Oral anticoagulation and left atrial appendage closure: a new strategy for recurrent cardioembolic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There are no recommendations regarding how to treat cardioembolic recurrent strokes when patients are well anticoagulated. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of combining oral anticoagulation (OAC) with percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in patients with well-anticoagulated atrial fibrillation (AF) with recurrent strokes. METHODS: In an explorative, prospective, observational study, LAAC was performed in patients with AF with at least two ischaemic strokes in the previous year, despite good anticoagulation using the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug (St Jude Medical, St Paul, MN, USA) or Amulet Abbot device (Abbot Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA). We recorded age, type of AF, CHA2 DS2 -VASC and HAS-BLED scores, types of OAC and risk factors. After closure, treatment with aspirin (100 mg/day) was continued for 3 months in combination with indefinite OAC. Clinical status, recurrent embolisms and bleeding complications were recorded during follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients were included (mean age, 72.1 ± 9.6 years; mean CHA2 DS2 -VASC score, 5.3 ± 1.48; mean number of previous strokes, 2.78 ± 1.15). Thirteen had spontaneous echocardiographic contrast and all had dilatation of the left atrium. Eighteen patients had a multilobulated left atrial appendage, 17 with 'chicken-wing' morphology and one patient had a left atrial appendage thrombus. There were no complications during the procedure. Only one patient had a transient ischaemic attack and no major bleeding occurred during a mean follow-up of 17.4 ± 11.5 months. CONCLUSION: Combination therapy with indefinite OAC plus LAAC in patients with AF with recurrent strokes despite good anticoagulation should be considered in order to prevent a new stroke.

Aortic stenosis. Indications and results of percutaneous aortic valve implantation (TAVI). / Estenosis aórtica. Indicaciones y resultados del implante de válvula aórtica percutánea (TAVI).

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disease in developed countries. Its prevalence increases progressively due the aging of the population. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), however, has revolutionised the treatment of AS. With the current data, we can confirm that TAVI is the treatment of choice for patients with severe symptomatic AS considered inoperable or with high surgical risk. In recent years, the use of TAVI has grown exponentially and is spreading to patients of intermediate surgical risk due to the procedure's good results, the reduced number of complications and the low incidence of prosthetic degeneration. The results appear to indicate that, in the medium term, TAVI will progressively substitute conventional surgery for treating most patients with severe AS.

Anaesthetic management of percutaneous aortic valve implants: Results of 100 cases. / Manejo anestésico para la implantación de una prótesis aórtica por vía percutánea. Resultados de 100 casos.

INTRODUCTION: Transfemoral transcatheter aortic-valve implantation represents a therapeutic alternative for patients with severe aortic stenosis who cannot undergo surgery due to high surgical risk. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the anaesthetic procedure for transfemoral transcatheter aortic-valve implantation and the results on 100 patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A series of cases are presented with prospective data collected on 100 consecutive patients. The anaesthetic procedure consisted of continuous remifentanil and propofol infusions, for sedation or general anaesthetic. RESULTS: Almost two-thirds (65%) of the cases ended on sedation, and 35% on general anaesthetic (19% out of this total were elective and 16% were due to complications during the procedure). Complications occurred in 34% of the cases, with both vascular and complete atrioventricular block being the most frequent. Mortality within the first 24h was 5%. CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of transfemoral aortic prosthesis under remifentanil-propofol sedation can be considered a valid therapeutic alternative for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, and with a high surgical risk, and therefore not considered for conventional surgery.

Results (>6 months) of stenting of >1 major coronary artery in multivessel coronary artery disease.

Multivessel percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is associated with a high requirement for further revascularization procedures. Although stenting can reduce restenosis and clinical events after 1-vessel intervention, little information is available after multivessel coronary stenting. We followed up 136 patients (9% of 1,481 undergoing stenting in our center) who had had stent implantation in at least 2 different major native coronary arteries and were followed-up for >6 months. Each patient had received a mean of 2.3 +/- 0.6 stents (1.13 +/- 0.4 stents per lesion) and procedural success was 95%. In-hospital complications included 1 death, 1 Q-wave infarction, 5 non-Q-wave myocardial infarctions, and 1 repeat PTCA. After a mean of 18 +/- 13 months, 7 patients died (3 of heart failure, 4 of noncardiac causes), 2 required coronary bypass surgery, 1 had a myocardial infarction, 13 target vessel repeat PTCA, and 4 non-target vessel PTCA. Survival free of major cardiac events was 75% at 3 years. A history of heart failure, dilation of a restenotic lesion, and 3-vessel dilation were independent negative predictors of event-free survival. Angiographic follow-up was available in 86 patients: 56 (65%) were restenosis free, 23 (27%) had 1-vessel restenosis, and 6 (7%) had 2-vessel and 1 patient 3-vessel restenosis. Restenosis per vessel was 23% (41 of 177). Reference diameter, past-PTCA minimal luminal diameter, and length of the stent were independent predictors of restenosis. We conclude that multivessel stenting provides good midterm results in selected patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. Midterm events are less frequent than previously reported after balloon PTCA.

