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Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) negatively impacts prognosis of patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement and revascularization is generally recommended at the time of surgery. Implications of CAD and preprocedural revascularization in the setting of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are not known., Method: Patients who underwent successful TAVI from January 2005 to December 2007 were retrospectively divided into five groups according to the extent of CAD assessed with the Duke Myocardial Jeopardy Score: no CAD, CAD with DMJS 0, 2, 4, and > or =6. Study endpoints included 30-day and 1-year survival, evolution of symptoms, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and mitral regurgitation (MR) and need of revascularization during follow-up., Results: One hundred and thirty-six patients were included, among which 104 (76.5%) had coexisting CAD. Thirty-day mortality in the five study groups was respectively 6.3, 14.6, 7.1, 5.6, and 17.7% with no statistically significant difference between groups (P = 0.56). Overall survival rate at one year was 77.9% (95% CL: 70.9, 84.9) with no difference between groups (P = 0.63). Symptoms, LVEF, and MR all significantly improved in the first month after TAVI, but the extent of improvement did not differ between groups (P > 0.08). Revascularization after TAVI was uncommon., Conclusion: The presence of CAD or nonrevascularized myocardium was not associated with an increased risk of adverse events in this initial cohort. On the basis of these early results, complete revascularization may not constitute a prerequisite of TAVI. This conclusion will require re-assessment as experience accrues in patients with extensive CAD., ((c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Background: Vessel perforation is a complication that cannot be completely avoided in the setting of endovascular procedures. When a large noncompressible artery is disrupted, uncontrolled bleeding may lead to hemodynamic collapse. Endovascular occlusion may provide rapid control of hemorrhage and facilitate definitive therapy; yet, occlusion balloons are not commonly utilized in the cardiac catheterization laboratory., Methods: We describe our experience with the use of dedicated occlusion balloons for the management of catheter-induced major bleeding events. Endovascular occlusion was utilized to control severe bleeding in five patients with perforation of the aorta, iliac, femoral, or pulmonary artery., Results: Acute control of hemorrhage was achieved in all patients with hemodynamic stabilization in four of five cases. Endovascular balloon occlusion facilitated definitive therapy with surgical repair in two patients, covered stent deployment in one patient and transcatheter vessel occlusion in one patient. Care was withdrawn in one elderly patient with multiple comorbidities. All four patients who survived the procedure were discharged alive from the hospital., Conclusions: In most cases of severe catheter-induced bleeding, endovascular balloon occlusion provide a safe, rapid, and effective means of temporary bleeding control., ((c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)