Anticoagulation with heparin The art of simplicity even in patients on dialysis.

In current PCI practice, anticoagulation with either bivalirudin or unfractionated heparin in patients with ACS share comparable efficacy and safety. Nonetheless, their individual performance in patients on dialysis remains unclear. This observational PCI study reported in-hospital clinical outcome in patients on dialysis undergoing PCI according to drug regimen: bivalirudin versus heparin. Similar clinical outcome was observed with both drug regimens.

Direct stenting versus balloon predilation: Jury is still out.

Compared to balloon predilation, direct stenting (DS) shortens procedural time and reduces radiation and contrast exposure. A meta-analysis that included 7 studies comparing these 2 strategies revealed lower adverse event rate with DS. Studies included in the present meta-analysis were mostly observational and utilized first generation drug-eluting stent. Patient and lesion selection may explain these positive results.

Predicting Early Readmission Following PCI: A Work in Progress.

Early hospital readmissions after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are common and costly. From the NCDR CathPCI Registry and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a risk prediction model was generated using 14 clinical variables, demonstrating modest discrimination. Future research is needed to identify interventions aim to reduce early readmissions. The use of this risk model may help guide these interventions.

Overlapping bioresorbable scaffolds seems safe for now.

Overlapping permanent scaffolds carries a long-term risk of target vessel failure due to late malapposition and the development of neoatherosclerosis. Potentially, overlapping bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) may lead to lower long-term risk. The GHOST-EU registry reported similar short- and mid-term risks in patients with and without BRS overlap. Larger size studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm the safety of BRS overlap.

Double-stenting in distal left main lesions: Let's crush.

Unprotected distal left main (ULM) lesions often require double-stenting. In the MITO Registry, a mini-crush stenting technique was safer than culotte stenting. Performing mini-crush arises as the best approach in patients with distal ULM lesions requiring elective double-stenting.

Aorto-Ostial Lesions: Battling an Old Foe.

Aorto-ostial lesions (AOLs) entail several diagnostic and treatment challenges. The Flash Ostial System enables flaring of the overhanging stent, optimizing stent deployment in AOLs. Careful planning is essential to achieve optimal stent implantation and avoid early and late complications during the treatment of AOLs.

Ischemic Postconditioning: Not Giving Up Yet.

Ischemic postconditioning protects against reperfusion injury. Adjunctive use of manual thrombus aspiration improves reperfusion results in patients undergoing primary angioplasty. Combining both strategies (ischemic postconditioning and thrombus aspiration) may have additive effects in terms of myocardial salvage. The PORT trial will study the role of ischemic postconditioning in patients undergoing primary angioplasty with thrombus aspiration.

To achieve, or not to achieve complete revascularization.

Prior to minimally invasive valve surgery, a strategy of complete revascularization did not impact overall survival. Angiographically guided revascularization may have resulted in unnecessary procedures. A larger sample size and greater atherosclerotic burden may be needed to observe an impact with complete revascularization.

Optimal anticoagulation prior to cath: Bivalirudin vs. Heparin the saga continues .

During the pre-procedural (medication) phase, the use of bivalirudin monotherapy is associated with the lowest rate of bleeding in patients with Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (Non-STEMI) undergoing an early invasive strategy. Monotherapy with either bivalirudin or unfractionated heparin (UFH) appear interchangeable in this setting. The use of GPI upstream with either drug should be discouraged due to an increased risk of bleeding and net adverse events. The use of low dose aspirin plus potent P2Y12 inhibitors followed by a transradial approach with implantation of drug-eluting coronary stents with fluorinated polymers represents an strategy that may help limit perioperative ischemic and hemorrhagic complications in these individuals.

Real-world experience with BVS: Trading early sacrifices for a (possible) brighter future.

Randomized clinical trial data suggest non-inferiority of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) compared to current drug-eluting stent. Compared to randomized data, observational studies with BVS have revealed higher rates of scaffold thrombosis. Meticulous deployment technique of the device including appropriate vessel sizing, optimal scaffold apposition, and avoidance of overexpansion may likely limit the risk of scaffold thrombosis. Large randomized studies with longer follow-up are essential to define the role of this novel technology during routine clinical practice.

Acute kidney injury after TAVI: Predict, detect, and prevent.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently observed immediately after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Both classifications, the RIFLE (the Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, and End-stage Kidney) and the KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) from the VARC-2 (Valve Academic Research Consortium-2) are fairly interchangeable and performed well as clinical predictors of all-cause mortality. Patients with baseline reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) or known atherosclerotic arterial disease are at increased risk of AKI.

The influence of age on clinical outcomes in patients treated with the resolute zotarolimus-eluting stent.

AIMS: To evaluate the rate of clinical events and bleeding risk according to age in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a new-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) enrolled in the RESOLUTE Global Clinical Program. METHODS: This study represents a pooled analysis of five trials included in the RESOLUTE program including 5,130 patients, of whom 1,675 (32.6%) were ≥70 years old (elderly patients). RESULTS: After adjusting for confounders, age ≥70 years was a significant predictor of high mortality at 30 days (0.6 vs. 0.1%, P = 0.017) and 2 years (7.2 vs. 2%, P < 0.001). No differences were seen with respect to acute myocardial infarction (MI) or target lesion and vessel revascularization rates between young and elderly patients. Bleeding rates were higher in the elderly throughout follow-up. In the elderly, 7 of the 27 (26%) patients with bleeding episodes died, with a median time between bleeding episode to death of 21 days. In the younger population, 1 patient of 17 with a bleeding episode died (400 days later). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients undergoing PCI with a new-generation DES have increased mortality and bleeding risk, with similar rates of acute MI and repeat revascularization. Bleeding risk was higher in the elderly and strongly related to death. Target lesion failure rates were not significantly different between the two age groups, suggesting that the Resolute zotarolimus-eluting stent (R-ZES) is effective for patients younger and older than 70 years of age. R-ZES may be recommended for elderly patients when PCI with a DES is identified as a suitable option.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Watch out for the leak, irrespective of aortic valve disease type.

Postprocedural aortic regurgitation (PAR) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is associated with a worst clinical outcome. The presence of chronic aortic regurgitation in TAVI candidates increases PAR risk but not overall survival. Future valve prototypes will likely reduce the degree and frequency of this complication.

Bioresorbable vascular scaffold for the treatment of coronary bifurcations: What have we learned?

Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) remain experimental for the treatment of coronary bifurcations (B) and further clinical data is needed before widespread adoption in this setting. Preliminary, clinical outcome in B using a provisional stenting or double stenting approach with BVS is encouraging and close to the one observed with next-generation drug-eluting stent. Improvements in device navigability, reduction in strut bulk and reabsorption time may render the device more predictable and simpler to use.

A single degree of oversize does not fit all valve types.

Moderate valve oversize increases the risk of aortic regurgitation with self-expandable valves, and larger oversizing may be preferable with this valve type. Large oversizing increases the risk of aortic annular rupture in patients treated with balloon-expandable valves and less oversizing appears safer. Anatomical factors may also may influence procedural success and should not be overlooked.