Edge vascular response after polymer-free vs. polymer-based paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown if lack of polymer can provoke a different edge response in drug-eluting stents. The aim of this study was to compare edge vascular response between polymer-free paclitaxel-eluting stent (PF-PES) and polymer-based paclitaxel-eluting stents (PB-PES). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 165 eligible patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention were prospectively randomized 1:1 to receive either PF-PES or PB-PES. Those patients with paired intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) after procedure and at 9-month follow-up were included in this analysis.Seventy-six patients with 84 lesions, divided into PB-PES (38 patients, 41 lesions) and PF-PES groups (38 patients, 43 lesions) had paired post-procedure and 9-month follow-up IVUS and were therefore included in this substudy. There was a significant lumen decrease at the proximal edge of PF-PES (from 9.02±3.06 mm(2)to 8.47±3.05 mm(2); P=0.040), and a significant plaque increase at the distal edges of PF-PES (from 4.39±2.73 mm(2)to 4.78±2.63 mm(2); P=0.004). At the distal edge there was a significant plaque increase in the PF-PES compared to PB-PES (+8.0% vs. -0.6%, respectively; P=0.015) with subsequent lumen reduction (-5.2% vs. +6.0%, respectively; P=0.024). CONCLUSIONS: PF-PES had significant plaque increase and lumen reduction at the distal edge as compared to PB-PES, probably due to difference in polymer-based drug-release kinetics between the 2 platforms.

Coronary stenting after failure of conservative treatment for spontaneous coronary dissection: Usefulness of the intravascular ultrasound.

Spontaneous coronary dissection of a coronary artery is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome. Optimal treatment has not yet been established. We describe a woman with spontaneous dissection of the left anterior descending artery who presented transitory angina and electrocardiographic ST segment elevation in precordial leads. Conservative treatment was carried out. The angina and electrocardiographic changes recurred 3 days later. An intravascular vascular ultrasound was performed and the patient was stabilized following stenting. Stress testing was negative at 6-month follow-up and she remained asymptomatic at 18 months. We discuss the usefulness of an intravascular ultrasound study to establish the therapeutic strategy.

Purulent pericarditis with cardiac tamponade caused by anaerobic agents.

Purulent pericarditis is a rare disease associated with high mortality, even with appropriate antibiotic therapy. The authors report the case of a patient with purulent pericarditis with no identifiable primary source that presented clinically as cardiac tamponade. The patient required emergency pericardiocentesis and surgical pericardiectomy due to persisting signs of tamponade. Microbiology cultures isolated anaerobic agents of Fusobacterium spp., Corynebacterium spp. and Peptostreptococcus. The authors review the etiology and treatment of this entity and its main complication, the development of constrictive pericarditis.

Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and tributyltin (TBT) in Barcelona harbour sediments and their impact on benthic communities.

Sediments have long been recognised as a sink for many contaminants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and tributyltin (TBT), which by virtue of their nature can strongly adsorb onto sediments affecting the benthic community inhabiting them. Using geographical information systems, this study reports and combines the results of several already existing studies along Barcelona harbour in order to assess the potential ecological impacts of these contaminants on the benthos of the harbour ecosystem. Chemical analysis indicated low to moderate contents of PAHs and high contents of TBT in sediments in Barcelona harbour. Comparison against existing sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) indicated that acutely toxic effects would not be expected for PAHs but for TBT, which represents a serious environmental threat for the benthic community. Benthos surveys revealed a deterioration of the benthic community throughout the harbour, especially in the inner port.

[Angioplasty guidewire entrapment affer stent implantation: report of two cases and review of the literature]. / Atrapamiento de la guía de angioplastía después de la implantación de un stent: descripción de dos casos y revisión de la literatura.

