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We report the treatment of three severely underexpanded freshly deployed stent layers in the proximal left anterior descending artery, despite 24 atm inflation pressure, due to heavily calcified plaque. Rotational atherectomy, using a high rpm and a stepped burr strategy, successfully ablated the stent layers and the protruding calcified plaque. Subsequently, balloon angioplasty resulted in stent expansion and the treated segment was scaffolded with another stent, finally obtaining an excellent angiographic result. The patient's evolution was satisfactory. This case shows that rotational atherectomy can be a useful tool in a compromising situation, such as severely underexpanded implanted stents.

Introduction and Objectives: Percutaneous closure of paravalvular leakage is an alternative to surgery in high-risk patients, but its use has been limited by a lack of specific devices. More appropriate devices-like the Amplatzer Vascular Plug III-have recently been developed, but information about their efficacy and safety is still scarce. The objective of the present study was to assess the mid-term results of paravalvular leakage closure with this device., Methods: We analyzed the clinical and echocardiographic course both in-hospital and mid-term (13 [9] months) in a series of 20 consecutive patients (age, 68 years; logistic EuroSCORE, 29) with paravalvular leakage and attempted percutaneous closure., Results: Closure was attempted for 23 leaks (17 mitral and 6 aortic) during 22 procedures in 20 patients. Implantation was successful in 87% of the leaks and the procedure was successful in 83%-with success being defined as a reduction in regurgitation of ≥ 1 degree. Survival at 1 year was 64.7% and survival free of the composite event of death/surgery was 58.8%. The degree of residual regurgitation was not associated with mortality but was associated with functional status. Survivors showed significant improvement in functional class., Conclusions: Percutaneous closure of leakage with the Amplatzer Vascular Plug III is safe and efficient in the mid-term. However, mortality among high-risk patients is high independently of the degree of residual regurgitation, indicating that these procedures are performed when heart disease has reached an advanced stage., (Copyright © 2014 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: In recent years, various specific techniques and materials have been developed for the treatment of coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO)., Objective: To evaluate the current situation in the treatment of CTO (techniques and material) in our setting., Methods: We evaluated data on techniques and material used in the CIBELES (ChronIc coronary occlusion treated By EveroLimus Eluting Stent) trial, a randomized comparison of sirolimus- and everolimus-eluting stents in 207 patients with CTO in 13 centers in Spain and Portugal., Results: A radial approach was used in 23% of patients, and retrograde techniques were used in only 5%. A high number of balloons were used (2.2±0.9 per patient). Microcatheters were used in 33% of patients, and post-dilatation balloons in only 25%. The mean number of stents implanted per patient was 2.1±1.0, with a mean total stent length of 49±24 mm. Other devices and techniques used were: Tornus penetration catheter in 4% of patients, rotational atherectomy in 2%, and cutting balloon in 1%. Intracoronary ultrasound was used in only 6% of patients. In 34% of cases, operators used guidewires that were not specifically for CTO. Considerable variability between centers was detected in the use of different techniques, the highest and lowest variability being observed in the use of intracoronary ultrasound and the use of CTO guidewires, respectively., Conclusions: In the CIBELES trial, techniques and devices specifically designed for the treatment of CTO were used in a relatively low proportion of patients. Considerable variability between centers was detected., (Copyright © 2012 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Objectives: Malignant pericardial effusion has a high recurrence rate after pericardiocentesis. We sought to confirm the efficacy of percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy as the initial treatment of choice for these effusions., Methods: Retrospective analysis of the clinical, echocardiographic, and follow-up characteristics of a consecutive series of percutaneous balloon pericardiotomies carried out in a single center in patients with advanced cancer., Results: Seventeen percutaneous balloon pericardiotomies were performed in 16 patients with a mean age of 66.2 (15.2) years. Fourteen patients had pathologically confirmed metastatic neoplastic disease, 3 had previously required pericardiocentesis, and in the remaining patients percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy was the first treatment for the effusion. All patients had a severe circumferential effusion, and most presented evidence of hemodynamic compromise on echocardiography. In all cases, the procedure was successful, there were no acute complications, and it was well tolerated at the first attempt. There were no infectious complications during follow-up (median, 44 [interquartile range, 36-225] days). One patient developed a large pleural effusion that did not require treatment. Three patients needed a new pericardial procedure: 2 had elective pericardial window surgeries and 1 had a second percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy., Conclusions: Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy is a simple, safe technique that can be effective in the prevention of recurrence in many patients with severe malignant pericardial effusion. The characteristics of this procedure make it particularly useful in this group of patients to avoid more aggressive, poorly tolerated approaches., (Copyright © 2012 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Background: Percutaneous septal ablation by alcohol-induced septal branch occlusion was introduced as a new treatment option in symptomatic patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Our aim was to evaluate procedural and long-term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes in patients with HOCM treated by alcohol septal ablation (ASA) at our center., Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 14 consecutive HOCM patients undergoing percutaneous ASA (66.4 +/- 12.1 years, 71.4% female). At baseline all patients presented persistent symptoms despite optimized medical treatment, left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction with a peak gradient > 50 mmHg, systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve, and ventricular septal thickness > or = 15 mm. ASA was considered successful when the LVOT pressure gradient fell to less than 50% of baseline value. All patients had echocardiographic evaluation at baseline, intraprocedure and at follow-up, and a long-term clinical follow-up (25 +/- 38 months) with evaluation of functional class and occurrence of symptoms or cardiovascular events., Results: Percutaneous ASA achieved a 71.4% acute and 85.7% long-term success rate. Peak LVOT gradient decreased from 104 +/- 40 mmHg at baseline to 58 +/- 30 mmHg intraprocedure (p = 0.03) and 35 +/- 26 mmHg at follow-up (p = 0.001); total gradient decrease was 75 +/- 43 mmHg. Ventricular septal thickness and mitral regurgitation also presented significant decreases during follow-up (from 24 +/- 5 mm to 18 +/- 4 mm, p = 0.02, and from grade 2.4 +/- 0.6 to 1.4 +/- 0.5, p < 0.001, respectively). A tendency for long-term improvement in NYHA functional class (from 2.6 +/- 1.1 to 1.8 +/- 1.4, p = 0.09) was observed. Procedural complications occurred in 6.7% of patients; two deaths and one transient ischemic attack occurred in-hospital, but no long-term clinical events were recorded., Conclusions: Percutaneous ASA is an effective treatment for symptomatic patients with HOCM, obtaining a marked decrease in LVOT pressure gradient and symptomatic improvement. Despite the occurrence of a significant number of procedural complications, the favorable long-term outcomes underline the potential of ASA as a percutaneous alternative to surgical myectomy.

