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Transfemoral access is nowadays required for an increasing number of percutaneous procedures, such as structural heart interventions, mechanical circulatory support, and interventional electrophysiology/pacing. Despite technological advancements and improved techniques, these devices necessitate large-bore (≥12 French) arterial/venous sheaths, posing a significant risk of bleeding and vascular complications, whose occurrence has been related to an increase in morbidity and mortality. Therefore, optimizing large-bore vascular access management is crucial in endovascular interventions. Technical options, including optimized preprocedural planning and proper selection and utilization of vascular closure devices, have been developed to increase safety. This review explores the comprehensive management of large-bore accesses, from optimal vascular puncture to sheath removal. It also discusses strategies for managing closure device failure, with the goal of minimizing vascular complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The FORZA trial (FFR or OCT Guidance to Revascularize Intermediate Coronary Stenosis Using Angioplasty) prospectively compared the use of fractional flow reserve (FFR) or optical coherence tomography (OCT) for treatment decisions and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) optimization in patients with angiographically intermediate coronary lesions. Murray law-based quantitative-flow-ratio (μQFR) is a novel noninvasive method for the computation of FFR. In the present study, we evaluated the clinical impact of μQFR, FFR, or OCT guidance in FORZA trial lesions at 3-year follow-up. METHODS: μQFR was assessed at baseline and, in the case of a decision to intervene, after (FFR- or OCT-guided) PCI. The baseline μQFR was considered the final μQFR for deferred lesions, and post-PCI μQFR value was taken as final for stented lesions. The primary end point was target vessel failure ([TVF]; cardiac death, target-vessel-related myocardial infarction, and target-vessel-revascularization) at a 3-year follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 419 vessels (199 OCT-guided and 220 FFR-guided) were included in the FORZA trial. μQFR was evaluated in 256 deferred lesions and 159 treated lesions (98 OCT-guided PCI and 61 FFR-guided PCI). In treated lesions, post-PCI μQFR was higher in OCT-group compared with FFR-group (median, 0.93 versus 0.91; P=0.023), and the post-PCI μQFR improvement was greater in FFR-group (0.14 versus 0.08; P<0.0001). At 3-year follow-up, OCT- and FFR-guided treatment decisions resulted in comparable TVF rate (6.7% versus 7.9%; P=0.617). Final μQFR was the only predictor of TVF. μQFR ≤0.89 was associated with 3 x increase in TVF (11.6% versus 3.7%; P=0.004). PCI was a predictor of higher final μQFR (odds ratio, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.14-0.34]; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In vessels with angiographically intermediate coronary lesions, OCT-guided PCI resulted in comparable clinical outcomes as FFR-guided PCI. μQFR estimated at the end of diagnostic or interventional procedure predicted 3-year TVF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has determined a paradigm shift in the treatment of patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, the durability of bioprostheses is still a matter of concern, and little is known about the management of degenerated TAV. We sought to evaluate the outcomes of patients with a degenerated TAV treated by means of a second TAVR. METHODS: The TRANSIT is an international registry that included cases of degenerated TAVR from 28 centers. Among around 40 000 patients treated with TAVR in the participating centers, 172 underwent a second TAVR: 57 (33%) for a mainly stenotic degenerated TAV, 97 (56%) for a mainly regurgitant TAV, and 18 (11%) for a combined degeneration. Overall, the rate of New York Heart Association class III/IV at presentation was 73.5%. RESULTS: Valve Academic Research Consortium 2 device success rate was 79%, as a consequence of residual gradient (14%) or regurgitation (7%). At 1 month, the overall mortality rate was 2.9%, while rates of new hospitalization and New York Heart Association class III/IV were 3.6% and 7%, respectively, without significant difference across the groups. At 1 year, the overall mortality rate was 10%, while rates of new hospitalization and New York Heart Association class III/IV were 7.6% and 5.8%, respectively, without significant difference across the groups. No cases of valve thrombosis were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Selected patients with a degenerated TAV may be safely and successfully treated by means of a second TAVR. This finding is of crucial importance for the adoption of the TAVR technology in a lower risk and younger population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background--The nonculprit lesion (NCL) management in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients with multivessel disease is debated. We sought to assess whether quantitative flow ratio (QFR), a noninvasive tool to identify potentially flow-limiting lesions, may be reliable in this scenario. Methods and Results--The present proof-of-concept study is based on a 3-step process: (1) identification of the QFR reproducibility in NCLs assessment (cohort A, n=31); (2) prospective validation of QFR diagnostic accuracy in respect to fractional flow reserve (cohort B, n=45); and (3) investigation of long-term clinical outcomes of NCLs stratified according to QFR (cohort C, n=110). A blinded core laboratory computed QFR values for all NCLs. Cohort A showed a good correlation and agreement between QFR values at index (acute) and at staged (subacute, 3-4 days later) procedures (r=0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-0.99; mean difference, 0.004 [-0.027 to 0.34]). The inter-rater agreement was κ=0.9. In cohort B, fractional flow reserve and QFR identified 16 (33%) and 17 (35%) NCLs potentially flow limiting. Sensitivity, specificity, negative, and positive predictive values were 88%, 97%, 94%, and 94%. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.96 (95% confidence interval, 0.89-0.99). Finally, in cohort C, we identified 110 ST-segment- elevation myocardial infarction patients where at least 1 NCL was left untreated. Patients with NCLs showing a QFR value =0.80 were at higher risk of adverse events (hazard ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.5; P=0.01). Conclusions--In a limited and selected study population, our study showed that QFR computation may be a safe and reliable tool to guide coronary revascularization of NCLs in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stepwise provisional stenting is the gold standard for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on bifurcation lesions, but the optimal ballooning technique for eventual side branch treatment is not established. The objective of the present study was to compare the stent configuration obtained by 2 different side branch optimization techniques performed after main vessel (MV) stent implantation: proximal optimization technique+kissing balloon inflation+final proximal optimization technique (POT/KBI/POT [PKP]) versus proximal optimization technique+isolated side branch dilation+final proximal optimization technique (POT-side-POT [PSP]). Methods: We realized a 1:1 prospective randomized trial comparing bifurcation PCI conducted (under angiographic and angioscopic visualization) with either PKP or PSP in reanimated swine hearts using commercially available drug-eluting stents. After PCI, the obtained stent configuration (expansion, eccentricity, apposition) was assessed by optical coherence tomography and micro-computed tomography dividing the stent in 4 segments. Primary study end point was minimum stent expansion at the distal MV segment. Results: A total of 30 PCIs were successfully performed according to randomization obtaining overall good results (average minimum stent expansion >90% at optical coherence tomography and micro-computed tomography) with PSP or PKP. Minimum stent expansion at the distal MV segment was significantly higher with PKP as compared with PSP at optical coherence tomography (97.9±4.2% versus 91.0±7.7%; P =0.002) and micro-computed tomography (98.1±4.1% versus 91.3±7.9%; P =0.006). Other significant findings included higher stent eccentricity index at proximal MV with PSP, higher side branch scaffolding length and lower malapposition (at bifurcation core and distal MV) with PKP. Conclusions: This first prospective randomized trial in a unique non-atherosclerotic preclinical environment showed that bifurcation PCI conducted with PSP and PKP achieves different stent configurations. These findings might be useful in bifurcation PCI practice and call for further evaluations in clinical ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background--Clinical consequences of optical coherence tomographic (OCT) high-definition visualization of plaque/stent structures in acute patients remain undefined. In this retrospective substudy, we assessed the prognostic impact of postprocedural culprit lesion OCT findings in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods and Results--In the CLI-OPCI (Centro per la Lotta Contro L'Infarto-Optimization of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) database collecting cases from 5 independent OCT-experienced centers, we retrospectively analyzed postprocedural OCT findings in acute coronary syndrome patients and explored its possible impact (specifically that of residual intrastent plaque/thrombus protrusion) on outcome. From 2009 to 2013, 507 patients (588 lesions) were evaluated. Patients experiencing device-oriented cardiovascular events showed more frequently the features of suboptimal stent implantation defined as the presence of significant residual intrastent plaque/thrombus protrusion (hazard ratio [HR], 2.35; P<0.01), in-stent minimum lumen area (MLA) <4.5 mm² (HR, 2.72; P<0.01), dissection >200 µm at distal stent edge (HR, 3.84; P<0.01), and reference lumen area <4.5 mm² at either distal (HR, 6.07; P<0.001) or proximal (HR, 8.50; P<0.001) stent edges. Postprocedural OCT assessment of treated culprit lesion revealed at least one of these parameters in 55.2% of cases, with an associated increased risk of device-oriented cardiovascular events during follow-up (17.9% versus 4.8%; P<0.001). Both the presence of at least one of these parameters (HR, 3.69; P=0.002) and the residual intrastent plaque/thrombus protrusion (HR, 2.83; P=0.008) were confirmed as independent predictors of device-oriented cardiovascular events. Conclusions--In this retrospective study of acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, a composite of OCT-defined suboptimal stent implantation characteristics at the culprit lesion and residual intrastent plaque/thrombus protrusion was associated with adverse outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background--Transradial approach (TRA), when compared with transfemoral, improves the safety of percutaneous