Successful sealing of an angioplasty-related saphenous vein graft rupture with a PTFE-covered stent.

A patient developed severe hemodynamic compromise after saphenous vein graft rupture during high-pressure coronary stent deployment. Immediate balloon inflation followed by implantation of a polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent solved the problem. The next day, follow-up angiography confirmed persistent sealing of the rupture site. Clinical and angiographic features of vessel rupture during coronary angioplasty as well as several therapeutic options for this complication are discussed.

[Future perspectives in coronary stenting]. / Perspectivas futuras del stent coronario.

Coronary stenting has made a significant difference in percutaneous coronary revascularization techniques, since it provides an effective treatment for procedural complications and prevents to some degree the incidence of restenosis. Presently, many different stents are available on the market, therefore most interventional cardiologist needs are well covered. Nevertheless, there are still some vessels/lesions unsuitable for coronary stenting, such as very distal lesions or lesions in small vessels. On the other hand, although restenosis is less frequent after stenting, its incidence is still significant posteriorly, representing a major health and economical problem. In the near future, new developments in stent technology such as polymeric coating, local drug delivery systems or intraarterial radiation may contribute to a further decrease in the incidence of restenosis. With better short- and long-term results indications for percutaneous coronary revascularization might be significantly expanded in the next few years.

[The usefulness of intravascular echography during the percutaneous dilatation of aortic coarctation]. / Utilidad de la ecografía intravascular durante la dilatación percutánea de la coartación aórtica.

An intravascular ultrasound study was performed in a patient, to assess the anatomy of aortic coarctation and the results obtained after percutaneous dilation with a balloon catheter. Intravascular ultrasound imaging provides important additional information, not obtainable with other diagnostic procedures, regarding aortic wall structure and thickness. After balloon dilation, aortic disruption was clearly observed, accounting, together with the stretching of the outer layers of the aortic wall, for the increase in aortic luminal area. Intravascular ultrasound permitted also the accurate assessment of the improvement obtained. Intravascular imaging was clearly superior not only to conventional angiography, but also to transesophageal echocardiography in detecting the mechanism of dilation. We conclude that ultravascular ultrasound, with the additional information that it provides, may help in the selection of patients for percutaneous dilation of the coarctation as well as contributing to the identification of the mechanism of dilation.

[The evaluation of the results after coronary angioplasty by intracoronary Doppler and quantitative angiography. The correlation of both methods]. / Valoración del resultado tras angioplastia coronaria con Doppler intracoronario y angiografía cuantitativa. Correlación de ambos métodos.

To study the importance of measuring coronary flow reserve immediately after coronary angioplasty we have analysed the results obtained after 28 angioplasties performed in 21 patients. Coronary flow reserve was measured with a 3F intracoronary catheter selectively placed in the dilated artery. Corresponding coronary angiography was analysed with an automatic edge detection program (ARTREK) and visual estimation. Coronary flow reserve increased in 26/27 cases after angioplasty from 2.4 +/- 1.3 to 4.1 +/- 2.7 (p less than 0.001). A correlation was found between minimal luminal area and minimal luminal diameter after coronary angioplasty, and coronary flow reserve (r = 0.46; p less than 0.05 and r = 0.47; p less than 0.05, respectively). The finding of a normal coronary flow reserve (greater than or equal to 3.5), had a 100% specificity but only 56% sensitivity to detect angiographic success (residual stenosis less than 50%). However 47% of patients with angiographic success did not reach normal values of coronary flow reserve. Visual estimation of the stenosis had a good correlation with automatic evaluation but significant scattering was observed at visual levels less than or equal to 25%. Visual assessment underestimated residual stenosis in all but one of the procedures. We conclude that coronary flow reserve is a potentially useful index for assessing the results after angioplasty that may complement coronary angiography. Nonetheless substantial differences between both methods exist in a significant number of cases. The relative merits of both methods, as well as the particular circumstances in which coronary flow reserve should be used, require further studies.