Of 12 patients with sudden death and a high probability of coronary artery disease who underwent cardiac catheterization, 4 (25%) showed coronary arteries without significant obstructive lesions or angiographic signs of instability. The study protocol included an invasive study of coronary vasoreactivity and an intracoronary imaging study with intravascular ultrasound. The coronary reactivity study showed coronary vasospasm in 1 patient. Intravascular ultrasound showed active coronary plaques with images suggesting intraluminal thrombus in all patients. The diagnosis reached was sudden death secondary to ventricular arrhythmias in the context of acute coronary syndrome; the use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator was therefore not indicated. In conclusion, in patients with sudden death with a high probability of coronary artery disease but with coronary arteries lacking significant lesions, intracoronary imaging (eg, by intravascular ultrasound) may be essential to establish a diagnosis and appropriate treatment, even in patients with induced coronary vasospasm., (Copyright © 2010 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Background: In order to improve technique and to prevent serious procedural complications during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), it is crucial to identify the causes of death of patients undergoing this procedure., Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the causes of death during the procedure and at 1 month in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI., Methods: 12 published studies with information about the causes of death in patients undergoing TAVI were selected. Overall, 1223 patients were included in these studies, and 249 deaths were reported (119 at 1 month and 130 at >1 month post-procedure). Mortality during the procedure and at 1 month was 2.3% and 9.7%, respectively. The proportion of cardiac deaths was higher at <1 month in comparison with >1 month (56% versus 34%, respectively; p = 0.001). At 1 month, the most frequent causes of death were cardiac failure/multi-organ failure (24%), sudden death/cardiac arrest (17%), vascular and bleeding complications (17%), stroke (11%), sepsis (11%), and cardiac tamponade (10%). During the procedure, the most frequent causes of death were cardiac tamponade (39%), cardiac failure (21%), cardiac arrest (18%), and vascular and/or bleeding complications (18%). In patients treated with the CoreValve system (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) versus those treated with Edwards valves (Cribier-Edwards, Edwards-SAPIEN or SAPIEN XT valve, Edward Lifesciences, Irvine, California), deaths at 1 month due to vascular and bleeding complications were less frequent (3% versus 22%, respectively; p = 0.019), but those due to cardiac tamponade (26% versus 6%, respectively; p = 0.019), and because of aortic regurgitation (10% versus 0%, respectively; p = 0.03) were more frequent., Conclusion: In this pooled analysis, mortality at 1 month after TAVI was 9.7%. The causes of death were widely variable, and of both cardiac and non-cardiac origin. There were some important differences between both devices in the cause of mortality.

