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Background The risk of restenosis after intervention is higher in femoropopliteal than in aortoiliac lesions. However, the appropriate endovascular therapy (EVT) for preventing restenosis after intervention for femoropopliteal lesions remains unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between lesion characteristics and patency after EVT using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) measurement and to determine the predictors of restenosis on IVUS.Methods and Results:This prospective observational study was performed at 18 Japanese centers. We evaluated the lesion characteristics before and after EVT for femoropopliteal lesion using IVUS. Angiographic or duplex ultrasound follow-up was performed at 1 year after EVT. A total of 263 lesions underwent EVT between December 2016 and December 2017. In total, 20 lesions (8 cases of isolated common femoral artery lesion and 12 cases of restenosis lesion) were excluded, and 243 lesions were enrolled in this study. A total of 181 lesions were treated with stent placement, and 62 lesions were treated only with balloon angioplasty. In the case of stent use, a larger distal plaque burden was associated with restenosis, while a lower calcification angle was associated with higher patency in the case of balloon angioplasty alone. Conclusions The factors related to patency differed depending on the treating modality. The findings suggest that IVUS is a useful tool for predicting patency because it can provide a more accurate evaluation after EVT for femoropopliteal lesions.

Background: Clinical studies on heart failure (HF) using diagnosis procedure combination (DPC) databases have attracted attention recently, but data obtained from such databases may lack important information essential for determining the severity of HF. Methods and Results: Using a HF database that collates DPC data and electronic medical records from 3 hospitals in Japan, we investigated factors contributing to prolonged hospitalization and in-hospital death, based on clinical characteristics and data obtained early during hospitalization in 2,750 Japanese patients with HF hospitalized between 2011 and 2015. Mean age was 77.0±13.0 years; 55.3% (n=1,520) were men, and 39.1% (n=759) had left ventricular ejection fraction

Objectives To assess the efficacy of indigo carmine angiography for wound healing after successful below-the-knee intervention in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Methods A multi-center prospective intervention study was conducted. Fifty-four limbs of 53 patients in Rutherford categories 5 and 6 underwent endovascular therapy (EVT). After successful EVT, 5 mL of indigo carmine was injected through a catheter at the distal popliteal artery and color changes in the foot were evaluated. The results of indigo carmine angiography were divided into three groups: In type I, the color change of the wound was deeper than the surrounding tissue; in type II, the change in wound color was similar to the surrounding tissue; and in type III, no discoloration of the wound was observed by the indigo carmine. Results The wound healing rates at 3 months were 78% (25/32) for type I, 70% (7/10) for type II, and 42% (5/12) for type III (P for trend = 0.025). Indigo carmine angiography-related complications were not seen. Conclusion Indigo carmine angiography was found to be a safe and useful procedure to provide visual information on foot perfusion. This dye coloring method demonstrated that after successful angioplasty, the perfused area was made visible at the microcirculation level. Indigo carmine angiography can thus be considered an important predictor for wound healing by EVT in patients with CLI.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been increasingly performed in patients having heart failure with dyssynchrony. We report a successful case of total thoracoscopic left ventricular (LV) lead implantation in CRT. A 77-year-old man with marked dyssynchrony of the LV wall motion and a low ejection fraction (EF17%) due to pacemaker-mediated cardiomyopathy was referred to us. CRT was planned, but percutaneous LV lead implantation proved difficult owing to anatomical variations. The LV lead was placed in the post-lateral wall of the LV base using a total thoracoscopic procedure. Preoperative dyspnea and dyssynchrony were clearly improved. In CRT, the LV wall stimulation site is important. The LV lead should be implanted in the latest activation area, which can be detected using speckle tracking echocardiography. Surgical lead implantation can be performed in the ideal area, and this procedure may play a new role as a hybrid CRT.