[The correlation between measurements performed by intravascular echography and quantitative digital angiography in large- and small-caliber arteries]. / Correlación de las medidas realizadas mediante ecografía intravascular y angiografía digital cuantitativa en arterias de gran y pequeño calibre.

Intravascular ultrasound is a new promising technique that appears as a very useful complement to standard angiography in the study of atherosclerosis. Specifically, intravascular ultrasound provides by itself, information of great value concerning vessel wall characteristics. Nevertheless, before taking any decision with the results provided by this new technique, we must validate this information with that provided by other more conventional techniques like standard angiography. Accordingly, we have analyzed in 25 patients, 50 images of the abdominal aorta and 77 images of the coronary arteries taken from arterial segments free of atherosclerotic involvement. With the use of a calibrated small grid located over the patient's thorax, we have analyzed "in the same points" the images obtained with intravascular ultrasound and those provided by contrast angiography using a quantitative angiographic analysis. In the abdominal aorta the vessel diameter measured by intravascular ultrasound and angiography was 17.8 +/- 0.39 mm vs 18.6 +/- 0.42 mm (NS), whereas in the coronary arteries it was 2.76 +/- 0.39 mm vs 2.98 +/- 0.37 mm (NS), respectively. The correlation between both techniques was good for both types of arteries (r = 0.93 in the abdominal aorta and r = 0.87 in the coronary arteries). We conclude, that in our experience and with the methodology used, there is a good correlation between the measurements of the vessel diameters obtained by both intravascular ultrasound and digital angiography in arteries of different sizes, being the correlation even better in large arteries.

[Guided coronary atherectomy: preliminary results]. / Aterectomía coronaria dirigida: resultados preliminares.

Coronary atherectomy implies removing atheromatous material from the diseased coronary arterial wall. This technique has emerged as an attractive alternative to conventional percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures, in an attempt to diminish both initial procedural failure and restenosis rate. Among different technologies, the Simpson's atherotome provides a means of performing directional (i.e. selective) coronary atherectomy (DCA). This device implements a coaxial catheter which is advanced into the lesion over a steerable guidewire. Its distal tip includes a hollow metallic cylinder with a lateral window. Removal of the material is accomplished by a rotating cutter which can be moved distally, once the device's window has been orientated facing the lesion. We have performed 14 DCA in 14 patients. Mean age was 58 years and 12 patients were male. The technique was indicated for unstable angina (7 patients), stable angina (4 patients) and silent myocardial ischemia (3 patients). Fifteen lesions were attempted (13 original and two with restenosis), located as follows: nine in the left anterior descending coronary artery, three in the right coronary artery and three in the left circumflex artery. Eleven lesions were proximal and four were located in mid coronary segments. Twelve lesions (80%) were eccentric, and five (33%) were irregular. Initial angiographic success (residual stenosis less than 50%) was obtained in all 15 lesions (100%). Pre-DCA stenosis was 84 +/- 5% and post-DCA stenosis was 16 +/- 6%. There was no need for urgent coronary artery by-pass surgery and no patient developed an acute myocardial infarction in relation to the procedure. A 82-year-old woman died after the procedure in cardiogenic shock.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The effects of ticlopidine administration at low doses on the incidence of restenosis following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty]. / Efectos de la administración de ticlopidina en dosis bajas sobre la frecuencia de reestenosis tras angioplastia coronaria transluminal percutánea.

The incidence of restenosis remains the same as initially reported (30%) and no therapeutic approach has reduced its appearance. Platelets-induced smooth muscle cell proliferation probably play a preponderant role in the pathogenesis of restenosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ticlopidine (250 mg/day) on restenosis rate after single lesion coronary angioplasty. One hundred seventy nine consecutive patients were prospectively included in this study and were assigned to ticlopidine (group T, n = 91) or to a control group (n = 88) in an alternative fashion. Age (60 +/- 10 vs 58 +/- 9 years), gender (87% vs 87% male), treatment, coronary risk factors, lesion morphology, stenosis severity pre- and postangioplasty, type of vessel, collateral circulation, and left ventricular ejection fraction, were similar in the T and control groups, respectively. Unstable angina was more frequently found in group T patients (81% vs 65%, p less than 0.01). A late angiographic follow-up (7 +/- 2 months after angioplasty) revealed restenosis (greater than 50% luminal narrowing) in 26 patients (28%) in group T and in 21 patients (24%) in the control group (NS). At that time, 88% and 98% of patients without restenosis vs 35% and 48% of patients with restenosis were asymptomatic in the T and control groups, respectively. An exercise test prior to the late control angiogram was abnormal (angina and/or ST segment depression) in 77% and 73% of patients with restenosis in T and control groups, respectively. Thus, in our experience, ticlopidine at a dosage of 250 mg/day was unable to reduce restenosis rate after single lesion coronary angioplasty.