Angioplasty guidewire entrapment, with or without retention of a fractured segment, is an infrequent complication and may lead to acute coronary ischemia due to thromboembolic occlusion. Management can be surgical, conservative or percutaneous. We describe two patients in whom the guidewire remained entrapped with the stent during the pullback maneuver after successful stent implantation. In one patient, we managed to extricate a metallic guidewire using the balloon as a wedge. In the other patient, a fragment of the non-metallic guidewire tip, with hydrophilic coating, remained trapped after being "cut" by the stent during traction towards the ostium while attempting removal. The retained segment was isolated from the blood stream by implanting a synthetic coronary stent graft. We emphasize the high risk of "cutting" this type of non-metallic guidewire in case of engagement with the stent, and we review the literature of this rare complication.

Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds for Patients With In-Stent Restenosis: The RIBS VI Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the value of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) in patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR). BACKGROUND: Currently both drug-eluting stents (DES) and drug-eluting balloons (DEB) are recommended in patients with ISR. However, the value of BVS in this setting remains unclear. METHODS: RIBS VI (Restenosis Intra-stent: drug-eluting Balloon vs everolimus-eluting Stent) was a prospective multicenter study (19 Spanish sites) that included 141 patients treated with BVS for either bare-metal stent (BMS) ISR or DES-ISR. Late angiography was scheduled at 6 to 9 months. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were similar to those used in the RIBS IV (patients with DES-ISR) and RIBS V (patients with BMS-ISR) trials, where DEB (n = 249) was compared with everolimus (EES)-DES (n = 249). Results of BVS in RIBS VI were compared with those obtained with DEB and EES in the RIBS IV and V trials. RESULTS: On late angiography (n = 134; 95% of eligible) the in-segment minimal lumen diameter (primary endpoint) was 1.87 ± 0.5 mm, late lumen loss was 0.23 ± 0.4 mm, and restenosis rate was 11%. At 1-year follow-up (100% of patients) no patient died, 4 (2.8%) experienced a myocardial infarction, and 16 (11.3%) required target lesion revascularization. One patient (0.7%) who discontinued antiplatelet therapy experienced definitive BVS thrombosis. Freedom from cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization was 86%. The minimal lumen diameter at follow-up after BVS was similar to that obtained with DEB (1.88 ± 0.6 mm; p = NS) but smaller than that achieved after EES (2.16 ± 0.7 mm; p < 0.001). Likewise, target lesion revascularization rates after BVS were similar to those seen with DEB (10.4%) but higher than with EES (3.2%; p < 0.001). Results remained unchanged after adjusting for potential confounders in baseline characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the safety and efficacy of BVS in patients with ISR. In this challenging anatomic scenario BVS obtained late angiographic and clinical results similar to DEB but inferior to EES. (Restenosis Intrastent: Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds Treatment [RIBS VI]; NCT02672878).

Value of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association angiographic classification of coronary lesion morphology in patients with in-stent restenosis. Insights from the Restenosis Intra-stent Balloon angioplasty versus elective Stenting (RIBS) randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: The implications of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) lesion classification in patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR) are unknown. METHODS: Four hundred fifty patients included in the RIBS randomized study were analyzed. A centralized core laboratory assessed ISR classifications including ACC/AHA, the classification of Mehran et al (Circulation 1999;100:1872-8), diffuse/focal, and a new quantitative ISR index (lesion length/stent length). Logistic regression models were constructed for prespecified outcome measures including (1) unsatisfactory acute results and (2) recurrent restenosis rate. RESULTS: Complex (B2/C) lesions (78%) more frequently obtained unsatisfactory acute results (20% vs 8%, P = .007), smaller minimal lumen diameter after the procedure (2.45 +/- 0.5 vs 2.73 +/- 0.5 mm, P = .001) and at follow-up (1.48 +/- 0.8 vs 1.94 +/- 0.8 mm, P = .0001), and had a higher restenosis rate (43 vs 24%, P = .001) than simple (A/B1) lesions. On logistic regression analysis, all classification schemes were useful to predict unsatisfactory initial results (area under the curve: 0.63, 0.61, 0.59, and 0.62) and recurrent restenosis (area under the curve: 0.60, 0.64, 0.61, and 0.63). The predictive ability of these schemes persisted despite adjustment for potential confounders. Although the ACC/AHA classification was a better predictor of acute results, the classification of Mehran was superior to predict restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: The ACC/AHA classification provides a useful tool to determine acute procedural results and the long-term angiographic outcome of patients with ISR.