coronary procedures. Arterial axis variants are known to hinder the performance of transradial approach percutaneous coronary procedures. Data on the occurrence of arterial axis variants in the right and left arm arterial axes of individual patients are lacking. Methods and Results--From a single-center prospective registry, we selected all patients in whom bilateral upper limb arterial anatomy was assessed based on the performance of left and right radial catheterization obtained during the same or during repeat coronary diagnostic or interventional procedure(s). The occurrence of upper right and left limb arterial axis variants was classified according to the previously described operative ABC classification. A total of 610 patients were identified. An ABC upper limb arterial axis variant was detected in 156 (25.6%) patients. Variants were right-sided only in 65 (11.0%), left-sided only in 40 (6.6%), and bilateral in 46 (7.5%) patients. Thus, arterial axis variants were significantly more common in the right side (P=0.02). Bilateral arterial variants were significantly associated with age, female sex, and valvulopathy. Both A (radial/brachial) and B (axillary/subclavian/innominate) variants exhibited concordance across the 2 sides (odds ratio, 7.2; 95% confidence interval, 4.1-12.7 and 8.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.1-30.9, respectively). Conclusions--The occurrence of an anatomic variant potentially hindering transradial approach coronary diagnostic or interventional procedures is bilateral in <8% of cases and is more common in the right arm. Such information may guide, during the clinical practice, the access selection in the case of repeat procedures or need for additional accesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mismatch between in-stent minimum lumen area (sMLA) and reference vessel lumen area, defined as stent underexpansion (SU), could be an important determinant of stent failure. We tested the clinical predictive value of absolute sMLA in comparison to relative SU in the context of the CLI-OPCI (Centro Per La Lotta Contro L'Infarto-Optimisation of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) project registry. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed end procedural optical coherence tomography findings in 1211 patients (1422 lesions) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, assessing the prevalence and magnitude of residual SU and exploring correlation with outcome in comparison with sMLA. Results: In our series, both sMLA and SU were related to vessel size and anatomic lesion complexity. When compared with patients without adverse event at follow-up, those experiencing device-oriented cardiovascular events (composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization, and stent thrombosis) showed a lower sMLA (5.6+/-2.1 versus 6.1+/-2.1 mm2; P =0.011) but a comparable degree of SU (11.6+/-14.1% versus 11.2+/-13.3%; P =0.734). The prespecified cutoff value of sMLA <4.5 mm2, documented in 23.8% of cases, was confirmed as independent outcome predictor for device-oriented cardiovascular events (hazard ratio [HR], 2.05 [95% CI, 1.5-2.9]) including target lesion revascularization (HR, 2.43 [95% CI, 1.7-3.5]) and stent thrombosis (HR, 3.23 [95% CI, 1.7-6.3]). A residual SU of 10%, 20%, and 30% was observed in 38.0%, 18.2%, and 7.6% of cases, respectively. No grade of residual SU significantly increased the risk of stent failure, unless if an SU >20% was associated with an sMLA <4.5 mm2 (HR, 3.11 [95% CI, 1.7-5.6]). Finally, an association between stent overexpansion (ie, >110%) and device-oriented cardiovascular events was also observed (HR, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.1-2.3]). Conclusions: Final absolute sMLA and not relative SU was associated with an increased risk of stent failure. A variable grade of SU was common, but it resulted in being clinically relevant only when associated with an sMLA <4.5 mm2. * Both residual stent underexpansion and small in-stent minimum lumen area are optical coherence tomography-measurable parameters used to describe stent expansion-a strong associate of stent failure risk. * Which of these 2 measurements is more reliable for outcome prediction remains to be defined. * Vessel size and lesion complexity were independent determinants of final stent expansion. * Final absolute in-stent minimum lumen area was more relevant than relative stent underexpansion in terms of stent failure risk. * Stent underexpansion was clinically relevant only when associated with an in-stent minimum lumen area <4.5 mm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which examined the influence of the amount of myocardium subtended by a stenosis on fractional flow reserve (FFR), especially in relation to quantitative coronary angiography. The study assessed the severity of each lesion and evaluated the amount of jeopardized myocardium using three validates scores. Results revealed concomitant collateralized chronic total occlusion and the correlation of FFR values to minimal lumen diameter, diameter stenosis and the scores.

The article presents a study on the frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) in assessing predictors of periprocedural myocardial infarction (MI). Fifty patients underwent FD-OCT before and after coronary stenting where only drug-eluting stents were implanted. It was concluded that type IVa MI can be predicted by the presence of thin-cap fibroatheroma at pre-PCI FD-OCT and of intrastent thrombus and intrastent dissection at post-PCI FD-OCT.

