Revascularization of left main coronary artery
Review Article | By Baydoun H, Jabbar A, Nakhle A et al.
Highlights - CABG is still the preferred way to treat patients with unprotected left main disease (UPLMD). - PCI is a reasonable approach mainly in patients with high surgical risk and non-complex anatomy (Syntax score <33). - IVUS-guided PCI is associated with lower risks of all-cause death, cardiac death, TVR and in-stent thrombosis. - FFR is feasible but less valida...
Left main coronary angioplasty: early and late results of 127 acute and elective procedures
Clinical Trial | By O'Keefe JH Jr, Hartzler GO, Rutherford BD
The results of 127 left main (LM) coronary angioplasties were reviewed to assess short- and long-term effectiveness. Three major subgroups were considered: (1) elective "protected" (defined as the presence of a patent bypass graft to the left coronary circulation) patients (n = 84); (2) elective "unprotected" patients (n = 33); and (3) acute patients, in whom LM coronary angioplasty was performed in the setting of an acute myocardial infarc...
Unprotected Left Main Disease: Indications and Optimal Strategies for Percutaneous Intervention
Review Article | By Li J, Patel SM, Parikh SA et al.
Although the incidence of leftmain (LM) coronary artery disease is relatively low in patients undergoing routine angiography, it is a common presentation in patients with acute coronary syndromes. With the current interventional tools and techniques, percutaneous intervention for LM disease has become a viable alternative to the traditional coronary artery bypass grafting. Factors that contribute to the success and appropriateness of p...
Clinician’s Guide to Reducing Inflammation to Reduce Atherothrombotic Risk
Life-threatening cardiovascular events occur despite control of conventional risk factors. Inflammation, as measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentration, is associated with future vascular events in both primary and secondary prevention, independent of usual risk markers. Statins are powerful lipid-lowering agents with clinically relevant anti-inflammatory effects. Recent data support targeting the inte...
Disrupting Fellow Education Through Group Texting: WhatsApp in Fellow Education?
Perspective | By A Kochar, J Rymer, Duke Cardiovascular Education Group et al.
Covering our tracks – optical coherence tomography to assess vascular healing
Editorial | By ZA Ali, KK Galougahi, AV Finn.
Over the better part of two decades, lessons learned from stent failure have led to technical advances that have resulted in current-generation metallic drug-eluting stents (DES) with very low rates of target lesion failure (TLF) and stent thrombosis1. Continued efforts have been directed at achieving iterative improvements in the design of DES to enhance adaptive vascular healing following vascular injury. By promoting ear...
Original Research | By Tamaru H, Fujii K, Nakata T et al.
This study evaluated the impact of optical coherence tomography (OCT)-derived low-backscattered tissue on mid-term coronary endothelial function after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. Although OCT enables detailed in vivo evaluation of neointimal tissue characterization after DES implantation, its association with physiological vascula rhealing response is unclear. Thirty-three stable angina pectoris patients underw...
Histopathological validation of optical coherence tomography findings of the coronary arteries
Review Article | By Fujii K, Kawakami R, Hirota S.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT), a catheter-based imaging modality for the visualization of coronary arteries, is widely used during percutaneous coronary intervention to improve the understanding of the anatomy of coronary artery stenosis and to elucidate the mechanisms of atherosclerosis. In this review, we provide a short description of the histopathological validations of OCT for visualizing atherosclerotic plaques and vasc...
Drug-Drug Interactions of Common Cardiac Medications and Chemotherapeutic Agents
Expert Opinion | By S Zukkoor, V Thohan.
As the field of cardio-oncology evolves, the focus of treatment has shifted from reactive to proactive care. Prevention of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction through optimization of cardiac risk factors and periodic surveillance, as well as minimal interruption of cancer treatment, is the emphasis of modern treatment paradigms.1 Cardio-protection frequently involves the initiation of cardiac medications, including certain beta-bloc...
Expert Opinion | By Lancellotti P, Suter TM, López-Fernández T et al.