variations in success across both latitude and season. Midlatitudes are particularly challenging for station-keeping, while lower latitudes are more favorable. Summer is typically more favorable than winter. This demonstrates that for all balloon systems, the ability to station-keep is highly variant and not universally possible.

Early Tibial Vessel Recoil Following Treatment With the Bare Temporary Spur Stent System: Results From the DEEPER OUS Vessel Recoil Substudy.

PURPOSE: Vessel recoil is a common phenomenon occurring in the tibial vessels following balloon angioplasty. This study examined the occurrence and short-term impact of acute vessel recoil in a subset of patients treated with retrievable scaffold therapy (RST) via the Spur Peripheral Retrievable Scaffold System (Spur). METHODS: Patients with tibial disease underwent angiography immediately following RST, and then 15 minutes post-treatment. Vessel recoil was defined as a ≥10% decrease in lumen diameter after 15 minutes. Recoil was further analyzed by late lumen loss method, subsegmental late lumen loss method, and smallest segment to same segment method. Patient and vessel characteristics were evaluated. Functional recoil (acute vessel spasm), defined as no significant change in minimal lumen diameter (MLD) at baseline compared with 15 minutes post-treatment, was also evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 38 patients (40 lesions; 33 men [87%]; mean [SD] age 75.3 [8.2] years; 26 (68.4%) with diabetes mellitus); recoil was noted in 42.5% of vessels. Prior to treatment, 13 lesions (32.5%) were total occlusions, the mean lesion length was 64.7±30.4 mm, and 27.5% (11/40) were moderate or severely calcified. Mean treated lesion length was 97.8±39.6 mm. For lesions evaluable by duplex ultrasound, 86.7% of vessels (26/30) were patent at 6 months. There was no significant difference in patency between lesions with recoil and lesions without recoil (81.8% vs 89.5%); there was a trend toward patency in the non-recoil group. Two lesions had functional recoil (acute vessel spasm) and were patent at 6 months. There was no statistically significant correlation of recoil to comorbidities or lesion characteristics, including calcification, for which there was also no correlation to patency. CONCLUSION: Vessel recoil was noted in 42.5% of vessels treated with RST, whereas previous published rates with balloon angioplasty demonstrated vessel recoil up to 97%, suggesting that RST may impact vessel recoil. This exploratory study did not demonstrate a correlation between vessel recoil and patency at 6 months. CLINICAL IMPACT: Retrievable scaffold therapy may replace scoring devices and cutting devices for vessel preparation before definite (drug) therapy. Retrievable scaffold therapy supplements already established vessel preparation strategies in order to follow the concept of leaving nothing behaind. A temporary retrievable scaffold for changing vessel compliance and potentially releasing antiproliferative drugs represents a new interventional concept.

The feasibility of a novel method to remove circumferentially ruptured balloons during ultrasound-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for arteriovenous dialysis access.

OBJECTIVE: Angioplasty balloon rupture is a rare complication during percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Conventional approach to retrieve circumferentially ruptured balloons is open surgery. This study examined the feasibility of a novel approach which can remove ruptured balloon during PTA in vascular access. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 35 patients of a total 6465 patients that underwent ultrasound-guided PTA with a circumferential balloon rupture from February 2016 and August 2023. The patients underwent surgery (Group I, n = 13) or the novel method (Group II, n = 22) for balloon retrieval. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to assess the primary patency rates of the two groups. RESULT: The total incidence of circumferential balloon rupture was 0.5% in our center. Balloon retrieval was successful in both groups with no complications except one case had an infection in the surgical wound. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that the post-intervention primary patency rates of the two methods were not significantly different (p > 0.05). There was a significant difference between pre-operation and post-operation brachial arterial flow (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The feasibility of the novel technique for retrieval of circumferential ruptured balloons during ultrasound-guided PTA is validated. The technique enables less invasive retrieval and continuation of PTA.

Endovascular clot removal in small and tortuous arteries: a case series.

