Papillary muscle rupture: first report of this complication in a retrograde transfemoral aortic valve implantation.

We report a not previously described complication in a retrograde transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure: A fatal rupture of a papillary muscle producing massive regurgitation. We found papillary muscle head calcification as an anatomical substrate that could facilitate this complication.

Assessment of right ventricular dysfunction predictors before the implantation of a left ventricular assist device in end-stage heart failure patients using echocardiographic measures (ARVADE): Combination of left and right ventricular echocardiographic variables.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular failure (RVF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients. OBJECTIVES: To identify preoperative echocardiographic predictors of post-LVAD RVF. METHODS: Data were collected for 42 patients undergoing LVAD implantation in Germany. RVF was defined as the need for placement of a temporary right ventricular assist device or the use of inotropic agents for 14 days. Data for RVF patients were compared with those for patients without RVF. A score (ARVADE) was established with independent predictors of RVF by rounding the exponentiated regression model coefficients to the nearest 0.5. RESULTS: RVF occurred in 24 of 42 LVAD patients. Univariate analysis identified the following measurements as RVF risk factors: basal right ventricular end-diastolic diameter (RVEDD), minimal inferior vena cava diameter, pulsed Doppler transmitral E wave (Em), Em/tissue Doppler lateral systolic velocity (SLAT) ratio and Em/tissue Doppler septal systolic velocity (SSEPT) ratio. Em/SLAT≥18.5 (relative risk [RR] 2.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38-5.60; P=0.001), RVEDD≥50 mm (RR 1.97, 95% CI 1.21-3.20; P=0.008) and INTERMACS (Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support) level 1 (RR 1.74, 95% CI 1.04-2.91; P=0.04) were independent predictors of RVF. An ARVADE score>3 predicted the occurrence of post-implantation RVF with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 74%. CONCLUSION: The ARVADE score, combining one clinical variable and three echocardiographic measurements, is potentially useful for selecting patients for the implantation of an assist device.

A real all-comers randomized trial comparing Xience Prime and Promus Element stents.

BACKGROUND: The cobalt chromium everolimus-eluting stent (CoCr-EES) has shown the best safety and efficacy profile in the trials conducted so far. Recently, a new EES with a platinum-based platform (PtCr-EES) has been introduced in the market. There is only one study comparing both stents, but with important exclusion criteria. OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate clinical outcomes with the PtCr-EES compared with the CoCr-EES in an all-comers population. We have conducted a randomized all-comers study aimed to compare these stents in a real-practice scenario. METHODS: A total of 300 patients undergoing revascularization and suitable for long-term dual-antiplatelet therapy were randomized 1:1 to CoCr-EES or PtCr-EES. No exclusion criteria based on clinical presentation or lesion characteristics were applied. RESULTS: The clinical and angiographic characteristics were well balanced in both groups without significant differences. At 18 months, the survival free from death and infarction was 93.9% for CoCr-EES and 91.3% for PtCr-EES (P=.3), the survival free from revascularization was 95.2% vs 94.5% (P=.6) and the survival free from death, infarction, and revascularization was 90.6% vs 88%, respectively (P=.4). The incidence of definite or probable thrombosis was 1.3% for CoCr-EES and 0.66% for PtCr-EES (P=.9). No cases of longitudinal stent compression were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this all-comers trial do not show significant differences between CoCr-EES and PtCr-EES. However, the sample size is not powered to exclude potential differences between stents.