Stent implantation in variant angina refractory to medical treatment.

BACKGROUND: Vasospastic angina usually responds well to medical treatment. HYPOTHESIS: The present study describes our experience in patients who received a coronary stent because of recurrent variant angina refractory to medical treatment and evaluates stent implantation as an alternative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 1998 and February 2005, recurrent variant angina was diagnosed in 22 patients admitted to our coronary care unit. Of these, five patients (22.7%), were refractory to pharmacologic treatment. Coronary angiography and coronary stents were indicated. Clinical follow-up was 29 +/- 6 months. RESULTS: Stenting was performed during diagnostic coronary angiography in two patients. In the other three patients, the stent was implanted 24-48 h later. We observed coronary spasm recurrences proximal or distal to the stent in four patients-two during the stent implantation procedure and the other two in the coronary care unit within 48 h post angioplasty. Three patients where treated with additional stenting and the fourth patient improved with pharmacologic treatment. During follow-up three patients remained asymptomatic. The fourth patient had diffuse in-stent restenosis in the third month, and the fifth patient showed a de novo lesion in the treated segment 2 years later. CONCLUSIONS: Stent implantation in patients with recurrent variant angina refractory to medical treatment may be an alternative treatment in carefully selected, clinically unstable patients. Spasm recurrences may occur in other segments of the treated artery, probably due to the diffuse nature of the disease. Immediate and continued surveillance is recommended because of the risk of adverse clinical events.

[Prognosis of patients admitted in a coronary care unit after resucitating from out-of-hospital sudden cardiac death]. / Pronóstico de los pacientes ingresados en una unidad coronaria después de la recuperación de una muerte súbita de causa cardíaca fuera del hospital.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aims of the present study were to analyze the prognosis after resuscitation from out-of-hospital sudden cardiac death in patients admitted to the coronary care unit, and to identify the predictor variables of morbi-mortality. PATIENTS AND METHOD: From November 1999 to January 2004 we analyzed 63 patients (47 males) aged 61 +/- 12 years who were admitted to the coronary care unit following successful resuscitation from sudden cardiac death. The clinical and electrocardiographic characteristics were correlated with the mortality and neurological impairment. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients (55.5%) were discharged, while twenty-eight patients (45.5%) died 28 +/- 4 days after admission, most of them during hospitalization. The main underlying disorder was coronary artery disease (80.9%). When survivors and non-survivors were compared, the variables associated with a worse prognosis were diabetes mellitus (68.4% vs 17.1%, P < .02), the presence of valvular heart disease (28.6% vs 0%, p < 0.003), chronic atrial fibrillation (42.9% vs 14.3%, P < .02) and asystole as the initial rhythm observed (42.9% vs 11.4%, P < .01). Multivariate analysis identified asystole as an independent factor of poor prognosis (P < .02). Death was due to severe postanoxic neurological damage in 23 of 28 deaths (82.1%). The remaining 5 patients died due to their underlying cardiac disease (P < .01). The variables associated with neurological damage were out-of hospital resuscitation, delay in beginning resuscitation maneuvers, arrival time > 5 minutes and unconsciousness on admission. CONCLUSIONS: Although many patients survive following resuscitation from out-of-hospital sudden cardiac death, mortality remains high. Neurological impairment is the main cause of mortality. Prognosis is determined by the variables related to the underlying disease, the delay in onset of resuscitation maneuvers and postanoxia cerebral damage.

Radial Artery Embolism: A Rare Complication of Angioplasty.