Acute limb ischemia (ALI) due to arterial thromboembolic occlusion is a critical emergency in vascular medicine, requiring attention for rapid diagnosis and intervention, to prevent limb loss and major amputation, which is associated with patient disability in the long term. Traditionally, surgical embolectomy has been used for the treatment of ALI. Endovascular treatment of ALI traditionally involved catheter-directed thrombolysis. This option, however, poses some limitations, including an increased risk for access site and systemic bleeding complications, especially in patients with high bleeding risk. Therefore, in the last decades, several devices have been developed and tested for the mechanical endovascular treatment of ALI. Such devices involve either rotational thrombectomy or continuous thrombus aspiration. While rotational thrombectomy is limited in rather large arteries due to the risk of dissection and perforation in arteries <3 mm, continuous thrombus aspiration can be applied in smaller vessels and tortuous anatomies. In our case series we present a minimal-invasive endovascular approach for the treatment of two patients with ALI due to thrombotic occlusion of tortious and small diameter arteries. Minimal-invasive mechanical thrombectomy using the Penumbra Aspiration System emerged as a successful alternative to surgical embolectomy, enabling prompt treatment and with a short hospital stay for both patients. Our article therefore highlights the use of continuous thrombus aspiration in small diameter vessels and tortuous anatomies, which may represent a contraindication for the use of rotational thrombectomy. In addition, this technique may be applied even in patients with higher bleeding risk since additional lysis is not necessary in patients, where complete thrombus removal can be achieved by this device.

The UK resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in trauma patients with life-threatening torso haemorrhage: the (UK-REBOA) multicentre RCT.

Background: The most common cause of preventable death after injury is haemorrhage. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta is intended to provide earlier, temporary haemorrhage control, to facilitate transfer to an operating theatre or interventional radiology suite for definitive haemostasis. Objective: To compare standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta versus standard care in patients with exsanguinating haemorrhage in the emergency department. Design: Pragmatic, multicentre, Bayesian, group-sequential, registry-enabled, open-label, parallel-group randomised controlled trial to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta, compared to standard care alone. Setting: United Kingdom Major Trauma Centres. Participants: Trauma patients aged 16 years or older with confirmed or suspected life-threatening torso haemorrhage deemed amenable to adjunctive treatment with resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta. Interventions: Participants were randomly assigned 1 : 1 to: standard care, as expected in a major trauma centre standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta. Main outcome measures: Primary: Mortality at 90 days. Secondary: Mortality at 6 months, while in hospital, and within 24, 6 and 3 hours; need for haemorrhage control procedures, time to commencement of haemorrhage procedure, complications, length of stay (hospital and intensive care unit-free days), blood product use. Health economic: Expected United Kingdom National Health Service perspective costs, life-years and quality-adjusted life-years, modelled over a lifetime horizon. Data sources: Case report forms, Trauma Audit and Research Network registry, NHS Digital (Hospital Episode Statistics and Office of National Statistics data). Results: Ninety patients were enrolled: 46 were randomised to standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta and 44 to standard care. Mortality at 90 days was higher in the standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta group (54%) compared to the standard care group (42%). The odds ratio was 1.58 (95% credible interval 0.72 to 3.52). The posterior probability of an odds ratio > 1 (indicating increased odds of death with resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta) was 86.9%. The overall effect did not change when an enthusiastic prior was used or when the estimate was adjusted for baseline characteristics. For the secondary outcomes (3, 6 and 24 hours mortality), the posterior probability that standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta was harmful was higher than for the primary outcome. Additional analyses to account for intercurrent events did not change the direction of the estimate for mortality at any time point. Death due to haemorrhage was more common in the standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta group than in the standard care group. There were no serious adverse device effects. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta is less costly (probability 99%), due to the competing mortality risk but also substantially less effective in terms of lifetime quality-adjusted life-years (probability 91%). Limitations: The size of the study reflects the relative infrequency of exsanguinating traumatic haemorrhage in the United Kingdom. There were some baseline imbalances between groups, but adjusted analyses had little effect on the estimates. Conclusions: This is the first randomised trial of the addition of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta to standard care in the management of exsanguinating haemorrhage. All the analyses suggest that a strategy of standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta is potentially harmful. Future work: The role (if any) of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in the pre-hospital setting remains unclear. Further research to clarify its potential (or not) may be required. Trial registration: This trial is registered as ISRCTN16184981. Funding: This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: 14/199/09) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 28, No. 54. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Trauma (physical injury) is a major cause of death and disability. The most common cause of preventable death after injury is uncontrolled bleeding. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta is a technique whereby a small balloon is inflated in the aorta (main blood vessel) which aims to limit blood loss until an operation can be done to stop the bleeding. In this study, which is the first randomised trial in the world of this technique, we investigated whether adding resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta to the standard care received in a major trauma centre reduced the risk of death in trauma patients who had life-threatening uncontrolled bleeding. The study took place in 16 major trauma centres in the United Kingdom. Ninety adult trauma patients with confirmed or suspected uncontrolled bleeding took part and were randomly divided into two groups: (1) those who received standard care and (2) those who received standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta. We followed participants for 6 months using routinely collected data from the National Health Service and from the Trauma Audit Research Network registry. We also contacted surviving patients at 6 months to ask about their quality of life. In the standard care group, 42% of participants died within 90 days of their injury compared to 54% of participants in the standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta group. Risk of death was also higher in the standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta group at all other time points (3, 6 and 24 hours, in hospital and at 6 months). Overall, the study showed that the use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in hospital increased the risk of death.

