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Background Postsurgical thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysms (PTAPs) are a potentially lethal complication after cardiac or aortic surgery. Surgical management can pose a challenge with high in-hospital mortality rates. Transcatheter closure is a less-invasive alternative treatment option for selected patients, although current experience is limited. Aims We aimed to evaluate procedural and imaging outcomes of our first 11 cases of transcatheter PTAP closure with the use of closure devices. Methods Patients with a high operative risk who underwent transcatheter PTAP closure at our centre from 2019 to 2021 were retrospectively included. Suitability was evaluated on preprocedural computed tomography (CT) scans and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions. All procedures were performed in the catheterisation laboratory. Intraprocedural aortography and postprocedural CT scans with 3D reconstructions were used to evaluate PTAP occlusion. Results Eleven consecutive patients with a high operative risk and a history of cardiac/aortic surgery who underwent transcatheter PTAP closure were included. PTAPs were predominantly located at the proximal or distal anastomosis of a supracoronary ascending aortic vascular graft or Bentall prosthesis (82%). Implanted closure devices included Amplatzer Valvular Plug III (82%), Amplatzer septal occluder (9%) and Occlutech atrial septal defect occluder (9%). No periprocedural complications occurred. After device deployment, residual flow was absent on aortography in 64% and minimal residual flow was present in 36% of patients. Subtotal or total occlusion of the PTAP on follow-up CT ranged between 45% and 73%. Conclusions Although subtotal or total occlusion of the PTAP was found at follow-up in only 45–73% of cases, transcatheter PTAP closure guided by preprocedural 3D reconstructions can offer a valuable minimally invasive primary treatment option for patients who otherwise would face a high-risk reoperation.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is not uncommon in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We examined the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of AKI from the BRAVO 3 randomized trial. The BRAVO-3 trial included 802 patients undergoing transfemoral TAVR randomized to bivalirudin vs. unfractionated heparin (UFH). The primary endpoint of the trial was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type ≥ 3b bleeding at 48 h. Total follow-up was to 30 days. AKI was adjudicated using the modified RIFLE (Valve Academic Research Consortium, VARC 1) criteria through 30-day follow-up, and in a sensitivity analysis AKI was assessed at 7 days (modified VARC-2 criteria). We examined the incidence, predictors, and 30-day outcomes associated with diagnosis of AKI. We also examined the effect of procedural anticoagulant (bivalirudin or unfractionated heparin, UFH) on AKI within 48 h after TAVR. The trial population had a mean age of 82.3 ± 6.5 years including 48.8% women with mean EuroScore I 17.05 ± 10.3%. AKI occurred in 17.0% during 30-day follow-up and was associated with greater adjusted risk of 30-day death (13.0% vs. 3.5%, OR 5.84, 95% CI 2.62–12.99) and a trend for more BARC ≥ 3b bleeding (15.1% vs. 8.6%, OR 1.80, 95% CI 0.99–3.25). Predictors of 30-day AKI were baseline hemoglobin, body weight, and pre-existing coronary disease. AKI occurred in 10.7% at 7 days and was associated with significantly greater risk of 30-day death (OR 6.99, 95% CI 2.85–17.15). Independent predictors of AKI within 7 days included pre-existing coronary or cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and transfusion which increased risk, whereas post-dilation was protective. The incidence of 48-h AKI was higher with bivalirudin compared to UFH in the intention to treat cohort (10.9% vs. 6.5%, p = 0.03), but not in the per-protocol assessment (10.7% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.08). In the BRAVO 3 trial, AKI occurred in 17% at 30 days and in 10.7% at 7 days. AKI was associated with a significantly greater adjusted risk for 30-day death. Multivariate predictors of AKI at 30 days included baseline hemoglobin, body weight, and prior coronary artery disease, and predictors at 7 days included pre-existing vascular disease, CKD, transfusion, and valve post-dilation. Bivalirudin was associated with greater AKI within 48 h in the intention to treat but not in the per-protocol analysis.

Invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) adoption remains low mainly due to procedural and operator related factors as well as costs. Alternatively, quantitative flow ratio (QFR) achieves a high accuracy mainly outside the intermediate zone without the need for hyperaemia and wire-use. We aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of QFR and to evaluate a QFR–FFR hybrid strategy in which FFR is measured only in the intermediate zone. This retrospective study included 289 consecutive patients who underwent invasive coronary angiography and FFR. QFR was calculated for all vessels in which FFR was measured. The QFR–FFR hybrid approach was modelled using the intermediate zone of 0.77–0.87 in which FFR-measurements are recommended. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy on a per vessel-based analysis were 84.6%, 86.3% and 85.6% for QFR and 88.0%, 92.9% and 90.3% for the QFR–FFR hybrid approach. The diagnostic accuracy of QFR–FFR hybrid strategy with invasive FFR measurement was 93.4% and resulted in a 56.7% reduction in the need for FFR. QFR has a good correlation and agreement with invasive FFR. A hybrid QFR–FFR approach could extend the use of QFR and reduces the proportion of invasive FFR-measurements needed while improving accuracy.

Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) is successful in most but not in all patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We therefore sought to investigate the relation between infarct location versus infarct size with outcome after ASA in patients with obstructive HCM. Baseline characteristics, procedural characteristics, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance findings at baseline and 4-6 month follow-up after ASA were analysed in 47 patients with obstructive HCM in a single-center retrospective study. Infarct size was determined using late gadolinium enhancement. Infarct location was divided into "basal infarction" and "distal infarction" based on an optimal cut-of value of the distance from the basal septum to the beginning of the infarction. A "successful" outcome was defined as 80 % reduction of the invasive gradient with a post-procedural gradient of

Dual antiplatelet therapy, consisting of aspirin and a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor, has dramatically reduced the incidence of atherothrombotic events for patients with acute coronary syndrome and those undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the platelet inhibitory effect of clopidogrel, the most commonly used P2Y12 inhibitor, is variable between patients. Patients exhibiting high platelet reactivity (HPR) despite clopidogrel treatment are at higher risk of recurrent atherothrombotic events after PCI. In order to reduce the incidence of HPR, the more potent P2Y12 receptor inhibitors prasugrel and ticagrelor are used. However, these drugs increase the risk of bleeding. As there is evidence of a therapeutic window for platelet inhibition, platelet function tests could be helpful for tailoring antiplatelet therapy based on the patient's thrombotic and bleeding risk. In the present article, we review the most commonly used platelet function tests and the current evidence for tailoring of antiplatelet therapy in PCI patients.

The investigators of PRECISE-DAPT devised a five-item score to predict out-of-hospital bleeding risk in patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after coronary stenting. In patients at high risk of bleeding treated with prolonged DAPT, significantly more bleeding events were observed, with no reduction in ischaemic events.

The introduction of the drug-eluting stent has raised concerns regarding the occurrence of stent thrombosis (ST), particularly late (and very late) thrombosis. This renewed attention shows that ST remains a major concern after implantation of both bare metal and drug-eluting stents. Cardiologists should be aware of this dreadful complication, because it is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Numerous clinical, procedural, and angiographic risk factors have been identified. Moreover, the influence of novel determinants, such as high on-treatment reactivity, genetic predisposition, and the stent's direct effects on the (healing of the) vessel wall, now are recognized. Consequently, the pathophysiology of ST has evolved into a complex multifactorial model. This broader understanding of the pathophysiology of ST enables cardiologists to perform extensive risk stratification to identify patients at higher risk and provides clues to important treatment options. The core of primary prevention after stent implantation, as well as secondary prevention after ST, should consist of a) the prevention of modifiable risk factors and b) optimal individualized treatment for each patient. Future developments, such as genetic bedside testing, point-of-care platelet testing, and sophisticated imaging modalities, might aid in this approach.

We investigated how does troponin level (TnT) affect the benefit achieved by abciximab in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after pretreatment with a high loading dose of clopidogrel. The Intracoronary Stenting and Antithrombotic Regimen: Rapid Early Action for Coronary Treatment (ISAR-REACT 2) trial included 2,022 patients with non-ST elevation ACS undergoing PCI who were randomized to abciximab or placebo after pretreatment with 600 mg of clopidogrel. The patients were divided into groups with elevated TnT level (n = 1,049) and no elevated TnT level (n = 973). The primary end point of the trial was the composite of death, myocardial infarction and urgent reintervention at 30 days. In patients with elevated TnT level the incidence of the primary end point was 13.1% in the abciximab group Vs. 18.3% in the placebo group [relative risk (RR): 0.70; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.52–0.95, P = 0.02]. The combined incidence of death or myocardial infarction was 12.9% in the abciximab group vs. 17.9% in the placebo group (RR: 0.71; 95% CI, 0.52–0.96, P = 0.03). In contrast, the incidence of the primary end point in patients with no elevated TnT level was identical in both treatment groups (4.6%). The risk of bleeding was not related to TnT level. Baseline troponin level affects the benefit of abciximab in patients with ACS undergoing PCI after pretreatment with a high loading dose of clopidogrel. Abciximab reduces the risk of ischemic events only in patients with ACS and elevated troponin level.

Commenting on the results of their meta-analysis, Holmes et al. suggest that CYP2C19 genotype does not affect clinical outcome in patients receiving clopidogrel therapy. However, we do not believe that the data support this conclusion; an association between genotype and outcome remains plausible and could be considered when choosing treatment.

Nat. Med. 17, 110–116 (2011); published online 19 December 2010; corrected online 21 December 2010; corrected after print 7 September 2011 In the first paragraph on page 112, the authors made a typographical error: “constitutes part the active histidine dyad” should have been “is proximate to the active histidine dyad.

Thrombosis plays a major role in acute vessel closure both after coronary balloon angioplasty and after stenting. This review will address the role of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy in preventing early thrombotic complications after percutaneous coronary intervention. The focus will be on agents that are routinely available and commonly used.