The dynamic coronary roadmap (DCR) is a novel technology that creates a dynamic, motion-compensated, real-time overlay of the coronary arteries on a fluoroscopic image. Whether the DCR reduces contrast volume and enables safe and effective treatment was examined. A total of 146 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from June 2017 to September 2017 in our hospital were retrospectively evaluated. Chronic total occlusion lesions, acute coronary syndrome, and hemodialysis patients were excluded. Patients were divided into the control group (PCI without DCR, 92 patients, 103 lesions) and the DCR group (38 patients, 43 lesions). The primary endpoint was contrast medium volume, and secondary endpoints were radiation dose, fluoroscopy time, and clinical success rate. There was no significant difference in the success rate (100% vs. 100%, P = 1.000) between the groups. Fluoroscopy time (16.3 ± 11.2 min. vs. 11.4 ± 5.5 min, P = 0.007) and contrast medium volume (152.1 ± 73.0 ml vs. 118.8 ± 49.7 ml, P = 0.006) were significantly lower in the DCR group than in the control group. DCR use during PCI was associated with a significant reduction in contrast volume and fluoroscopy time compared to a control group despite similar clinical, lesion, and procedural characteristics.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) findings and restenosis after stent implantation for long occlusive femoropopliteal (FP) lesions using the intraluminal approach. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study of 45 patients (49 lesions) with de novo long occlusive FP lesions treated with bare metal stents implanted using the intraluminal approach under IVUS guidance from April 2007 to December 2014. All patients were followed up at least 12 months. The preprocedural and postprocedural IVUS findings were compared for patients with and without restenosis, which was defined as a peak systolic velocity ratio of > 2.4 on duplex ultrasonography or > 50% diameter stenosis on angiography. Results: Within 12 months, 13 patients (14 lesions) developed restenosis, whereas 32 patients (35 lesions) did not (restenosis rate = 29%). The male:female ratio and the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hemodialysis, and critical limb ischemia were similar between the two groups. No significant differences were observed in lesion length, chronic total occlusion (CTO) length, and the percentage of involving popliteal lesion between the two groups. A whole intraplaque route was gained in 15 lesions (31%). Multivariate analysis revealed that the within-CTO intramedial route proportion and the distal lumen cross-sectional area (CSA) were independent predictors of restenosis. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the best cutoff values of these parameters were 14.4% and 17.7 mm2, respectively. Conclusions: In patients with long occlusive FP lesions undergoing stent placement using the intraluminal approach, a whole intraplaque route was gained in 31%. Restenosis is more likely if IVUS shows a within-CTO intramedial route proportion of > 14.4% or distal lumen CSA of < 17.7 mm2.

No scoring system for evaluating the bleeding risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation with triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT) is available. We aimed to develop a new scoring system for predicting bleeding complications in AF patients after DES implantation with TAT.Between April 2007 and April 2014, 227 AF patients undergoing DES implantation with TAT were enrolled. Bleeding incidence defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria≥2 was investigated and predictors of bleeding complications were evaluated using multivariate analysis. Bleeding complications occurred in 58 patients (25.6%) during follow-up. Multivariate analysis revealed dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) continuation (OR 3.33, P=0.01), age75 (OR 2.14, P=0.037), international normalized ratio2.2 (OR 5.82, P0.001), gastrointestinal ulcer history (OR 3.06, P=0.037), and anemia (OR 2.15, P=0.042) as predictors of major bleeding complications. A score was created using the weighted points proportional to the beta regression coefficient of each variable. The DAIGA score showed better predictive ability for bleeding complications than the HAS-BLED score (AUC: 0.79 vs. 0.62, P=0.0003). Bleeding incidence was well stratified: 17.8% in low-risk (scores 0-1), 55.5% in moderate-risk (2-3), and 83.0% in high-risk (4-7) patients (P0.001).This scoring system is useful for predicting bleeding complications and risk stratification of AF patients after DES implantation with TAT.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of poststenting fractional flow reserve (FFR) in terms of predicting restenosis in superficial femoral artery (SFA) disease. Methods: This prospective, single-center, nonrandomized study enrolled 48 patients (mean age 76±9 years; 38 men) with 51 SFA lesions from July 2013 to June 2014. Mean FFR (distal mean pressure/proximal mean pressure) and systolic FFR (distal systolic pressure/proximal systolic pressure) were calculated, and the relationship between these FFR values and restenosis at 12 months was investigated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Poststenting FFR was significantly lower in the restenosis group (poststenting mean FFR 0.85±0.07 vs 0.93±0.05, p=0.001; poststenting systolic FFR 0.76±0.14 vs 0.87±0.08, p=0.015). The area under the ROC curve for restenosis in poststenting mean FFR was higher, but not statistically significant, than that in poststenting systolic FFR (0.84 vs 0.74, p=0.08). The best poststenting mean FFR cutoff value for predicting restenosis was 0.92 (sensitivity 0.64, specificity 0.91). The 4.5% restenosis rate at 12 months in the high (>0.92) poststenting mean FFR group was significantly lower (35.7%, p=0.008) than in the low (≤0.92) poststenting mean FFR group. Conclusion: Poststenting mean FFR is useful for predicting restenosis in SFA disease.