Efficacy of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with and without intra-aortic balloon pump in adult cardiogenic shock.

Introduction: Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is sometimes coupled with Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) to treat patients with cardiogenic shock. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the association of the IABP approach on survival and vascular complication rates in adults with cardiogenic shock undergoing VA-ECMO. Methods: We performed a systematic search of original studies on VA-ECMO with and without IABP in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Results: A total of 42 studies with 8,759 patients were included. The pooled in-hospital deaths of patients on VA-ECMO with and without IABP were 2,962/4,807 (61.61%) versus 2,666/3,952 (67.45%). VA-ECMO with IABP presents lower in-hospital mortality (risk ratio, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.86-0.91; P < 0.00001). In addition, IABP was associated with lower in-hospital mortality of patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock and ischaemic heart disease. (risk ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87-0.98; P = 0.01; risk ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.82-0.89; P < 0.00001). There was no significant difference in in-hospital morbidity in neurological, gastrointestinal, limb-related, bleeding, and infection complications between patients on VA-ECMO with and without IABP. Discussion: In these observational studies, concomitant use of IABP and VA-ECMO in adult patients with cardiogenic shock was associated with reduced in-hospital mortality. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO [CRD42017069259].

Short-Term Efficacy of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty Versus Intragastric Balloon Insertion for Obesity: An Indonesian, Single-Center, Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction  As a medical condition, obesity is a global public health concern that still has no satisfactory solution. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) and intragastric balloon (IGB) are proven to be safe and efficient in producing weight loss. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty has achieved significant success; therefore, it is timely to compare it to intragastric balloon therapy. Methods  We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data for patients undergoing ESG or IGB. Weight was recorded at one week, one month, and three months post-procedure, and the percentage of total body weight loss (%TBWL) was calculated. Severe adverse events requiring hospital admission/procedure reversal were also recorded. We aim to see if one procedure is more efficient in providing weight loss in a short-term period.  Results A total of 20 patients underwent ESG and 31 patients underwent IGB insertion. ESG patients showed a superior mean %TBWL at one-week post-procedure (%TBWL±SD = 4.87±1.88 vs 3.76±1.95). IGB patients showed a higher mean of %TBWL at one-month post-procedure (%TBWL±SD = 8.00±3.60 vs 7.25±3.29). Both procedures show similar %TBWL at three months post-procedure (%TBWL±SD ESG = 10.857±3.83 vs %TBWL ± SD IGB = 10.852±5.78). Conclusions  We found that both the IGB insertion and ESG procedures result in clinically significant weight loss. However, the short-term weight loss between these two procedures is similar. Although similar, the number of adverse events in the IGB group is significantly higher than in the ESG group.