Background: The use of drug-eluting stents (DES) in unfavourable patients has been associated with higher rates of clinical complications and stent thrombosis, and because of that concerns about the use of DES in high-risk settings have been raised., Objective: This study sought to demonstrate that the clinical benefit of DES increases as the risk profile of the patients increases., Methods: A meta-regression analysis from 31 randomized trials that compared DES and bare-metal stents, including overall 12,035 patients, was performed. The relationship between the clinical benefit of using DES (number of patients to treat [NNT] to prevent one episode of target lesion revascularization [TLR]), and the risk profile of the population (rate of TLR in patients allocated to bare-metal stents) in each trial was evaluated., Results: The clinical benefit of DES increased as the risk profile of each study population increased: NNT for TLR=31.1-1.2 (TLR for bare-metal stents); p<0.001. The use of DES was safe regardless of the risk profile of each study population, since the effect of DES in mortality, myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis, was not adversely affected by the risk profile of each study population (95% confidence interval for β value 0.09 to 0.11, -0.12 to 0.19, and -0.03 to-0.15 for mortality, myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis, respectively)., Conclusions: The clinical benefit of DES increases as the risk profile of the patients increases, without affecting safety., (Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been linked in recent years with a higher rate of cardiovascular events. The aim of our study was to analyze the main risk factors associated with the onset of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and in-hospital prognosis in patients with HIV, undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)., Patients and Methods: We studied the baseline clinical characteristics, angiographic findings, results of PCI and in-hospital outcome in 23 patients with HIV hospitalized for an ACS between September 2006 and March 2009. The results were compared with 60 HIV-negative patients admitted with an ACS., Results: HIV patients showed a lower average age and a higher rate of smoking. From a clinical point of view there were no statistically significant differences in clinical presentation, with a similar incidence of ACS with or without ST segment elevation ACS. HIV patients presented a non significant higher incidence of cardiogenic shock on admission (13% HIV vs 8% HIV negative, p 0,301). HIV-negative patients angiography showed the most calcified multivessel involvement with the highest number of diseased vessels (2.35 vs. 1.45, p<0.001). PCI results: HIV patients presented a lower rate of success (TIMI 3 final); 75% versus 85% in HIV-negative patients (p=0.105). There was no significant difference in hospital mortality (8.7 vs 1.7%, p=0.129)., Conclusions: HIV patients hospitalized for an ACS, despite being younger and presenting lower prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, did not present differences in terms of cardiovascular mortality compared with HIV negative patients., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Most data on percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) relate to devices not specifically designed for this pathology., Objective: Our aim in this article is to share our initial experience with the Premere PFO closure system., Methods: In our hospital 14 consecutive patients presenting cryptogenic stroke underwent percutaneous closure using this device. The device was successfully implanted in 11 of the 14 patients (78.5%). Implantation was impossible in three patients because of a significant atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) or a multiperforated septum., Results: Mean clinical and echocardiographical follow-up was 7 +/- 7 months. A residual shunt was seen in only one patient (9%) three months after device implantation. During follow-up, no device-related complications were observed, such as device thrombosis or fistula. None of the patients presented other significant clinical events such as strokes or arrhythmia., Conclusion: According to our experience the Premere is a secure and reliable device for PFO closure, but patients must be selected carefully for implantation to exclude those presenting significant ASA.

