Coronary artery disease in patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease- An analysis from eastern India.

INTRODUCTION: There is insufficient information on the angiographic characteristics of individuals with rheumatic valvular heart disease (VHD) from eastern India. The objective of this research is to gather important data in this area to aid the best surgical outcomes for patients with rheumatic VHD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 978 consecutive patients with rheumatic VHD, scheduled for surgical intervention, were recruited. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: Mitral valve involvement was observed in 66.1 %, aortic valve in 7.3 % and both valves in 26.6 %. Patients with CAD had significantly higher proportions of severe aortic stenosis (AS). Therefore, addressing the risk factors for CAD is crucial in patients with rheumatic VHD.

Yoga as a Preventive Intervention for Cardiovascular Diseases and Associated Comorbidities: Open-Label Single Arm Study.

Aim: Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) is a standardized yoga protocol authored by experts from all over the world under the aegis of the Ministry of AYUSH, Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homeopathy (AYUSH). The potential of CYP can be determined as a cost-effective lifestyle modification to prevent the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Methods: In this prospective trial, we compared the effect of CYP at baseline and after 1 month. A total of 374 yoga-naïve participants performed CYP under the supervision of experienced trainers. Physiological [body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, percent oxygen saturation], biochemical (fasting blood glucose and lipid profile), and neurocognitive parameters were measured before and after the intervention. Results: At day 30 of yoga practice, serum levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were found significantly improved as compared to the baseline levels observed at the time of enrollment. Similarly, the lipid profile was also obtained from experienced trainers and found to be significantly different from those of yoga-naïve volunteers. When the intervention was compared between the healthy yoga-naïve participants with yoga-naïve participants suffering from medical issues, it was found that cholesterol profile improved significantly in the healthy-naive group as compared to the diseased group (hypertension, diabetes, underwent surgery, and CVD). Conclusion: These results highlight the need for further research to better understand the effects of yoga on the primary prevention of CVD.

Procedural characteristics and outcomes following chronic total occlusion coronary intervention: pooled analysis from 5 registries.

BACKGROUND: Recent improvements in clinical skills, technology, and hardware have resulted in improved success rates with chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We performed a study level pooled analysis from the five largest registries of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of CTO. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted pooled analysis of 9500 patients in registries and data on procedural characteristics, technical success, and MACCE was collected. RESULTS: A total of 9500 patients were included in the analysis. Mean age was 65.4 years with previous CABG in 24.8%, reattempt procedure in 24.8% and mean JCTO score was 2.2. Final wiring strategy in hybrid algorithm-based registries was AWE in 40.8-58%, Retrograde in 24-35%, ADR in 16-25% and in Expert JCTO and EURO CTO was AWE in 72-75% and retrograde in 25-28%. Technical success was achieved in 87.8%. In hospital MACCE was 2.5% (95% CI: 1.8- 3.4%), mortality 0.44% (95% CI: 0.23-0.84%), stroke 0.2% (95% CI: 0.1-0.3%); myocardial infraction 1.6% (95% CI: 1.1-2.2%); and cardiac tamponade 0.8% (95% CI: 0.5 to 1.3%). CONCLUSION: CTO PCI is currently performed with high technical success rates and low complication rates in experienced hands utilizing various techniques.

The Safety and Efficacy of Guidezilla Catheter (Mother-in-Child Catheter) in Complex Coronary Interventions: An Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Lesion characteristics (anatomy, calcification, tortuosity and angulation), vessel morphology, and lack of support add complexity of coronary intervention. Guidezilla catheter, acting as an extension of guide catheter system (mother-in-child catheter), helps to overcome these complexities by enhancing backup during complex intervention. METHODS: The present retrospective, single-center study included 13,157 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) through both transfemoral and transradial routes from January 2015 to July 2019 at LPS Institute of Cardiology, G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India among which Guidezilla™ catheter (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA) was used in 156 patients. Study endpoints were target lesion crossing, procedural success, and complications. The clinical, angiographic and procedural data of all 156 patients were evaluated to assess safety and efficacy of Guidezilla extension catheter (GEC). RESULTS: The mean age of the enrolled patients was 61.2 ± 8.67 years. Type-C lesion was commonest (69.9%) followed by B2 (22.4%) and B1 (7.7%). The commonest indication for its use was tortuosity (30.1%) followed by calcification (21.1%), angulation (18.8%), chronic total occlusion (17.9%), distally located lesion (8.3%), and anomalous origin of vessel in 3.8%. The right coronary artery (39.2%) was most commonly intervened artery followed by left anterior descending (LAD) (30.8%), left circumflex (LCX) (19.9%), multivessels (7.6%), and saphenous vein graft in 2.5%. The mean depth of intubation was 4.2 ± 1.9 cm. Mean diameter of stents was 34.2 ± 14.4 mm while mean length of stents was 31.2 ± 10.2 mm. Lesions were modified using aggressive pre-dilatation in 87.8%, followed by cutting balloon in 10.9%. GEC was delivered across the lesion using buddy wire technique (9.6%), balloon-assisted tracking (BAT) in 30.1%, and balloon-assisted sliding and tracking (BLAST) in 4.5% of patients. Stent implantation was successful in 151 out of 156 patients with success rate of 96.7%. Overall failure rate was 3.3% which was contributed by extreme tortuosity, angulation, and severe calcification. Guidezilla-associated procedural complication (dissection, stent dislodgement, shaft breakage) were reported in three patients (1.9%) who were successfully managed. CONCLUSION: s Guidezilla system acting as mother-in-child extension catheter is a safe and effective tool which provides additional backup support and increases success rate of PCI for complex coronary lesions.