The efficacy of second-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) for the treatment of left main disease (LM) and/or three vessel disease (3VD) remains unclear. We compared 2-year outcomes of second- versus first -generation DES implantation among patients with LM and/or 3VD and to assess the differential of risk by complexity of coronary artery disease using synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with taxus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) scores. Between April 2007 and December 2012, 341 patients with LM and/or 3VD were treated by percutaneous coronary intervention; 154 with first-generation DES and 137 with second-generation DES. After propensity matching, 101 patients remained in each group. The rate of target lesion revascularization (TLR) and major adverse cardiac event (MACE) were compared. TLR and MACE at 2 years were more common in the first- compared with second-generation DES group (TLR 19.8 vs. 8.9 %; p = 0.016, MACE 24.8 vs. 10.9 %; p = 0.008). In patients with low (0-22) and intermediate (23-32) SYNTAX scores, TLR and MACE tended to occur more often with first-generation DES group. In patients with high SYNTAX scores (≧33), TLR and MACE were significantly more common with first-generation DES group (TLR 29.0 vs. 11.1 %; p = 0.035, MACE 35.5 vs. 13.9 %; p = 0.034). Compared with first-generation DES, second-generation DES proved beneficial in reducing risk of TLR and MACE in patients with LM and/or 3VD, particularly among those with high SYNTAX scores (≧33).

Background Peri-stent contrast staining (PSS) after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation is associated with target lesion revascularization (TLR) and very late stent thrombosis. However, the risk factors and clinical sequelae of PSS after second-generation DES implantation remain unclear. Methods and Results This study comprised 2,090 patients with 2,883 lesions treated with second-generation DES from April 2009 to February 2013. Angiographic findings and clinical outcomes were compared between PSS and non-PSS groups. Follow-up angiography was available for 2,411 lesions. PSS was observed in 23 lesions: 4 in biolimus-eluting stents, 4 in zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES), and 15 in everolimus-eluting stents (EES). Right coronary artery lesions, chronic total occlusion (CTO), and lesions with severe angulation (>90°) were more frequent in the PSS group compared with the non-PSS group. Lesions were longer and the cumulative TLR incidence at 3 years was higher in the PSS group than those in the non-PSS group (27.9 mm vs. 19.4 mm, P

Objectives We evaluated and compared the incidence and characteristics of late catch-up phenomenon (LCU) between everolimus-eluting stent (EES) and sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantations. Background Late catch-up phenomenon after everolimus-eluting stent (EES) implantation has not yet been evaluated sufficiently. Methods Between April 2007 and May 2011, 1,234 patients with coronary artery disease were treated with SES and 502 patients with EES. Following propensity score matching, we evaluated 495 SES-treated patients and 495 ESS-treated patients. The incidences of LCU (i.e., late target lesion revascularization [TLR] [1–3 years]) were compared. Results The cumulative incidence of TLR at 3 years was 11.9% in the SES group and 6.1% in the EES group (P = 0.001). The incidence of late TLR was 7.5% in the SES group and 3.4% in the EES group (P = 0.004). Even though not statistically significant, intravascular ultrasound showed a higher tendency of stent fracture (SF) in late restenosis lesions in the SES group than in the EES group (37.0% vs 7.7%; P = 0.052). Moreover, the SF rate tended to increase in late restenosis compared with early restenosis (within 1 year) in the SES group compared with the EES group (SES: 37.0% vs 22.2%; P = 0.293, EES: 7.7% vs 10.0%; P = 0.846), although the increase was not significantly different. Conclusions EES was superior to SES in terms of LCU. SF may be associated with LCU after SES implantation. (J Interven Cardiol 2015;28:551–562)