We present a 55-year-old man with multivessel coronary artery disease previously treated with stenting of the left main, left anterior descending, right coronary, circumflex, and first diagonal branch. He was diagnosed with in-stent restenosis of a diagonal branch, but treatment was complicated by radial artery coronary embolism, which is a rare complication of radial intervention.

Everolimus-Eluting Stents in Patients With Bare-Metal and Drug-Eluting In-Stent Restenosis: Results From a Patient-Level Pooled Analysis of the RIBS IV and V Trials.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of patients with drug-eluting stent (DES) in-stent restenosis (ISR) is more challenging than that of patients with bare-metal stent ISR. However, the results of everolimus-eluting stents (EES) in these distinct scenarios remain unsettled. METHODS AND RESULTS: A pooled analysis of the RIBS IV (Restenosis Intra-Stent of Drug-Eluting Stents: Paclitaxel-Eluting Balloon vs Everolimus-Eluting Stent) and RIBS V (Restenosis Intra-Stent of Bare Metal Stents: Paclitaxel-Eluting Balloon vs Everolimus-Eluting Stent) randomized trials was performed using patient-level data to compare the efficacy of EES in bare-metal stent ISR and DES-ISR. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were identical in both trials. Results of 94 patients treated with EES for bare-metal stent ISR were compared with those of 155 patients treated with EES for DES-ISR. Baseline characteristics were more adverse in patients with DES-ISR, although they presented later and more frequently with a focal pattern. After intervention, minimal lumen diameter (2.22±0.5 versus 2.38±0.5 mm, P=0.01) was smaller in the DES-ISR group. Late angiographic findings (89.3% of eligible patients), including minimal lumen diameter (2.03±0.7 versus 2.36±0.6 mm, P<0.001) and diameter stenosis (23±22 versus 13±17%, P<0.001) were poorer in patients with DES-ISR. Results were consistent in the in-segment and in-lesion analyses. On multiple linear regression analysis, minimal lumen diameter at follow-up remained significantly smaller in patients with DES-ISR. Finally, at 1-year clinical follow-up (100% of patients), mortality (2.6 versus 0%, P<0.01) and need for target vessel revascularization (8 versus 2%, P=0.03) were higher in the DES-ISR group. CONCLUSIONS: This patient-level pooled analysis of the RIBS IV and RIBS V randomized clinical trials suggests that EES provide favorable outcomes in patients with ISR. However, the results of EES are less satisfactory in patients with DES-ISR than in those with bare-metal stent ISR. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifiers: NCT01239953 and NCT01239940.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Everolimus-Eluting Stents Versus Drug-Eluting Balloons in Patients With In-Stent Restenosis (from the RIBS IV and V Randomized Clinical Trials).

Treatment of patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains a challenge. This study sought to compare the efficacy of everolimus-eluting stents (EESs) and drug-eluting balloons (DEBs) with paclitaxel in patients with ISR. A pooled analysis of the Restenosis Intra-Stent of Drug-Eluting Stents: Drug-Eluting Balloon vs Everolimus-Eluting Stent (RIBS IV) and Restenosis Intra-Stent of Bare-Metal Stents: Drug-Eluting Balloon vs Everolimus-Eluting Stent (RIBS V) randomized trials was performed using patient-level data. In both trials, EESs were compared with DEBs in patients with ISR (RIBS V included 189 patients with bare-metal ISR; RIBS IV included 309 patients with drug-eluting ISR). Inclusion and exclusion criteria were identical in both trials. A total of 249 patients were allocated to EES and 249 to DEB. Clinical follow-up at 1 year was obtained in all (100%) patients and late angiography (median 249 days) in 91% of eligible patients. Compared with patients treated with DEBs, patients treated with EESs obtained better short-term results (postprocedural minimal lumen diameter 2.28 ± 0.5 vs 2.12 ± 0.4 mm, p <0.0001). At follow-up, patients treated with EESs had larger in-segment minimal lumen diameter (primary end point 2.16 ± 0.7 vs 1.88 ± 0.6 mm, p <0.0001; absolute mean difference 0.28 mm; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.16 to 0.40) and net lumen gain (1.33 ± 0.6 vs 1.00 ± 0.7 mm, p <0.0001) and had lower %diameter stenosis (19 ± 21% vs 28 ± 22%, p <0.0001) and binary restenosis rate (8.7% vs 15.7%, p = 0.02). Consistent results were observed in the in-lesion analysis. No interactions were found between the underlying stent type and treatment effects. At 1-year clinical follow-up, the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization was significantly reduced in the EES arm (8.8% vs 14.5%, p = 0.03; hazard ratio 0.59, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.94) mainly driven by a lower need for target vessel revascularization (6% vs 12.4%, p = 0.01, hazard ratio 0.46, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.86). This pooled analysis of the RIBS IV and RIBS V randomized trials demonstrates the superiority of EES over DEB in the treatment of patients with ISR.