The article discusses the results of a study that evaluated the radiation dose absorbed by operators during the transradial percutaneous coronary procedures through the right radial approach (RRA) or left radial approach (LRA) done from February to December 2009 using dosimeters. No significant differences were found in monthly radiation dose at the thorax, shoulder and thyroid for LRA. Wrist demonstrated higher dose for RRA than LRA. The cumulative radiation dose is under the annual dose-equivalent limit for both RRA and LRA.

In humans, the most common anatomic variation of the left main (LM) stem is represented by its distal division in 3 branches (LM trifurcation) instead of 2. LM trifurcation disease accounts for ≈10% to 15% of all LM diseases and is often managed by cardiac surgery. Over the last decades, due to the improvement of interventional material and techniques, percutaneous coronary intervention started gaining acceptance to treat patients with LM disease including those with trifurcated anatomy. Yet, LM trifurcation stenosis with its intrinsic anatomic complexity (3 branches, at least 4 angles, wide variability in branch size and disease) is recognized as a challenging lesion subset for percutaneous coronary intervention. In this review, we summarize available data about LM trifurcation anatomy, its influence on percutaneous coronary intervention feasibility, and the evidence collected regarding the different technical options (including trissing balloon inflation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the impact of the right ventricle to pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling on the outcome of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve intervention (TAVI), and to describe changes in right ventricular function, pulmonary hypertension, and their ratio after TAVI., Methods: Three hundred and seventy-seven patients from the Italian ClinicalService Project, who underwent TAVI between February 2011 and August 2020, were included. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/pulmonary artery systolic pressure (TAPSE/PASP) ratio was retrospectively calculated as a surrogate of RV-PA coupling. The population was stratified according to TAPSE/PASP using a cut-off of 0.36 mm/mmHg derived from a receiving operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The primary end point was 6-month all-cause death., Results: Compared with patients with a TAPSE/PASP ratio ≥0.36 mm/mmHg (81%), those with TAPSE/PASP ratio <0.36 mm/mmHg (19%) had more comorbidities and were more symptomatic.Moreover, they were more likely to receive general anesthesia and an old generation device. Device success was similar between the two groups. A TAPSE/PASP ratio <0.36 mm/mmHg was associated with a higher risk of all-cause death at 6-months (17.3% versus 5.3%; adjusted HR 2.66; P = 0.041). The prognostic impact of the TAPSE/PASP ratio was stronger than the impact of TAPSE and PASP as separate parameters and was independent of the surgical risk score. Both TAPSE, PASP, and their ratio improved from baseline to 1 month and 6 months after TAVI., Conclusions: A TAPSE/PASP ratio <0.36 mm/mmHg is strongly associated with an increased risk of mortality after TAVI. Providing a left ventricle unloading, TAVI is associated with improvement of both TAPSE, PASP, and their ratio., (Copyright © 2022 Italian Federation of Cardiology - I.F.C. All rights reserved.)

Background: Patient-related and lesion-related factors may influence instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR)/fractional flow reserve (FFR) concordance, potentially affecting the safety of revascularization deferral., Methods: Consecutive patients with at least an intermediate coronary stenosis evaluated by both iFR and FFR were retrospectively enrolled. The agreement between iFR and FFR at their diagnostic cut-offs (FFR 0.80, iFR 0.89) was assessed. Predictors of discordance were assessed using multivariate analyses. Tailored iFR cut-offs according to predictors of discordance best matching an FFR of 0.80 were identified. The impact of reclassification according to tailored iFR cut-offs on major cardiovascular events (MACE: cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or target-lesion revascularization) among deferred lesions was investigated., Results: Two hundred and ninety-nine intermediate coronary stenosis [FFR 0.84 (0.78-0.89), iFR 0.91 (0.87-0.95), 202 left main/left anterior descending (LM/LAD) vessels, 67.6%] of 260 patients were studied. Discordance rate was 23.4% (n = 70, 10.7% iFR-negative discordant, 12.7% iFR-positive discordant). Predictors of discordance were LM/LAD disease, multivessel disease, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, smoking, reduced eGFR and hypertension. Lesion reclassification with tailored iFR cut-offs based on patient-level predictors carried no prognostic value among deferred lesions. Reclassification according to lesion location, which was entirely driven by LM/LAD lesions (iFR cut-offs: 0.93 for LM/LAD, 0.89 for non-LM/LAD), identified increased MACE among lesions deferred based on a negative FFR, between patients with a positive as compared with a negative iFR (19.4 vs. 6.1%, P = 0.044), whereas the same association was not observed with the conventional 0.89 iFR cut-off (15 vs. 8.6%, P = 0.303)., Conclusion: Tailored vessel-based iFR cut-offs carry prognostic value among FFR-negative lesions, suggesting that a one-size-fit-all iFR cut-off might be clinically unsatisfactory., (Copyright © 2021 Italian Federation of Cardiology - I.F.C. All rights reserved.)