Objectives This study investigated the safety and prognosis of ultra-long second DES (UL-2nd DES) implantation in real-world practice. Background Long stenting is a widely known predictor of stent thrombosis (ST) or target lesion revascularization (TLR) in first-generation drug-eluting stents (DES). Methods Participants were 1,669 patients (2,763 lesions) who had undergone successful second DES implantation; they were assigned to one of three groups: ultra-long 2nd DES (UL-DES; >50 mm, 166 patients, 259 lesions), long second DES (L-DES; 20–50 mm, 758 patients, 1,212 lesions), or short second DES (S-DES

Increased re-hospitalization due to acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a modern issue in cardiology. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for re-hospitalization due to worsening heart failure, and the effect of tolvaptan (TLV) on decreasing the number of re-hospitalizations. This was a multicenter, retrospective study. The re-hospitalization factors for 1191 patients with ADHF were investigated; patients receiving continuous administration of TLV when they were discharged from the hospital (n = 194) were analyzed separately. Patients were classified into 5 risk groups based on their calculated Preventing Re-hospitalization with TOLvaptan (Pretol) score. The total number of patients re-hospitalized due to worsening heart failure up to one year after discharge from the hospital was 285 (23.9%). Age ≥80 years, duration since discharge from the hospital after previous heart failure 7.2 mg/dl, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 44.7 ml/m2, loop diuretic dose ≥20 mg/day, hematocrit

To examine the effectiveness of vascular elastography (VE) for the assessment of totally occluded lower limb arteries prior to endovascular treatment (EVT).Of 812 consecutive patients who underwent EVT between April 2010 and April 2012, VE was used to evaluate the hardness of chronic total occlusions of the femoropopliteal segment prior to EVT in 65 consecutive patients (48 men; mean 73.9 years, range 63-86). Elastograms of the CTOs proximally and distally were scored using a 5-point scale, and outcomes in limbs with hard lesions (VE score 0-2) were compared to those with soft lesions (VE score 3-4) according to lesion length. The interventionists who performed the endovascular procedures were not informed of the VE score results.CTO characteristics could be evaluated in all cases. A VE score ≤2 was found in 14 of the 23 lesions150 mm in length. A flexible guidewire was sufficient for recanalization in more of the soft lesions than in the hard lesions [6/9 vs. 2/14, respectively]. In 39 lesions150 mm, a VE score of 3 was recorded in most lesions proximally, while lesions distally were hard in many cases (VE score 1 or 2). A flexible guidewire alone was sufficient in many soft CTOs (8/13, p0.01). In 16 cases, hard calcified plaque was indicated by difficulty in penetrating the lesion even with a stiff guidewire; all these cases had a VE score of 1 or 2. A retrograde approach was required only in hard CTOs (p0.01). The procedure time was significantly longer for the hard lesion group (152.9±63.2 vs. 87.0±29.8 minutes, p=0.001). In 11 in-stent occlusions, only VE scores of 3 (n=4) or 4 (n=7) were recorded, indicating soft thrombus, which was aspirated under distal protection in 7 cases.VE may be a useful method for determining the hardness of CTO lesions noninvasively before endovascular therapy, providing information that can help plan the procedure.

