Shortened dual anti-platelet therapy duration after percutaneous patent foramen ovale and atrial septal defect closure.

Objectives: Current guidelines recommend patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure in patients with cryptogenic stroke, while atrial septal defect (ASD) closure is indicated for a shunt with right atrial/right ventricular (RV) enlargement. Major procedural complication rates from PFO/ASD closure are low. However, there is a theoretical risk of thrombus formation early after implantation, prior to endothelialization of the device, that may be prevented by dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT).

Noninvasive assessment of left ventricular performance using pressure-volume loops, blood propulsion and strain tensors: results from the World Alliance of Societies of Echocardiography study.

Aims: Left ventricular (LV) pressure-volume (PV) loops, LV strain tensors, and intraventricular pressure gradients (IVPG) provide physiological information on cardiovascular performance and the interaction between LV and arterial system. Given that acquisition of PV loops and IVPG require invasive measurements, there is interest in the development of new noninvasive tools. This work aims to (i) demonstrate the application of noninvasive methods based on three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) for describing PV loops and haemodynamic performance in terms of IVPG, in conjunction to LV strain tensors and (ii) to determine sex-, age-, and race-related normative values.

Recurrent ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a case report of a rare complication of caseous mitral annular calcification.

Background: Caseous mitral annular calcification (MAC) is an under-diagnosed division of calcific mitral valve disease that has recently been reported to have increased propensity for embolic disease. Early recognition of this entity as a cause of embolic disease can lead to prevention of occlusive vascular disease and long-standing complications.

Case Summary: We present the case of a patient with end-stage renal disease who presented for evaluation of chest pain and was found to have ST-segment myocardial infarction.

A composite metric for predicting benefit from spironolactone in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: The TOPCAT trial showed no benefit for spironolactone in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Post-hoc, spironolactone helped participants from the Americas, but not Eastern Europe. Determining which patients with HFpEF could respond like TOPCAT's responders should help guide their care.

Two-year follow-up of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds in severe infra-popliteal arterial disease.

Objectives: To assess the safety, efficacy, and durability of the Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold in predominantly complex, infra-popliteal lesions for the management of chronic limb ischemia at two-year clinical follow-up. Bioresorbable vascular scaffold are biodegradable scaffolds that provide short-term vascular support before undergoing intravascular degradation. A recent trial reported excellent 36-month vessel patency rates in simple infrapopliteal arterial lesions treated with Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold.

Targeting Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase (ROCK) in cardiovascular fibrosis and stiffening.

: Pathological cardiac fibrosis, through excessive extracellular matrix protein deposition from fibroblasts and pro-fibrotic immune responses and vascular stiffening is associated with most forms of cardiovascular disease. Pathological cardiac fibrosis and stiffening can lead to heart failure and arrythmias and vascular stiffening may lead to hypertension. ROCK, a serine/threonine kinase downstream of the Rho-family of GTPases, may regulate many pro-fibrotic and pro-stiffening signaling pathways in numerous cell types.

Single arm retrospective study of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds to treat patients with severe infrapopliteal arterial disease.

Objectives: To assess the safety and efficacy of the Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) in complex, infrapopliteal lesions for the management of chronic limb ischemia.

Background: The interventional management of infrapopliteal PAD remains challenging due to high restenosis rates with metallic drug-eluting stents and balloon angioplasty. Metallic stents are associated with impaired vessel vasomotor tone, remodeling, autoregulation, and long-term inflammation.

Monocyte and macrophage subtypes as paired cell biomarkers for coronary artery disease.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? Are circulating monocyte markers correlated with their derived macrophage polarization patterns and coronary artery disease severity? What is the main finding and its importance? There was an inverse relationship between circulating CD16 monocytes (high) and M2 macrophages (low) that marked coronary disease severity, and the differences in polarization of macrophages were seen despite a week of cell culture ex vivo. This study highlights the importance, and potential prognostic implications, of circulating monocyte and descendant macrophage phenotypes in coronary artery disease.

Abstract: Monocytes and macrophages are central to atherosclerosis, but how they combine to mark progression of human coronary artery disease (CAD) is unclear.

Peak left atrial strain as a single measure for the non-invasive assessment of left ventricular filling pressures.

Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular (LV) filling pressures is performed using a multi-parametric algorithm. Left atrial (LA) strain was recently found to accurately classify the degree of diastolic dysfunction. We hypothesized that LA strain could be used as a stand-alone marker and sought to identify and test a cutoff, which would accurately detect elevated LV pressures.

Myocardial perfusion reserve and global longitudinal strain as potential markers of coronary allograft vasculopathy in late-stage orthotopic heart transplantation.

Coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major cause of mortality in late-stage orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) patients. Recent evidence has shown that myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) derived from vasodilator cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (vCMR) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) from transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) are useful to detect CAV. However, previous studies have not comprehensively addressed whether these parameters are confounded by allograft rejection, myocardial scar/fibrosis, or allograft dysfunction.