Background and Objective: In recent years, techniques for implantation of aortic prosthesis via catheter have been developed as a therapeutic alternative in patients with severe aortic stenosis rejected for surgery. The correct selection of candidates is one of the more complex aspects of this treatment. We analyzed the acceptance rate in our environment for transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients referred to our hospital for evaluation as possible candidates, describing the exclusion reasons., Patients and Method: 30 patients with severe aortic stenosis and rejected for surgical aortic valve replacement were referred to our hospital to evaluate transcatheter aortic valve implantation. The patients first underwent clinical evaluation and were studied with echocardiography, angiography and computed tomography., Results: Of the 30 patients, 18 were rejected for the procedure (60%): 4 patients with non-severe aortic stenosis, 2 asymptomatic patients, 2 patients who finally underwent surgery because of a low-surgical-risk, 5 patients with contraindications for the procedure, 2 patients who finally did not want to undergo the procedure and 3 patients were further rejected because the vascular access was inappropriate. Of the remaining 12 patients initially accepted, 3 died before the procedure was performed. Finally, only 9 patients (30%) underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation., Conclusions: Of the patients referred for transcatheter aortic valve implantation, only 40% were accepted. The mortality rate during the evaluation process of this procedure is high, showing that these patients are terminally ill.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic impact of endothelial function in patients with angina and angiographically normal coronary arteries., Methods: In 147 consecutive patients with angina and normal coronary arteries on coronary angiography, we studied endothelial function by incremental intracoronary bolus of acetylcholine (ACh). Patients were divided in two groups according to their vasomotor response to ACh: 1) ACh+ group (n = 95), those with diffuse vasoconstriction during ACh administration; and 2) ACh- group (n = 52): those showing normal endothelial function. Cardiovascular events, including hospital admissions for unstable angina, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, stroke and cardiac death, were studied during a mean follow-up of 7 years., Results: A total of 33 patients (22%) had cardiac events, 29 in the ACh+ group and 4 in the ACh- group (p = 0.002). ACh+ group patients had less time free of cardiovascular events (p = 0.001). Cox proportional regression analysis after controlling for conventional risk factors demonstrated that endothelial dysfunction was an independent predictor of cardiovascular events. If hospital admissions for unstable angina were excluded from the analysis, only 6 patients had major cardiac events, 5 patients in the ACh+ group vs. 1 patient in the ACh- group (p = 0.2)., Conclusion: A simple endothelial function test performed in patients with angina and normal coronary angiograms may identify a subgroup of patients with high probability of cardiovascular events on long-term follow-up, mainly hospital readmissions for worsening angina.