A 54-year-old male patient presented with a symptomatic bifurcation lesion of 75% stenosis in LAD ([Figure 1A][1]). Physiological evaluation was performed using instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) roadmap (Philips Healthcare, Best, the Netherlands) functionality [(1)][2]. First, we ran a

We assessed wound healing in patients on hemodialysis (HD) with critical limb ischemia (CLI). This study enrolled 267 patients (including 120 patients on HD and 147 patients not on HD) who underwent endovascular therapy (EVT) for CLI. The primary endpoint was wound-healing rate at two years. Secondary endpoints were time to wound healing, wound recurrence rate, and limb salvage at two years. The percentage of male and young patients was higher in the HD patients ( p

Background This retrospective study assesses the safety and efficacy of using a thrombus injection for treatment a peripheral artery perforation. Methods and Results From March 2013 to April 2016, we performed 1,152 endovascular treatment (EVT) at our hospital. Of these, 28 peripheral artery perforations occurred during the EVT procedure and 20 were treated with a thrombus, which we artificially created. The thrombus comprised the patient's blood and thrombin. It was injected into the perforation site from the tip of an over-the-wire balloon using ballooning method. The perforated arteries occurred in below-the-knee artery (45%), superficial femoral artery (35%), deep femoral artery (10%), popliteal artery (5%), and external iliac artery (5%). Thrombus injection was successful in 19 of the 20 perforations (95%). One patient required coil embolization. There were no complications during or after admission. Conclusions Thrombus injection is a safety method and might be considered as one of the approaches for stopping peripheral artery perforation.

This study investigated the incidence and clinical relevance of the slow-flow phenomenon after infrapopliteal balloon angioplasty.This retrospective, single-center study included 161 consecutive patients with critical limb ischemia (173 limbs) who underwent endovascular treatment for infrapopliteal lesions between January 2012 and May 2015. The overall technical success rate was 88%. Of these lesions, 30 limbs presented with slow flow after angioplasty.Total occlusion (90% vs 63%; P .01) and severe calcification (43% vs 8%; P .01) were more common in the slow-flow group. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis revealed that freedom from major amputation (60% vs 86%; log-rank, P .01) and wound healing at 2 years (77% vs 91%; log-rank, P = .03) were significantly less common in the slow-flow group. Univariate Cox proportional hazard analysis identified Rutherford class 6 (hazard ratio [HR], 6.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8-15.8; P .01), the slow-flow phenomenon (HR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.6-8.9; P .01), and hemodialysis (HR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.2-11.1; P = .02) as independent predictors of major amputation and Rutherford class 6 (HR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.2-0.6; P .01), the slow-flow phenomenon (HR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9; P = .02), and pedal arch (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0-2.5; P = .04) as predictors of wound healing.The slow-flow phenomenon after infrapopliteal balloon angioplasty occurred in 18.6% of limbs. This phenomenon may result in poor outcomes.

Objective The achievement of single vessel inflow to the wound is an acceptable end point of peripheral vascular intervention for patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) with tissue loss. However, CLI patients often have multitibial artery lesions. We evaluated the clinical effects of single or double tibial artery revascularization for CLI patients. Methods This study was conducted retrospectively in a single center. Between April 2007 and January 2015, we treated 123 CLI patients (137 limbs) who had lesions in both the anterior tibial artery and the posterior tibial artery. Of these, single tibial artery (anterior or posterior tibial artery) revascularization was performed in 84 limbs (group S) and double tibial artery (both anterior and posterior tibial arteries) revascularization was performed in 53 limbs (group D). Results The wound healing rate was significantly higher (87% vs 79%; P = .003), the time to wound healing was shorter (median, 83 vs 142 days; P = .01), and the repeat peripheral vascular intervention rate was lower (15% vs 35%; P = .03) in group D than in group S. The wound healing rate was nearly similar between the 2 groups in patients with a low clinical stage as assessed by Society for Vascular Surgery Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection (90% in group D vs 93% in group S; P = .20); however, the wound healing rate was significantly higher in group D in patients with a high clinical stage (85% vs 72%; P = .007). Conclusions The achievement of double vessel inflows to the wound by double tibial artery revascularization positively affects wound healing, particularly in severe CLI patients.

