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• Cost-effective Al electrolytes based on alkylamine–AlCl 3 were studied. • n -PrNH 3 Cl, n -BuNH 3 Cl, and n -Bu 2 NH 2 Cl–AlCl 3 form single liquid phases at 30 °C. • These electrolytes exhibit high ionic conductivity (∼10 mS cm⁻¹) at room temperature. • Al electrodeposition in these electrolytes shows over 90 % efficiency at 5–12 mA cm-2. • Longer alkyl chains in cations increase resistance to cathodic decomposition. The electrodeposition of Al is essential for applications such as electroplating, electrorefining, and rechargeable Al batteries. However, the standard electrolyte currently used for Al electrodeposition, viz., 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride–AlCl 3 ionic liquid, is prohibitively expensive for widespread industrial application. This study explored alternative ionic liquid electrolytes composed of AlCl 3 and primary or secondary alkylamine hydrochlorides (RNH 3 Cl and R 2 NH 2 Cl) with varying alkyl chain lengths (R = methyl (Me), ethyl (Et), n -propyl (n -Pr), n -butyl (n -Bu)) for Al electrodeposition. The phase states of a series of mixtures of alkylamine hydrochlorides and AlCl 3 at different molar ratios were examined to identify the conditions required for forming a single liquid phase. Notably, a single liquid phase was obtained at room temperature (30°C) for n -PrNH 3 Cl–AlCl 3 , n -BuNH 3 Cl–AlCl 3 , and n -Bu 2 NH 2 Cl–AlCl 3 ionic liquids. These ionic liquids exhibit conductivities of approximately 10 mS cm⁻¹ at 30 °C. Galvanostatic electrodeposition studies using these electrolytes confirmed that Al electrodeposition occurs with current efficiencies exceeding 90 % at current densities of 5–12 mA cm−2. This study demonstrates that alkylamine hydrochloride–AlCl 3 ionic liquids with an appropriate alkyl chain length of the amine can serve as promising low-cost electrolytes for Al electrodeposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular complications associated with vascular closure device use is uncommon; however, it sometimes occurs in transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TF-TAVI). We present a case of ProGlide (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA)-related right femoral occlusion following TF-TAVI. An 83-year-old woman, who underwent TF-TAVI using double ProGlide pre-closure technique, presented with right claudication three days after TAVI. Computed tomography showed femoral occlusion of the puncture site. Recanalization without pressure gradient between the proximal and distal sites of the lesion was achieved by balloon angioplasty (BA) with a 4.0 mm balloon; however, early re-occlusion of the lesion occurred the next day after BA. Repeated BA was performed for the re-occlusion site 30 days after TAVI because of persistent claudication. Serial angioscopic images of the lesion revealed that the intima, which was injured at the first BA, had healed at the second BA, indicating that BA with larger balloons could be safely performed. We performed BA with a 6.0-mm balloon without stent implantation. The patency of the lesion was maintained during the 6-month follow-up period. The serial angioscopic findings, which revealed the healing process of the intima injury, were useful in determining a suitable endovascular therapy strategy for ProGlide-related occlusion. < Learning objective: ProGlide-related femoral occlusion can occur in arteries without stenosis, calcification, and vessel branching, suggesting that ProGlide should be carefully used with echo-guidance to avoid the occlusion of a puncture site. If endovascular therapy is performed for the lesion to avoid surgical repair, sufficient expansion is required to maintain patency. Angioscopy may be useful for determining a suitable endovascular therapy strategy for the lesion by evaluating the properties of the intima.> [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated Viabahn stent-graft (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) implanted in the superficial femoral artery at 6 months and one year after implantation because the patient felt claudication due to repeated restenosis of bare nitinol stent which was implanted just proximal to the site of Viabahn stent-graft. At 6 months, angioscopy showed severe thrombosis in the stent-graft while the stent-graft was entirely patent. However, at one year, angioscopic evaluation revealed no thrombosis in the stent-graft. She received the same dual antiplatelet therapy. < Learning objective: We report a case with Viabahn stent-graft in whom an angioscopy revealed severe thrombosis at 6 months but no thrombosis at one year during the same dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). It might be necessary to continue DAPT after Viabahn stent-graft implantation at least over one year to prevent thrombosis.> [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bleeding complications occurred in 31 patients (11%) with uninterrupted oral anticoagulants (OAC). • Cryo-ablation was a predictor of bleeding complications (odds ratio 2,77, p < 0.01). • The figure-of-eight suture with a 4-h bed rest after cryo-ablation with uninterrupted OAC was not acceptable. There are limited data on the efficacy and safety of a figure-of-eight (FoE) suture technique after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation with uninterrupted oral anticoagulants (OACs). This study evaluated the predictors of bleeding complications at the femoral puncture site after placing a FoE suture to achieve hemostasis after AF ablation with OACs. We enrolled 287 consecutive patients who underwent a 1st session of AF ablation using radiofrequency or cryoballoon ablation. Hemostasis of the femoral puncture site was achieved using the FoE suture technique followed by a 4-h bed rest. We compared the various factors that might be correlated with bleeding complications between the patients with bleeding and those with non-bleeding complications. The bleeding complications were observed in 31 patients (11%). In the univariate analysis, cryoballoon ablation (52% vs. 29%, p = 0.009), HAS-BLED score (2.1 ± 1.0 vs. 1.7 ± 1.1, p = 0.030), and the CHA2DS2-VASc score (3.2 ± 1.5 vs. 2.6 ± 1.6, p = 0.049) were significantly associated with bleeding complications at the femoral puncture site. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis after an adjustment for antiplatelet therapy, cryoballoon ablation was an independent predictor of an increased incidence of the bleeding complications at the femoral puncture site (odds ratio 2.77, 95% CI 1.29–6.02, p = 0.009). Cryoballoon AF ablation was correlated with bleeding complications after a FoE suture technique with uninterrupted OACs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 79-year-old woman with a history of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation was referred to our hospital for ventricular fibrillation, which was terminated by an automated external defibrillator. The heart rate corrected QT interval was 489 ms. The electrocardiogram monitoring recorded a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) reproducibly induced by a single morphology premature ventricular contraction (PVC). Therefore, we performed a trigger PVC ablation and implanted an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. No VT events were observed for at least one year after the ablation. A prolonged QT interval after the AF ablation should be carefully noted because it could introduce fatal complications. < Learning objective: A rare late fatal complication of ventricular tachycardia (VT) after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation can occur even more than one month after the AF ablation. The AF ablation might have an adverse effect on the masked prolonged QT interval. A trigger ablation of the polymorphic VT was helpful to control lethal VTs.> [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]