Health Status Outcomes With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in ISCHEMIA.

Background: In ISCHEMIA (International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness With Medical and Invasive Approaches), an invasive strategy demonstrated better health status outcomes than a conservative strategy in patients with chronic coronary disease (CCD). Some previous studies have shown greater health status benefits with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) than percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Whether the health status benefits of invasive management in ISCHEMIA were driven primarily by participants treated with CABG is unknown.

SCAI/HRS technical review on transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion.

Background: Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is associated with an increased risk of stroke due to thrombus formation in the left atrial appendage, where over 90% of thrombi originate. While oral anticoagulation (OAC) is the standard therapy for stroke prevention, many patients cannot tolerate long-term OAC due to bleeding risks. Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) has emerged as an alternative strategy.

Association of a Comprehensive ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Protocol With Key Process Metrics Among Patients Transferred for Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: Most US patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) transferred for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) do not achieve the goal door-to-balloon time (D2BT) of ≤120 minutes. We evaluated the impact of a comprehensive STEMI protocol (CSP) implemented in our health care system on STEMI process metrics in patients transferred for PCI.

Methods And Results: The CSP is a 4-step protocol including (1) emergency department (ED) cardiac catheterization laboratory activation; (2) a STEMI Safe Handoff Checklist; (3) immediate transfer to an available cardiac catheterization laboratory; and (4) radial-first approach to PCI.

Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation With Preserved Left Ventricular Function.

Background: Outcomes of mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (MTEER) in patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (sMR) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are uncertain.

Objectives: This study sought to describe outcomes of MTEER for sMR with preserved LVEF.

Methods: Using the STS/ACC TVT (Society of Thoracic Surgeons-American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy) Registry, we evaluated the risk-adjusted outcomes of MTEER for sMR with LVEF >50% by the severity of residual mitral regurgitation (MR), and we compared these outcomes to patients undergoing MTEER for sMR with LVEF of 20% to 50%.

Normal-Flow Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis: Comparing the U.S. and European Guidelines.

Patients with normal-flow low-gradient (NFLG) severe aortic stenosis present both diagnostic and management challenges, with debate about the whether this represents true severe stenosis and the need for valve replacement. Studies exploring the natural history without intervention have shown similar outcomes of patients with NFLG severe aortic stenosis to those with moderate aortic stenosis and better outcomes after valve replacement than those with low-flow low-gradient severe aortic stenosis. Most studies (all observational) have shown that aortic valve replacement was associated with a survival benefit vs surveillance.

Implementing a comprehensive STEMI protocol to improve care metrics and outcomes in patients with in-hospital STEMI: an observational cohort study.

Background: Patients who experience in-hospital ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (iSTEMI) represent a uniquely high-risk cohort owing to delays in diagnosis, prolonged time to reperfusion and increased mortality. Quality initiatives aimed at improving the care of this vulnerable, yet understudied population are needed.

Methods: This study included consecutive patients with iSTEMI treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between 1 January 2011 and 15 July 2019 at a single, tertiary referral centre.

Heart Failure after Aortic Valve Replacement: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Implications.

Severe aortic stenosis (AS) carries a poor prognosis with the onset of heart failure (HF) symptoms, and surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (AVR) is its only definitive treatment. The management of AS has seen a paradigm shift with the adoption of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), allowing for the treatment of AS in patients who would not otherwise be candidates for surgical AVR. Despite improving long-term survival after TAVR in recent years, residual HF symptoms and HF hospitalization are common and are associated with an increased mortality and a poor health status.

Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Asymptomatic or Minimally Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Little is known about the outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in minimally symptomatic patients.

Objectives: The authors aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients with minimally symptomatic severe aortic stenosis treated with TAVR in the STS/ACC TVT registry.

Methods: Minimally symptomatic status was defined as a baseline Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire overall summary score (KCCQ-OS) ≥75.

Hospital-Level Variability in Use of Intracoronary Imaging for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the United States.

Background: Intracoronary (IC) imaging for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with better patient outcomes and carries a class IIA guideline recommendation, but it remains rarely used. We sought to characterize hospital-level variability in IC imaging for PCI in the United States and to identify factors that may explain this variability.

Methods: Patients who underwent PCI, with or without IC imaging, in the Nationwide Readmissions Database (2016-2020) were included.

Rehospitalization Events After Aortic Valve Replacement: Insights From the PARTNER Trial.

Background: Rehospitalization is a common end point in clinical trials of structural heart interventions, but whether rehospitalization is clinically and prognostically relevant in these patients is uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of rehospitalization events after aortic valve replacement (AVR) and their association with mortality and health status.

Methods: The study population included patients who underwent transcatheter or surgical AVR in the PARTNER I' II' and III trials (Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves).

Trends in invasive treatment of patients hospitalized with aortic stenosis complicated by cardiogenic shock.

Background: Before the development of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) was the only potential nonsurgical intervention for patients with aortic stenosis complicated by cardiogenic shock. Emergent TAVR is now an option and has shown acceptable outcomes compared with elective TAVR. We explored how treatment patterns for aortic stenosis and cardiogenic shock among patients received invasive intervention have shifted since TAVR was introduced.

Bioprosthetic valve fracture: a practical guide.

Valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (VIV TAVR) is currently indicated for the treatment of failed surgical tissue valves in patients determined to be at high surgical risk for re-operative surgical valve replacement. VIV TAVR, however, often results in suboptimal expansion of the transcatheter heart valve (THV) and can result in patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM), particularly in small surgical valves. Bioprosthetic valve fracture (BVF) and bioprosthetic valve remodeling (BVR) can facilitate VIV TAVR by optimally expanding the THV and reducing the residual transvalvular gradient by utilizing a high-pressure inflation with a non-compliant balloon to either fracture or stretch the surgical valve ring, respectively.

Prognostic implications and outcomes of cardiac arrest among contemporary patients with STEMI treated with PCI.

Background: Cardiac arrest (CA) complicating ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with a disproportionately higher risk of mortality. We described the contemporary presentation, management, and outcomes of CA patients in the era of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We reviewed 1,272 consecutive STEMI patients who underwent PCI between 1/1/2011-12/31/2016 and compared characteristics and outcomes between non-CA (N = 1,124) and CA patients (N = 148), defined per NCDR definitions as pulseless arrest requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation and/or defibrillation within 24-hr of PCI.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Early Recurrent Myocardial Infarction After Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background We aimed to understand the characteristics and outcomes of patients readmitted with a recurrent myocardial infarction (RMI) within 90 days of discharge after an acute myocardial infarction (early RMI). Methods and Results We analyzed the timing of reinfarction, etiology, and outcome for all patients admitted with an early RMI within 90 days of discharge after an acute myocardial infarction between January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2017. We identified 6626 admissions for acute myocardial infarction (index myocardial infarction) which led to 168 cases of RMI within 90 days of discharge.