[Neointimal tissue proliferation after coronary stent implantation without predilatation]. / Proliferación neointimal después de la implantación coronaria de stent sin predilatación.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) studies in conventional stent angioplasty with predilatation have demonstrated that late luminal narrowing is caused by neointimal proliferation. In the present study, we analyzed the degree and distribution of in-stent neointimal proliferation after direct stent implantation and aimed to identify variables that predict a proliferative response. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We studied 45 patients who underwent successful stent implantation without predilatation and 23 patients with similar clinical and angiographic characteristics who underwent conventional stent angioplasty with predilatation. IVUS imaging was performed at 7.85+/-2.81 months. The cross-sectional area was measured at five predetermined points in the stented coronary segment. The inflation pressure used in patients who underwent direct stent implantation was higher than that employed in those who underwent conventional angioplasty with predilatation (13+/-3 atm vs 10+/-2 atm; P=.005). RESULTS: Luminal and stent cross-sectional areas were greater in the group that did not undergo predilatation than in the group that did. Neointimal proliferation in the 5 sections analyzed along the axis of the stent was similar in the 2 groups. There was a weak linear relationship between the amount of plaque outside the stent and neointimal proliferation in both the group that underwent predilatation (r=0.37; P=.005) and the group that did not (r=0.33; P=.005). CONCLUSIONS: As with conventional angioplasty, the neointimal proliferation that occurred after direct stent implantation showed a diffuse homogeneous pattern along the length of the stent. There was a weak correlation between this proliferative response and the amount of plaque outside the stent.

Radial versus femoral access for angioplasty of ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction with second-generation drug-eluting stents.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Invasive and pharmacological treatment of ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction reduces the rate of ischemic events but not bleeding complications. The objective of this study was to compare clinical results and bleeding complications between femoral and radial access routes in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: An evaluation was performed of the population of the Examination study, a randomized, multicenter, clinical trial that included 1498 patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction who underwent emergency angioplasty. Subanalysis of this population was conducted to compare patients by type of access (femoral vs radial). The primary end point was a composite of: all-cause death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, and bleeding. RESULTS: Femoral and radial access routes were used in 825 (55%) and 673 (45%) patients, respectively. More bleeding complications (major and minor) were seen with femoral access than radial access (5.9% vs 2.8%; P<.004), largely due to a greater incidence of minor bleeding with femoral access (4.6% vs 1.9%; P=.005). After adjustment for confounders, survival analysis showed a reduction in the primary composite end point in patients with radial access (hazard ratio=0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-0.96; P=.022). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction, the radial approach is an effective technique that improves prognosis and reduces bleeding complications.

