Directional versus orbital atherectomy of femoropopliteal artery lesions: Angiographic and intravascular ultrasound outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the ability of two different atherectomy modalities, the directional atherectomy system (DAS) and the orbital atherectomy system (OAS), to modify plaque and augment luminal gain as evaluated by angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in patients with symptomatic femoro-popliteal peripheral arterial disease (PAD). BACKGROUND: Atherectomy is frequently utilized in the treatment of complex PAD. To date, there are no head-to-head comparisons of existing devices and their selection is based mostly on operator preference rather than on supportive data. METHODS: This was a single-center, prospective, randomized trial designed to assess the impact of DAS in comparison to OAS on atherosclerotic plaque. Pre- and postatherectomy lesion characterization was performed by angiography and IVUS. Drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty was performed after atherectomy with similar analysis repeated. RESULTS: Sixty patients were randomized to undergo either DAS or OAS. Pretreatment angiographic and IVUS characteristics were similar in the DAS and OAS groups. DAS led to a greater reduction in plaque volume throughout the entire lesion (5.9% vs. 1.1%, p = 0.003). This corresponded to a greater increase in total vessel and lumen volume by IVUS (161.5 mm3 vs. 50.2 mm3 , p = 0.001; 178.6 mm3 vs. 47.0 mm3 , p = 0.004, respectively), as well as a reduction in angiographic stenosis (40% vs. 70%, p < 0.001). After DCB, 10 patients required stenting for suboptimal results in the OAS group compared with two in the DAS group (p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to OAS, DAS demonstrated a greater plaque volume reduction and luminal gain with significantly fewer stents needed post-DCB.

Relation of Left Ventricular Assist Device Infections With Cardiac Transplant Outcomes.

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)-specific infections (LSIs) are common in patients on LVAD support awaiting heart transplant (HT), yet their impact on post-HT outcomes is not completely understood. We hypothesized that LSIs would result in vasoplegia and negatively affect post-HT 30-day and 1-year outcomes. LSI was defined as driveline, pump, or pocket infection. The short-term outcome was a composite of acute renal failure, allograft rejection, and mortality at 30 days after HT. The long-term outcome was a composite of allograft rejection and death within 1 year after HT. We performed a retrospective analysis of 111 HT recipients bridged with durable LVAD support at our institution from May 2012 to August 2019. Of these, 63 patients had LSIs, with 94% of the infections being driveline infections. Vasoplegia was more prevalent in the LSI group but not significantly (7 vs 2 persons, p = 0.3). There was no difference in the composite end point of acute renal failure, rejection, or death at 30 days (30% vs 25%, p = 0.55) or 1-year end point of rejection and death (38% vs 40%, p = 0.87) in patients with LSI versus those without LSI. In conclusion, LSIs were common in patients on LVAD who underwent HT in our single-center contemporary cohort. However, LSI was not associated with adverse outcomes at 30 days or at 1 year after HT.

Cardiogenic Shock and Mitral Valve Chord Rupture: A Rare Presentation of Libman-Sacks Endocarditis.

Distinguishing Libman-Sacks endocarditis from other valvular heart disease etiologies has important implications for management. We present a case of a 23-year-old man who presented in extremis with fever and cardiogenic shock caused by Libman-Sacks endocarditis with associated mitral valve chord rupture. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).

Long-term outcomes after percutaneous patent foramen ovale closure.

Percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is a treatment for cryptogenic stroke and migraine headache. The goal of this study was to assess long-term outcomes of patients treated with percutaneous PFO closure. Records of patients with percutaneous PFO closure at Emory University Hospital from February 2002 to July 2009 were reviewed. Follow-up telephone questionnaire and chart review assessed recurrent stroke, migraine, and complications. Data was reviewed on 414 consecutive patients. Long-term follow-up was obtained in 207 of patients, and mean follow up was 4.6 ± 2.0 years. Cryptogenic stroke was the primary indication for intervention in 193 (93%) patients. Thirteen (7%) patients had a recurrent neurologic event post closure. In patients with multiple neurological events at baseline, 17% (n = 11) had a recurrent event, compared with 2% (n = 2) of patients with a single neurological event prior to PFO-closure (P < 0.002). Post closure, migraine frequency and severity declined from 4.5 to 1.1 migraine/month (P < 0.01) and 7.2 to 3.6 out of 10 (P < 0.01) in patients with history of migraine (n = 60). Thirty-day mortality was 1% (n = 2). One patient had device erosion 5 years post-procedure requiring emergent surgery. Atrial fibrillation was newly diagnosed in 8 (4%) patients within 6 months. In conclusion, the long-term rate of recurrent stroke after PFO closure is low in patients with a single neurological event at baseline. Serious long-term complications after PFO closure are rare. PFO closure may decrease the frequency and severity of migraine.