Objective: The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of intravenous enoxaparin (ENX) and Non-fractionated Heparin (NFH) in primary angioplasty (PA) of acute myocardial infarction (PA-AMI)., Design: A prospective, observational study., Patients and Methods: A total of 191 patients admitted at the hospital with the diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and treated with primary angioplasty were included. ENX was used in 91 patients (47.6%) and NFH in 100 patients (52.4%). Choice of treatment was based on the operator's opinion. Patients with cardiogenic shock were excluded. The first group received an intravenous bolus of ENX (0.75-1 mg/Kg) and the second one NFH (70-100 u/Kg), depending on whether it was associated with abciximab or not. In-hospital follow-up was performed, evaluating mortality and bleeding complications of both treatments., Results: In-hospital mortality was 1.1% for the ENX group and 3.3% for NFH one. No significant differences were found in the number of bleeding complications with ENX (4.4%) and NFH (9.0%). There was one subacute thrombosis of stent for the ENX group and 3 thrombosis in the NFH-treated group. No significant differences were found in size of infarction measure with troponin I level (63.1 for ENX and 54.8 for the NFH) or in the left ventricle ejection fraction on hospital discharge (51% for ENX and 49.4% for the NFH)., Conclusions: Primary angioplasty can be safely sued with the intravenous administration of ENX, no significant differences being found between both treatments in mortality and bleeding complications.

Percutaneous implantation of aortic valve prostheses has recently emerged as a therapeutic option for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis for whom surgical valve replacement is not suitable. We describe our initial experience with this technique at our institution. Percutaneous implantation of an Edwards Sapiens aortic prosthesis was performed using the transfemoral approach in four patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis for whom surgery was not suitable (mean EuroSCORE, 23%). The procedure was successful in all patients, with optimal implantation of the prosthesis and no complications. By 1 month of follow-up, no patient had experienced an event and all had improved their functional class.

Background: Incomplete stent apposition (ISA) is an unusual finding of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) that may occur both after drug-eluting stent (DES) or bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation and could be associated with late stent thrombosis. Controversy still remains about whether the risk of late-acquired ISA is increased after DES implantation. This meta-analysis aimed to clarify whether DES implantation is associated with an increased risk of late-acquired ISA., Methods: We performed a meta-analysis from 12 randomized trials that compared DES and BMS and included IVUS follow up: TAXUS II (n = 469), TAXUS IV (n = 187), TAXUS V (n = 213) and VI (n = 147), ASPECT (n = 81), DELIVER (n = 65), SIRIUS (n = 141), DIABETES (n = 140), ENDEAVOR II (n = 250), FUTURE I and II (n = 83), and SPIRIT-I (n = 58). In these trials, 1,834 patients (972 DES, and 862 BMS) underwent immediate and follow-up IVUS examination., Results: There was no heterogeneity among the trials (Q-test for heterogeneity: Chi2: 7.69; (p = 0.26), I2: 22%. Out of the 1,834 patients undergoing serial IVUS examination, 85 developed late-acquired ISA (4.6%). This incidence was significantly higher in DES compared with BMS (6.5% vs. 2.6%, respectively; odds ratio [OR] 2.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26 to 4.87; p = 0.008). That means that the risk of developing late-acquired ISA is 2.5 times higher after DES versus BMS implantation. No stent thrombosis occurred in the patients diagnosed with ISA over a period up to 12 months., Conclusion: DES implantation could be associated with an increased risk of late ISA in comparison with BMS. The clinical implication of late ISA in the long term remains to be clarified.

Restenosis is an important limitation of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). In-stent restenosis is mainly due to neointimal hyperplasia, a proliferative process modulated by inflammatory mechanisms. Numerous technical and pharmacological means have been tested to reduce restenosis rates, with frequently disappointing clinical results. Drug-eluting stents (DES) have demonstrated a high efficacy in reducing restenosis, but there are some associated problems that limit its generalized utilization. Glucocorticoids (GC), as potent anti-inflammatory agents, may exert beneficial effects on neointimal proliferation. Clinical studies with oral and intracoronary GC therapy have demonstrated reduction in restenosis rates in selected patients. Although further investigations are warranted, GC might have a potential role for restenosis prevention in selected cases.

Complete left coronary system abolition due to thrombotic occlusion of the left main coronary ostium is an unusual presentation of myocardial infarction. Delays in reaching hospital and restoring coronary blood flow are major predictors of survival in cardiogenic shock. This rare case highlights the high mortality rate of cardiogenic shock due to thrombotic occlusion of the left main coronary ostium in spite of all efforts using innovative devices to remove thrombus and achieve adequate coronary and myocardial perfusion.