One Versus Two Stents Strategies for Unprotected Left Main Intervention: Gulf Left Main Registry.

The optimal stenting strategy for unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease remains debated. This retrospective observational study (Gulf Left Main Registry) analyzed the outcomes of 1 vs 2 stents in patients with unprotected left main percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Overall, 1222 patients were evaluated; 173 had 1 stent and 1049 had 2 stents. The 2-stent group was older with more comorbidities, higher mean SYNTAX scores, and more distal bifurcation lesions. In the 1-stent group, in-hospital events were significant for major bleeding, and better mean creatinine clearance. At median follow-up of 20 months, the 1-stent group was more likely to have target lesion revascularization (TLR). Total mortality was numerically lower in the 1-stent group (.00% vs 2.10%); however, this was not statistically significant (P=.068). Our analysis demonstrates the benefits of a 2-stent approach for ULMCA patients with high SYNTAX scores and lesions in both major side branches, while the potential benefit of a 1-stent approach for less complex ULMCA was also observed. Further studies with longer follow-up are needed to definitively demonstrate the optimal approach.

Transesophageal echocardiography guidance of percutaneous mitral valve replacement in failed annuloplasty ring: A case report.

Severe mitral regurgitation and stenosis due to failed mitral annuloplasty ring can be managed with percutaneous mitral valve in ring in high surgical risk patients. A 66-year-old male underwent coronary artery bypass surgery and mitral valve ring annuloplasty 7 years previously. He started to have shortness of breath with minimal effort in the past 2 years. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a new severe mitral regurgitation and severe mitral stenosis. The patient was turned down from surgery due to high surgical risk. The transcatheter mitral valve in ring implantation was decided. In this case, there was a low probability of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. A stiff wire crossed the mitral valve ring and positioned in the left ventricular apex. The Sapien 3 valve size 26 mm (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) was positioned to have 80% ventricular and 20% atrial side. Transesophageal echocardiogram evaluation revealed a mean gradient of 5 mmHg. The left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) had laminar color flow and the mean pressure gradient across LVOT was 1 mmHg. The patient was discharged after 2 days in good condition. At one year follow up, he had no shortness of breath and no rehospitalization. In conclusion, the percutaneous mitral valve in ring is feasible in selected patients. The risk of LVOT obstruction should be assessed carefully before the procedure with a transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiogram. 〈Learning objective: Understand how to guide the mitral valve in ring procedure with a transesophageal echocardiogram and how to avoid left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Understand how to position the Sapien valve in mitral valve ring.〉.