Efficacy of a novel method: VaSodilator injection via the over-the-wire lumen during drug-coated balloon dilatation to prevent the slow-flow phenomenon in treatment of femoropopliteal lesions.

In drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty for femoropopliteal lesions, there are adverse effects of drug embolization on downstream non-target organs following the slow-flow phenomenon. We devised a novel method, known as VaSodilator injection via the over-the-wire lumen during DCB dilatation to prevent the slow-flow phenomenon in treatment of femoropopliteal lesions (V.S.O.P.), and evaluated its efficacy and safety. This single-center, retrospective, observational study analyzed 196 femoropopliteal lesions treated with IN.PACT Admiral between April 2018 and July 2023. The IN.PACT Admiral is a DCB consisting of a 0.035-inch over-the-wire (OTW) lumen balloon coated with high-dose paclitaxel. Regarding the V.S.O.P. method, we injected vasodilators through the OTW lumen during DCB dilation of the lesions. The cohort was classified into two groups according to the use of the V.S.O.P. method (V.S.O.P. group: n = 53; non-V.S.O.P. group: n = 143). The V.S.O.P. group had lower rates of hemodialysis (21% vs. 43%, p = 0.01) and higher rates of critical limb-threatening ischemia (56% vs. 23%, p < 0.01) and severe calcification lesions (Peripheral Arterial Calcium Scoring Systems score 3/4) (53% vs. 34%, p = 0.01) than the non-V.S.O.P. group. The occurrence of the slow-flow phenomenon was significantly lower in the V.S.O.P. group than in the non-V.S.O.P. group. The V.S.O.P. method could be an effective method for preventing the slow-flow phenomenon after DCB angioplasty for femoropopliteal lesions.

Pericardiocentesis: History, Current Practice, and Future Directions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To discuss the evolution in the approach to pericardial effusions and drainage from a historical perspective, the present state, and pathways for future innovative therapies. RECENT FINDINGS: Incorporation of advanced imaging tools has dramatically improved the safety profile of pericardial interventions. Outcome data allow for refined approaches to management of pericardial disease in special populations, such as pulmonary arterial hypertension. Consideration of intrapericardial interventions and pharmacotherapy represent novel and promising approaches to management of pericardial effusions moving forward. Although the impact of excess or rapidly accumulating pericardial fluid on hemodynamics has been recognized for centuries, the therapeutic approaches have only recently become more refined with the routine incorporation of such tools as echocardiography and fluoroscopy. The most utilized approaches for pericardiocentesis include the apical, subxiphoid, and parasternal, and the most favorable approach is that in which the pericardial fluid is closest to the body surface, where intervening vital structures are least likely to be damaged. With the notable exception of patients with pre-existing pulmonary hypertension, complete decompression of pericardial fluid with careful drain management reduces likelihood of pericardial effusion recurrence. In addition, percutaneous balloon pericardiotomies have been demonstrated to reduce recurrence in nonmalignant effusions.

Retrograde Ejaculation Due to Posterior Urethral Stricture: A Rare Case Report.

Pelvic fracture is a serious injury, which has a profound impact on sexual function due to concurrent nervous and urethral injuries. In this case report, we describe a 29-year-old single man who had retrograde ejaculation as a result of a pelvic fracture-related posterior urethral stricture. The patient wanted to improve his ejaculatory ability after experiencing urethral stricture for 8 years and retrograde ejaculation for 3 years following the pelvic fracture. We precisely located and measured the patient's urethral stricture using a retrograde urethrogram, and we used transrectal color Doppler ultrasound to track the patient's ejaculation process in real time. Next, we used urethral balloon dilatation to relieve the urethral stricture. Urinary obstruction symptoms have completely resolved, and the patient was able to urinate without any obstructions. Meanwhile, the real-time transrectal color Doppler ultrasound result showed that some semen might ejaculate externally by passing through the initial stricture area, while some semen continued to flow retrogradely into the bladder.

Using Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) as a Rescue Strategy in Severe Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Case Report.