Advances in coronary intervention have increased the opportunity to intervene on complex lesions, resulting in an increase in PCI-related complication, including coronary artery perforation. However, treatment options for coronary perforation are limited, with delivery of devices to complex lesions being problematic. Balloon hemostasis is the usual bailout method, despite the risk of myocardial ischemia. In this report, we describe an over-the-wire balloon method to treat a patient with coronary perforation. Ischemia was avoided by injecting autologous blood through the catheter, while hemostasis was achieved by prolonged balloon inflation. This new technique is applicable when a perfusion balloon is not indicated.

Objective To (1) compare the outcome of self-expandable stents with versus without jailed deep femoral artery (DFA) for proximal superficial femoral artery (SFA) lesions, and to (2) ascertain the fate of jailed DFA. Background Complex SFA lesions involving the femoral bifurcation (FB) was mostly treated surgically, and the role played by endovascular procedures is uncertain. Methods We retrospectively identified 104 consecutive, de novo lesions involving the SFA ostium, stented between April 2005 and September 2010. Depending on the proximal stent edge location, the sample was divided between 60 distal common femoral artery (CFA) stenting with jailed DFA and 44 ostial SFA stenting without jailed DFA. The FB was the segment beginning in the distal CFA, 10 mm proximal to the DFA ostium and ending in the SFA and 10 mm distal to the carina. Stented CFA lesions proximal to the FB were excluded. The bifurcation was classified as patent when free of restenosis and repeat revascularization. Results The overall 12-month bifurcation and primary patency rates were 72.5% and 52.0%, respectively. Predictors of loss of bifurcation patency were ostial SFA stenting and a small stent in the FB. Bifurcation patency (83.3% vs. 56.3%; P < 0.01) and primary patency of the SFA (56.2% vs. 37.5%; P = 0.088) were higher after distal CFA than after ostial SFA stenting. In 95.7% of distal CFA and 100% of ostial SFA stenting, DFA remained patent at 12-month follow-up (P = 0.237). Conclusions The 12-month fate of jailed DFA after distal CFA stenting was acceptable, and the bifurcation patency rate was higher than after ostial SFA stenting. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Patient initials or identifier number I.K ### Relevant clinical history and physical exam The patient was an 85 year-old male who presented with lack of appetite and chest discomfort. He had a history of hypertension and dyslipidemia. As blood tests showed elevated CK levels and the ECG

To investigate the long-term outcome of Percutaneous transluminal intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO). The subjects were 606 patients (1,145 lesions) who were treated for CTO between January 1996 and December 2003 at our institution. Among them, 436 patients with early success and confirmed patency at the CTO by follow-up coronary angiography after 6 months were classified as the patent group (Group P), while 170 patients without early success or with occlusion on follow-up angiography were classified as the occluded group (Group O). In April 2006 (mean: 660 ± 602 days), the outcome of CTO was investigated and the major adverse cardiac events (MACE)-free rate was calculated. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify determinants of death. The early success rate was 76.4% before 2003 when Conquest guidewires were not available. However, it subsequently showed significant improvement to 89%. The cumulative survival rate was significantly higher for Group P (92%) than for Group O (64%) and the MACE-free rate (free from, death, bypass surgery, myocardial infarction, and revascularization) showed a similar trend. The cumulative survival rate of patients without myocardial viability in the territory of the vessel with CTO was significantly higher for Group P (88%) than for Group O (55%). The outcome was significantly worse for patients with occlusion of other vessels (90%) than for patients without additional occlusion (42%). It was significantly better when the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was ≥40% than when the LVEF was ≤40% (90 vs. 68%). Multivariate analysis identified occluded CTO, other vessel occlusion, low ejection fraction (EF), unimproved EF, and old age as determinants of death from CTO. If early success is obtained and patency is maintained, the long-term outcome after PCI for CTO is significantly better than when failure occurs Occluded CTO, other vessel occlusion, low EF, unimproved EF, and old age are important determinants of the outcome.