[The performance of coronary angioplasties at centers without cardiac surgery. The recommendations of the Sociedad Española de Cardiología]. / Realización de angioplastias coronarias en centros sin cirugía cardíaca. Recomendaciones de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología.

During the early years of coronary interventions a rigorous on-site surgical stand-by was mandatory. The increased experience in coronary angioplasty both on total number of procedures and the experience gained by each operator, together with the technical improvements, namely since the introduction of stents has induced an evolution in the stand-by strategy, with new concepts such as "next available operating room" or coronary interventions "without on site" surgical facilities, are gaining widespread acceptance. With the aim of defining the requirements to perform coronary interventions at hospitals without coronary surgery, the following aspects are reviewed: a) complications following coronary angioplasty that require coronary surgery; b) the current status of coronary angioplasty without surgical stand-by in different countries. All this information allows us to advance some recommendations concerning the performance of coronary interventions at hospitals without on-site cardiac surgery. Different issues including hospital characteristics, operator and cardiac catheterization laboratory requirements, as well as lesion characteristics and the type of informed consent, should be taken into account.

[Percutaneous mitral valvotomy. The experience of the Hospital Universitario San Carlos of Madrid]. / Valvotomía mitral percutánea. Experiencia del Hospital Universitario San Carlos de Madrid.

Percutaneous mitral valvotomy is an alternative to surgery for the treatment of selected patients with mitral stenosis. With the purpose of reviewing our own experience and to determine the relationship of several variables with procedural success or complications rate, we have analyzed the immediate results of 335 consecutive procedures (90% with the Inoue balloon). Mean age was 51 +/- 12 years, 79% were female, 59% were in atrial fibrillation, 49% in NYHA class > or = III and 34% had mild mitral regurgitation. Mean echocardiographic score was 7.6 +/- 1.9 and up to 25% of patients had a total score > or = 8. Mean mitral valve area (Gorlin) increased from 0.94 +/- 0.2 to 1.87 +/- 0.5 cm2, with increments > or = 50% in mitral area in 88% and a final area > or = 1.5 cm2 in 85% of patients. Patients with an score > 8 obtained smaller mitral areas (1.64 +/- 0.4 vs 1.95 +/- 0.5 cm2. p < 0.01), and a higher percent of suboptimal (< 1.5 cm2) mitral area (22 vs 2%, p < 0.001) than patients with a lower score. Echocardiographic score (p = 0.009), balloon size (p = 0.01) and left atrial diameter (p = 0.04) were identified as independent predictors of a post-procedural mitral area > or = 1.5 cm2. Complications including cardiac tamponade (3 cases), cerebral ischemic events (1 case) and death (1 case) were rare. Mitral regurgitation increased by 2 or more grades in 14%, but regurgitation was severe in only 6% and early mitral surgery was required in 6 (2%) patients. No clinical, anatomical or procedural variables were found to be predictors of a significant increase in mitral regurgitation, a complication which occurred even in valves with a low echocardiographic score. In conclusion, percutaneous mitral valvotomy is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of selected patients with mitral stenosis. Since complications, even if rare might be serious, the procedure should be performed only in symptomatic patients.

[Failure in the implantation of drug eluting stents. Frequency and related factors]. / Fracaso en la implantación de stent liberadores de fármacos. Frecuencia y factores relacionados.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate those procedures in which drug eluting stents DES cannot be implanted and to identify the variables related with this fact. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. PATIENTS: A total of 1.323 consecutive lesions, in which we attempted to deliver DES in our hospital, between February 2002 and March 2005. We reviewed the proportion of implantation failures and related factors. RESULTS: In 21 (1.6%) of the 1.323 lesions, it was not possible to implant the DES (1.6%, 1.5% and 2.3% with Cypher, Taxus, and Janus, respectively; p = NS). The procedure could be performed successfully in 17 cases: 9 with a bare metal stent and 8 with only balloon treatment, whereas the procedure failed in 4 patients. Those patients in whom the DES implantation failure had a greater frequency of peripheral arteriopathy (30 vs 8%; p = 0.003), calcium angiography (76 vs 42%; p = 0.002), vessel tortuosity (71 vs 20%, p < 0.01) y and B2/C lesion type (100 vs 77%; p = 0.007). The independent predictors were: peripheral arteriopathy, calcium and vessel tortuosity. There were no periprocedural mayor cardiac events in the cases with failed delivery of the DES. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, 1.6% of the DES could not be implanted. Some clinical variables, (peripheral arteriopathy) and angiographic (calcium and tortuosity), are associated to a greater risk of this occurring.

