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Selective stent post-dilatation (PD) in a cohort of STEMI patients did not affect major adverse cardiac events but it did decrease device-oriented composite events, a secondary composite end point of less clear significance. This study suggests that selective stent PD in STEMI does not increase the incidence of acute no-reflow or long-term adverse clinical events. In primary PCI for STEMI, if the stent appears under-expanded, then PD, perhaps guided by intravascular imaging (which was not reported in this study), is reasonable.

Background Patients with angina and coronary microvascular dysfunction, without evidence of structural or epicardial coronary disease (Type I CMVD) remain without evidence based treatment options. Previous work has demonstrated that ranolazine can improve angina frequency and stability among patients with Type 1 CMVD; however, the mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of this pilot project was to assess the impact of ranolazine on Type I CMVD as measured using an invasive tool to measure global resistance (index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR)). Methods Patients with Type 1 CMVD diagnosed using IMR were enrolled and treated with ranolazine 1000mg BID. Coronary angiography and IMR were performed at baseline and on treatment after four weeks. The primary outcome measure was change in IMR pre- and post-treatment. Secondary outcome measures, improvement in angina and activity level, were assessed using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) and Metabolic equivalent for Task (MET) scores. Results A total of 7 patient were enrolled and completed the study. Mean age was 57.6±7.5, 43% were female and 43% were Hispanic. Mean baseline IMR was 37.25±16.27 which decreased to 19.48±5.69 ( p =0.02; (−48% Δ) after treatment with ranolazine. Four of the five SAQ domains improved on treatment with significant improvement in physical limitation ( p =0.001), angina frequency ( p =0.04), angina stability ( p =0.05) and disease perception ( p =0.001). Non-significant improvements in activity were also seen in both the DASI and MET scores. Conclusion Among patients with Type 1 CMVD, our pilot data suggest favorable changes in IMR, anginal symptoms and activity status with ranolazine treatment. These findings support further evaluation of the effects of ranolazine on microcirculatory function and angina symptoms in a larger cohort of patients with Type 1 CMVD.

Real-time, 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT 3D TEE) is now used routinely in conjunction with x-ray fluoroscopy to guide percutaneous structural heart disease (SHD) interventions. Unlike fluoroscopy, RT 3D TEE provides excellent detail of 3D anatomy and soft tissue structures, and

A previously asymptomatic young female with no previous medical or cardiac history collapsed during indoor exercise. A portable automatic external defibrillator showed a shockable rhythm. She received multiple electrical shocks with return to normal sinus rhythm without ischaemic ECG changes. Her troponin level was mildly elevated. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed moderately reduced left ventricular ejection fraction with global hypokinesis. During emergent coronary angiography, the left main coronary artery could not be found. The right coronary artery was normal with robust collaterals to the entire left coronary circulation extending to the left main coronary artery, but did not fill the ostium. Coronary CT angiogram confirmed nearly complete absence of the left main coronary artery ostium. A diagnosis of left main coronary artery atresia was made. Patient underwent successful two vessel coronary artery bypass grafting. She continues to do well 1 year postoperatively.

Excisional atherectomy alone or followed by stenting is considered an appropriate treatment strategy for patients with lifestyle-limiting claudication due to obstructive infra-inguinal peripheral arterial disease (Ramaiah et al., J Endovasc Ther 2006;13:592-6021). We present a case of a 69-year-old man with eccentric severely calcified disease of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) treated with excisional atherectomy followed by stenting with an interwoven nitinol stent. The procedure was complicated by extravascular stent migration associated with a contained rupture presenting 30 days after the intervention. The complication was successfully treated with a stent graft. Although rare, pseudoaneurysms have been reported at the site of prior atherectomy; however, this case is the first description of a contained rupture post atherectomy associated with erosion of a nitinol stent into an extra-luminal position. The mechanism and management of this complication are discussed.