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Routine treatment of PPH includes uterotonics, tranexamic acid, curettage, uterine (balloon) tamponade, compression sutures, uterine artery ligation, and, if available, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). In cases of severe PPH refractory to standard medical and surgical management, hysterectomy is usually the ultima ratio, and is equally associated with a higher rate of complications. In addition, this sudden loss of fertility, especially in young women, can be devastating. Here, we report a case of a 29-year-old woman who suffered from severe PPH with a blood loss > 1500 mL and hemodynamic instability after delivery of her first baby at a smaller hospital. She was consequently successfully treated with resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) by first placing a balloon catheter into the infra-renal aorta and subsequent TAE after failure of all other available treatment options prior to hysterectomy. TAE has been suggested in PPH treatment to avoid hysterectomies and thus to preserve patients' reproductive function. If hemodynamic stabilization cannot be achieved with mass transfusion, REBOA seems to be an effective rescue strategy with which to achieve hemodynamic stabilization and gain additional time for embolization. Although REBOA is already recommended in several PPH guidelines, this approach seems relatively unknown in German-speaking countries.

Drug-coated balloon versus drug-eluting stent for femoropopliteal total occlusions: intraluminal versus subintimal approaches.

Because there is a lack of comparative studies assessing drug-coated balloon (DCB) and drug-eluting stent (DES) outcomes with respect to intraluminal (IL) and subintimal (SI) approaches in femoropopliteal (FP) total occlusive lesions, we compared the outcomes between DCB (including bailout stenting) and DES treatments for this lesion. A total of 487 limbs (434 patients) were divided into the IL (n = 344, DCB: n = 268, DES: n = 76) and SI (n = 143, DCB: n = 83, DES: n = 60) approach groups. The primary outcome was a major adverse limb event (MALE), defined as above-ankle amputation or repeat revascularization of the index limb. Secondary outcomes included clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR), loss of clinical patency, and all-cause death. After adjustment, in each IL and SI approach, the 2-year rates of MALE (p = 0.180 and p = 0.236, respectively), TLR, loss of clinical patency, and all-cause death were similar between the DCB and DES groups. In the DCB and DES groups, both primary and secondary outcomes were similar between the IL and SI approaches. DCB and DES strategies for patients presenting with FP total occlusive lesions demonstrated similar outcomes regardless of the IL or SI approach.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02748226.

Successful treatment of acute left main coronary artery disease with a drug-coated balloon under left ventricular unloading using Impella: a case report.

Background: Although the efficacy and safety of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) for acute left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease have not yet been proven, stentless percutaneous coronary intervention with a DCB is preferred for patients with high bleeding risk requiring a shorter duration of dual antiplatelet therapy. Mechanical circulatory support may improve haemodynamics in patients with cardiogenic shock caused by acute LMCA disease. Case summary: A 74-year-old man diagnosed with acute congestive heart failure underwent emergency coronary angiography (CAG) at our hospital owing to ischaemic changes on the electrocardiogram (ECG), indicating acute LMCA disease. Coronary angiography revealed severe LMCA ostial stenosis. Immediately after CAG, mechanical circulatory support was initiated using Impella CP® for haemodynamic collapse with abrupt ST-segment elevation in the precordial leads. The haemodynamics stabilized with a dramatic improvement in the ECG. We treated the culprit ostial lesion with inflation of a cutting balloon followed by DCB delivery because of an episode of haematochezia. Subsequently, his cardiac function recovered fully. Discussion: A case of acute LMCA disease was successfully treated with a DCB under haemodynamic support using Impella CP. The left ventricular (LV) unloading with Impella was indicated to contribute to stable haemodynamics, even during long inflation with the DCB, and the immediate recovery of LV function. Haemodynamic support using Impella may be effective, especially in cases requiring repeated and longer inflation of balloon catheters accompanied by extensive myocardial ischaemia.