Purpose: To develop a scoring system to predict wound healing in critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients treated with endovascular therapy (EVT). Methods: Between July 2007 and January 2013, 184 patients (118 men; mean age 73.0 years) with CLI (217 limbs) and tissue loss underwent EVT. From this cohort 236 separate wounds were divided into development (n=118) and validation (n=118) groups. Predictors of wound healing were identified using multivariable analysis. Each predictor was assigned a score based on its regression coefficient, and total scores were calculated, ranging from 0 to 1 for low risk up to ≥4 for high risk of a nonhealing wound. The performance of the scoring system in the prediction of wound healing was evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. Results: By multivariable analysis, a University of Texas grade ≥2 (HR 0.524, 95% CI 0.288–0.951, p=0.034), an infected wound (HR 0.497, 95% CI 0.276–0.894, p=0.020), dependence on hemodialysis (HR 0.459, 95% CI 0.259–0.814, p=0.008), no visible blood flow to the wound (HR 0.343, 95% CI 0.146–0.802, p=0.014), and major tissue loss (HR 0.322, 95% CI 0.165–0.630, p=0.001) predicted a non-healing wound. The 1-year rates of wound healing in the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups were 94.6%, 67.6%, and 9.1%, respectively, in the development group (p

Our country is a super-aged society and this is an unlike any other in the world. We must consider the treatment strategy for their disease enough. In this study, we examined the clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for very elderly ischemic coronary artery disease patients

Accelerated atherosclerosis in prolonged maintenance hemodialysis (HD) has been recognized; however, whether HD duration is associated with poor clinical outcome in HD patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation is unknown. We evaluated the impact of HD duration on clinical outcomes in HD patients with CAD after DES implantation. Between April 2007 and December 2012, 168 angina pectoris patients (320 de novo lesions) on HD were treated with DES. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and target lesion revascularization (TLR) were investigated at 3 years according to the HD duration (≤ 3 years, 83 patients; >3 years, 85 patients). The incidence of MACE was significantly higher in the long HD duration group (25.3 vs. 50.6 %; P = 0.001). Especially, sudden cardiac death (SCD) was significantly higher in the long HD duration group (3.6 vs. 16.5 %; P = 0.006). On the other hand, the rates of TLR were similar between the two groups (12.0 vs. 14.1 %; P = 0.69). Cox's proportional hazard analysis revealed that HD duration (HR 1.08 per year, 95 % CI 1.03-1.13, P = 0.002), β-blocker use (0.28, 0.17-0.46, P < 0.001), and diabetes mellitus (2.10, 1.23-3.56, P = 0.007) were independent predictors of MACE. Longer HD duration did not affect TLR; however, SCD was significantly higher in the long HD duration group.

The clinical outcomes of EVT for the restenosis of SFA stent with jailed DFA were poorly understood. The aim of this study was to reveal the SFA patency and the fate of DFA after EVT for the restenosis of SFA stent with jailed DFA. From April 2007 to January 2013, we performed de novo 490 ostial

To evaluate the 2-year results obtained with self-expandable stent for chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the iliac artery, a retrospective study was performed of patients who underwent endovascular therapy (EVT) for chronic iliac artery CTO who presented from April 2007 to September 2012. 82 patients with 86 occluded iliac arteries underwent successful recanalization and stenting with a self-expandable stent. The primary equivalence end point was a composite of restenosis, mortality, target vessel revascularization, and limb salvage rates. Patients were followed up with the presence of a palpable femoral artery pulse, resolution of symptoms, and noninvasive vascular laboratory testing reviewed at 1, 3, and 6 months after EVT and then were evaluated at 6-month intervals. In patients who gave consent, repeat angiography was done in sixty-one of 86 lesions (70.1 %) for follow-up. The mean follow-up was at 27.6 ± 17.8 months (range 3–60 months). All stents were placed in the true lumen under intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance. There were no cases of peripheral embolization or iliac artery rupture after the procedure. The ankle-brachial index increased significantly from 0.55 ± 0.19 to 0.88 ± 0.17 (P

The Wound, Ischemia, foot Infection (WIfI) a classification system is a system to predict the amputation risk in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Validation for WIfI classification for Japanese CLI patients is still unknown. This single-center study evaluated the prognostic value of WIfI