3D echocardiographic analysis of aortic annulus for transcatheter aortic valve replacement using novel aortic valve quantification software: Comparison with computed tomography.

Background: With the increasing use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS), computed tomography (CT) remains the standard for annulus sizing. However, 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been an alternative in patients with contraindications to CT. We sought to (1) test the feasibility, accuracy, and reproducibility of prototype 3DTEE analysis software (Philips) for aortic annular measurements and (2) compare the new approach to the existing echocardiographic techniques.

Catheter-Directed Fibrinolysis of Submassive Pulmonary Embolism After IVC Filter Migration to Renal Veins.

A 76-year-old male presented with a submassive pulmonary embolism despite having an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. Imaging demonstrated pulmonary artery emboli and a deep vein thrombosis in the left common femoral vein. Venography revealed the IVC filter with struts extending into the left and right renal veins.

Transcatheter Therapy for a Large Mobile Right Atrial Thrombus and Massive Pulmonary Embolism.

A variety of interventional management approaches exist for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). However, when PE is accompanied by residual right heart thrombus, the best therapeutic options are less clear. We describe a novel combined technique of percutaneous aspiration of unstable right atrial thrombus followed by ultrasound-directed thrombolysis of massive PE.

Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score at Presentation Predicts Survival in Patients Treated With Percutaneous Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Background And Purpose: This study sought to investigate demographic, clinical, and procedural determinants of outcomes in patients treated with percutaneous veno-arterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) initiated in the cardiac catheterization laboratory with a portable system.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients treated with percutaneous VA-ECMO during the study period at our institution. A logistic regression model was applied to investigate the association between sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score and survivor status.

Factors Associated with the Use of Drug-Eluting Stents in Patients Presenting with Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background. Drug-eluting stents (DES) have proven clinical superiority to bare-metal stents (BMS) for the treatment of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Decision to implant BMS or DES is dependent on the patient's ability to take dual antiplatelet therapy.

Intraoperative coronary artery dissection in fibromuscular dysplasia.

A 61-year-old woman with bicuspid aortic stenosis, an ascending aortic aneurysm, and a remote history of renal fibromuscular dysplasia underwent aortic root replacement complicated by extensive dissection of the left circumflex artery extending retrograde into the left anterior descending artery. This was managed by coronary artery bypass grafting, left ventricular support, and percutaneous coronary intervention for propagation of the dissection. This case highlights the prevalence, diagnosis, and management of intraoperative coronary dissection secondary to fibromuscular dysplasia.

Abciximab-induced alveolar hemorrhage treated with rescue extracorporeal membranous oxygenation.

We describe a case of a 75-year-old woman presenting emergently with an anterior S-T elevation myocardial infarction that deteriorated into ventricular fibrillation requiring prompt resuscitation, resulting in cardiogenic shock. Emergency primary percutaneous coronary intervention of the left anterior descending coronary artery with adjunctive abciximab and heparin resulted in adequate coronary flow, and intra-aortic balloon pump was used to support hemodynamics. Within one hour of intervention, she developed acute respiratory distress with four-quadrant opacification of lung fields, difficulty with oxygenation, and hypotension.

Assessment of coronary blood flow in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Coronary blood flow is tightly autoregulated but is subject to epicardial and microvascular obstruction, primarily owing to coronary atherosclerosis. Because coronary flow limitation underlies ischemic heart disease, an understanding of coronary physiology is paramount. Measurement of coronary blood flow, once relegated to the research laboratory is now easily performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Transradial cardiac catheterization in liver transplant candidates.

Transradial (TR) cardiac catheterization is effective and offers lower rates of vascular complications and bleeding compared with transfemoral cardiac catheterization. We sought to describe the safety and feasibility of TR cardiac catheterization in liver transplant candidates (LTCs). We retrospectively reviewed 1,071 consecutive cases of TR cardiac catheterization in 1,045 patients from May 2008 to December 2011 at a single institution.

Heart failure in North America.

Heart failure is a major health problem that affects patients and healthcare systems worldwide. Within the continent of North America, differences in economic development, genetic susceptibility, cultural practices, and trends in risk factors and treatment all contribute to both inter-continental and within-continent differences in heart failure. The United States and Canada represent industrialized countries with similar culture, geography, and advanced economies and infrastructure.

Changes in renal function during hospitalization and soon after discharge in patients admitted for worsening heart failure in the placebo group of the EVEREST trial.

Aim: To provide an in-depth clinical characterization and analysis of outcomes of the patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) who subsequently develop worsening renal function (WRF) during hospitalization or soon after discharge.

Methods And Results: Of the 4133 patients hospitalized with worsening HF and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (≤40%) in the EVEREST trial, 2072 were randomized to tolvaptan, a selective vasopressin-2 receptor antagonist, and 2061 were randomized to placebo, both in addition to standard therapy. This analysis included the 2021 (98%) patients in the placebo group with a complete set of renal function parameters.