Coronary endothelial dysfunction and myocardial cell damage in chronic stable idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

UNLABELLED: Impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in response to acetylcholine reflects an abnormal endothelial function. Labelled indium-111 monoclonal antimyosin antibodies enable detection of myocardial cell damage. We analysed whether endothelial dysfunction correlates with myocardial antimyosin uptake in a selected group of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Twenty-two consecutive patients with chronic stable idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (18 males and four females) were included. The duration of heart failure symptoms was 46+/-34 months. At inclusion, the functional class of New York Heart Association was 2.1+/-0.7. Endothelial function was evaluated using intracoronary graded concentrations of acetylcholine. Vasomotor responses of the left anterior descending coronary artery were measured by quantitative coronary analysis. Myocardial uptake of antimyosin antibodies was quantified by means of a heart-to-lung ratio (HLR). RESULTS: Eighteen patients showed endothelial dysfunction (82%) and the remaining four patients showed a normal endothelial function. There were no statistically significant differences between patients with and without endothelial dysfunction in relation to clinical, echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters. In addition, these variables did not correlate with the magnitude of the vasomotor response to acetylcholine. Eighteen patients (82%) showed abnormal antimyosin uptake; 15 of them (83%) showed endothelial dysfunction. The global mean HLR of antimyosin uptake was 1.73+/-0.24. The coronary vasomotor response to acetylcholine correlated with the intensity of uptake of antimyosin antibodies (r=-0.45, P<0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Coronary endothelial dysfunction and myocardial antimyosin uptake was found in a high percentage of patients with chronic stable idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. The abnormal vasomotor response seems to be related to the degree of myocardial damage.

[Immediate and long-term outcome after angioplasty with stenting of the left main coronary artery]. / Resultados inmediatos y a largo plazo de la angioplastia con stent del tronco común.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is the treatment of choice for severe left main coronary artery stenosis. The results of a number of multicenter trials have suggested angioplasty with stenting as a possible alternative treatment. The aim of the present study was to analyze the immediate and long-term results of angioplasty with stenting of the left main coronary artery, and to identify factors predictive of death. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A total of 38 nonconsecutive patients (mean age 69 [8] years) with a severe lesion in the left main coronary artery were treated with angioplasty and stenting between November 1997 and March 2003. The procedure was elective in 27 patients and urgent in the remaining 11. In 23 patients (60.5%) the left main coronary artery was not protected by aortocoronary bypass. All patients underwent clinical follow-up examination at 25 (20) months. RESULTS: Angiographically documented success was obtained in all patients. However, one patient died from acute occlusion one hour after the operation. Four patients (10%) had a non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. In-hospital mortality was 15.8% (6/38 patients). Five of the 11 patients (45.4%) who underwent emergency angioplasty and stenting died in the hospital from acute myocardial infarction complicated by severe (Killip grade III-IV) heart failure. However, only one of 27 patients (3.7%) in the elective surgery group died (P=.007). Major clinical cardiac events during follow-up occurred in 5 patients (13%); 3 died and the other 2 had recurrent angina. All patients who died had an unprotected left main coronary artery. Cumulative survival rates for the elective group were 92 (0.5)% at 6 months, 88 (0.6)% at 1 year and 86 (0.7)% at 3 years, respectively. For the emergency surgery group cumulative survival rate was 54 (0.2)% at 6 months (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Elective angioplasty and stenting of the left main coronary artery in selected patients was associated with a high immediate success rate. In patients who underwent elective angioplasty and stenting, the incidence of major cardiac events during follow-up was relatively low. Emergency angioplasty and signs of left ventricular dysfunction were the main predictors of in-hospital mortality.

[Cardiac perforation complicated by cardiac tamponade and sealed with metallic coils]. / Perforación coronaria complicada con taponamiento cardíaco sellada mediante coils metálicos.

Distal coronary artery perforation with an angioplasty guidewire is a rare complication that may cause cardiac tamponade, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, and even death. The use of platelet IIb/IIIa glycoprotein receptor inhibitors increases the risk of potentially fatal complications that are difficult to manage. We report a patient on treatment with abciximab who presented coronary perforation in a distal branch of the right coronary artery caused by the coronary guidewire tip, and complicated by acute cardiac tamponade. Blood extravasation to the pericardium was stopped by releasing two metallic coils into the distal vessel, thereby avoiding the need for emergent cardiac surgery.