Severe stress cardiomyopathy following spinal corrective surgery for scoliosis complicated with pectus excavatum: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Stress cardiomyopathy (SCM) is an acute heart failure syndrome characterized by transient, usually reversible left ventricular systolic dysfunction with normal or enhanced basal compensatory wall motion abnormalities involving the left ventricular anterior septum and apex, resulting in a "ballooning" appearance. However, it has rarely been reported in patients undergoing spinal surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of severe stress cardiomyopathy in a scoliosis patient with pectus excavatum who underwent spinal corrective surgery. During the wake-up period, circulatory collapse occurred. After multidisciplinary consultation, the patient was diagnosed with stress cardiomyopathy. At last, she had a good prognosis after a series of treatments including ECMO. CONCLUSION: Stress cardiomyopathy is a reversible but uncommon condition. It can cause death if it is not diagnosed in time. Consequently, this report should improve the awareness of orthopedists and anesthesiologists for timely identification and management. For patients with potential risk factors, timely preoperative intervention should be performed to reduce the occurrence of stress cardiomyopathy.

Impact of the swallowable Allurion intragastric balloon on body weight and composition: An Ecuadorian experience.

People with excess weight and obesity compose 64.5% of the Ecuadorian population. The Allurion Intragastric Balloon (IGB) is a noninvasive weight loss alternative for patients ineligible for other bariatric procedures. The impact of the procedure on weight loss and body composition, along with insertion complications and secondary effects were investigated. This is a single-centre retrospective study of patients who underwent Allurion IGB insertion from July 2020 to March 2021. This study followed 167 patients for 12 months after EIGB insertion. Our sample had a mean initial weight of 83.6 ± 13.8 kg and initial body mass index of 31.3 ± 3.6 kg/m2. Percentage total weight loss was 4.65% ± 0.56%, 8.5% ± 4%, 12.29% ± 4.65%, 15.68% ± 5.22%, 17.14% ± 6.05%, and 14.68% ± 18.02% for months 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12, respectively. In the fourth month, 92 patients (56.4%) had lost ≥50% excess body weight; at month 6, 104 patients (67.5%) achieved this goal. Regarding body composition, body fat percentage started at 38.99% ± 7.92%, and at month 6 was 35.67% ± 6.84%, this was the only significance in the statistical analysis.This study aligns with the literature's safety and efficacy results for the Allurion IGB while illustrating the need for further research regarding weight behaviour after its expulsion.

Impact of multiple ballooning on coronary lesions as assessed by optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Optimal lesion preparation for coronary lesions has been reappraised in the interventional community, given the increasing use of drug-coated balloons for de novo lesions; however, whether multiple ballooning could achieve more favorable angiographic results compared with single ballooning remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the incremental effect of multiple ballooning on de novo coronary lesions over single ballooning as assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) undergoing PCI were enrolled. Ballooning before stent implantation was repeatedly performed for three times using the same semi-compliant balloon. OCT and IVUS were performed after each balloon dilatation. Primary outcome measure was the difference in the mean lumen area between post-1st ballooning (1B) and post-3rd ballooning (3B) as assessed by OCT. RESULTS: A total of 32 lesions in 30 patients undergoing PCI between May 2021 and August 2022 were analyzed. Major plaque types of the lesions were fibrous (68.8%) and lipid (28.1%). Mean lumen area by OCT was significantly increased from 1B to 3B (5.9 ± 2.9 mm2 vs. 6.0 ± 2.9 mm2, difference: 0.2 ± 0.4 mm2, p = 0.040). There were significant increases from 1B to 3B in minimum lumen area by OCT (3.1 ± 1.5 mm2 vs. 3.6 ± 1.7 mm2, difference: 0.5 ± 0.6 mm2, p < 0.001) and mean dissection angle by OCT (65.6 ± 24.9° vs. 95.2 ± 34.0°, difference: 29.6 ± 25.5°, p < 0.001). Additionally, mean plaque area by IVUS was significantly decreased (8.0 ± 4.2 mm2 vs. 7.8 ± 4.1 mm2, difference: -0.2 ± 0.2 mm2, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among CCS patients with mainly non-calcified lesions, multiple ballooning significantly increased the lumen area and dissection angle compared with single ballooning.