Relation of midwall circumferential systolic stress to equatorial midwall fibre shortening in chronic aortic regurgitation. Value as a predictor of postoperative outcome.

Nineteen patients with chronic aortic regurgitation and a large increase in heart size were studied before aortic valve replacement. By relating midwall circumferential systolic stress to midwall circumferential fibre shortening (Cs/Cd) before operation the patients could be divided into two well defined groups. Twelve patients (group 1) had a pronounced decrease in heart size as measured by the cardiothoracic ratio and an excellent clinical outcome six months after operation. Seven patients (group 2) had no significant decrease in heart size and a less good clinical outcome. The ratio of midwall circumferential systolic stress to end systolic volume index was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. Group 2 had more severe left ventricular hypertrophy determined by the ratio of the wall thickness to the minor internal radius of the left ventricle (h:r ratio), total left ventricular mass, and left ventricular mass to end diastolic volume ratio. There were no significant differences in any other haemodynamic or angiographic indices between the two groups. Thus the relation of midwall circumferential systolic stress to fibre shortening is useful in determining the prognosis in individual patients with chronic aortic regurgitation undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Fracaso en la implantación de stent liberadores de fármacos. Frecuencia y factores relacionados / Failure in the implantation of drug eluting stents. Frequency and related factors

Objetivo. Evaluar los procedimientos en los que fracasa la implantación de un stent liberador de fármacos SLF e identificar las variables asociadas con este hecho. Diseño. Estudio observacional prospectivo. Pacientes. 1.323 lesiones consecutivas en las que se intentó implantar un SLF entre febrero de 2002 y marzo de 2005. Evaluamos la tasa de fracaso y los factores relacionados. Resultados. De las 1.323 lesiones, en 21 (1,6%) no se consiguió implantar el SLF (1,6%, 1,5% y 2,3% con Cypher, Taxus, y Janus, respectivamente; p = NS). En 17 casos se finalizó el procedimiento con un stent convencional (n = 9) o sólo balón (n = 8), y hubo 4 procedimientos fallidos. Los pacientes en los que fracasó la implantación del SLF tenían más frecuencia de arteriopatía periférica (30 frente a 8%; p = 0,003), calcio angiográfico (76 frente a 42%; p = 0,002), tortuosidad (71 frente a 20%, p < 0,01) y lesión de tipo B2/C (100 frente a 77%; p = 0,007). Los predictores independientes fueron: arteriopatía periférica, calcio y tortuosidad de la arteria. No hubo eventos cardíacos mayores periprocedimiento en los casos en que fracasó la implantación del SLF. Conclusiones. En nuestra serie, el 1,6% de los SLF no se consiguieron implantar. Algunas variables clínicas (arteriopatía periférica) y angiográficas (calcio y tortuosidad) se asocian a un riesgo mayor de que esto ocurra

Objective. To evaluate those procedures in which drug eluting stents DES cannot be implanted and to identify the variables related with this fact. Design. Prospective observational study. Patients. A total of 1.323 consecutive lesions, in which we attempted to deliver DES in our hospital, between February 2002 and March 2005. We reviewed the proportion of implantation failures and related factors. Results. In 21 (1.6%) of the 1.323 lesions, it was not possible to implant the DES (1.6%, 1.5% and 2.3% with Cypher, Taxus, and Janus, respectively; p = NS). The procedure could be performed successfully in 17 cases: 9 with a bare metal stent and 8 with only balloon treatment, whereas the procedure failed in 4 patients. Those patients in whom the DES implantation failure had a greater frequency of peripheral arteriopathy (30 vs 8%; p = 0.003), calcium angiography (76 vs 42%; p = 0.002), vessel tortuosity (71 vs 20%, p < 0.01) y and B2/C lesion type (100 vs 77%; p = 0.007). The independent predictors were: peripheral arteriopathy, calcium and vessel tortuosity. There were no periprocedural mayor cardiac events in the cases with failed delivery of the DES. Conclusions. In our series, 1.6% of the DES could not be implanted. Some clinical variables, (peripheral arteriopathy) and angiographic (calcium and tortuosity), are associated to a greater risk of this occurring