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BACKGROUND A 45-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). INVESTIGATION Physical examination, electrocardiography, coronary angiography, echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography. DIAGNOSIS STEMI due to spontaneous left main coronary artery dissection involving left anterior descending, intermediate and left circumflex arteries. TREATMENT Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to aorto-ostial (AO) lesions is technically demanding and associated with high revascularization rates. The aim of this study was to assess outcomes after bare metal stent (BMS) compared to drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation after PCI to AO lesions. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted of all consecutive patients who underwent PCI to AO lesions at 2 centers. Angiographic and clinical outcomes in 230 patients with DES from September 2000 to December 2009 were compared to a historical control group of 116 patients with BMS. Comparison of the baseline demographics showed more diabetics (32% vs 16%, p = 0.001), lower ejection fractions (52.3 ± 9.7% vs 55.0 ± 11.5%, p = 0.022), longer stents (17.55 ± 7.76 vs 14.37 ± 5.60 mm, p

To evaluate the safety and the efficacy of fluoroscopy-guided only (Fluo-G) and of echocardiography-guided (Echo-G; trans-esophageal echocardiography-TEE-or intracardiac echocardiography-ICE) percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO).Single center retrospective registry enrolling 368 consecutive patients (mean age 50.5 years) who underwent PFO closure between June 2004 and December 2011. Most patients had prior cryptogenic stroke (n = 126; 34.2%), TIA (n = 218; 51.1%); some of these had recurrent neurological events [multiple strokes n = 28 (7.8%); multiple TIAs n = 72 (18.6%)]. All the patients underwent a preprocedure TEE. PFO closure was performed with Echo-G in 187 patients (50.8%) (TEE n = 69, 36.8% and ICE n = 124, 66.3%). In Fluo-G cases, PFO with atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) was significantly less present (P 0.005) and smaller devices (25 mm) were implanted more frequently (P 0.001). Both fluoroscopy and total procedural time were lower in the Fluo-G group (P 0.0001). No differences were found in terms of successful device deployment (98.3% Fluo-G vs. 98.3% Echo-G) and RtL-shunt at follow-up (11.7% Fluo-G vs. 7.6% Echo-G). The rate of conversion from Fluoro-G to Echo-G procedure was 4.4% (n = 8). At a median follow-up of 4 years, freedom from recurrent embolic events rate was similar between the two groups (Echo-G 94.5 vs. Fluo-G 95.7%).In our experience Fluoro-G PFO closure was performed mainly in cases of simple anatomy, with similar results in terms of safety and efficacy compared to Echo-G cases. Both fluoroscopy and total procedural times were lower in the Fluo-G cases.

Percutaneous renal denervation has emerged as an effective adjunct in the management of resistant hypertension. However, the limits of the renal anatomical criteria that can be successfully treated are still unknown. In this report, we describe the case of a middle-aged man with essential resistant hypertension and two small left accessory renal arteries that underwent renal denervation of both principal renal arteries. He responded well with a progressive reduction in blood pressure measuring of 16/10, 32/17 and 45/24 mmHg at 1, 6 and 12 months, respectively. At 12 months, 94% of ambulatory measurements were below 140/90 mmHg and the number of anti-hypertensive medications had decreased from six to three. Thus, it would appear that the presence of two non-ablated left accessory renal arteries does not influence the response to renal denervation.

"OBJECTIVE:. TAVI is the alternative option in pts with AS deemed ineligible for surgery. Although mortality and morbidity are measures to assess the effectiveness of treatments, quality of life (QOL) should be an additional target. We assessed clinical outcome and QOL in octogenarians following TAVI.. DESIGN:. All octogenarians with a risk profile considered by the Heart Team to be unacceptable for surgery entered in this registry. QOL was assessed by questionnaires concerning physical and psychic performance.. PATIENTS:. A hundred forty-five octogenarians (age: 84.7 ± 3.4 years; male: 48.3%) underwent TAVI for AS (97.2%) or isolated AR (2.8%). NYHA class: 2.8 ± 0.6; Logistic EuroScore: 26.1 ± 16.7; STS score: 9.2 ± 7.7.Echocardiographic assessments included AVA (0.77 ± 0.21 cm2), mean\/peak gradients (54.5 ± 12.2\/88 ± 19.5 mm Hg), LVEF (21%=EF ≤ 40%), sPAP (43.1 ± 11.6 mmHg).. INTERVENTIONS:. All pts underwent successful TAVI using Edward-SAPIEN valve (71.2%) or Medtronic CoreValve (28.8%).. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:. Rates of mortality at 30 days, 6 months and 1 year were 2.8%, 11.2% and 17.5%.. RESULTS:. At 16-month follow up, 85.5% survived showing improved NYHA class (2.8 ± 0.6 vs 1.5 ± 0.7; p

Inherited connective tissue diseases such as Marfan syndrome are frequently associated with cardiovascular manifestations. Aortic involvement with dilation and dissection is the most common finding and the major cause of death in Marfan syndrome patients. We report the echocardiographic study of a 53-year-old male patient with uncommon coexistence of cardiovascular abnormalities typical of connective tissue disease at first clinical presentation in acute clinical setting: dissection of the descending aorta associated with severe mitral regurgitation due to leaflet flail and massive aortic insufficiency due to ascending aortic enlargement, leading to left ventricular dilation and dysfunction. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2013

Poor long-term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in chronic total occlusion (CTO) of saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) have been reported. However, limited data are available evaluating the use of modern techniques in this group. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and long-term outcomes of PCI in SVG CTO with the routine use of embolic protection devices and drug-eluting stents. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted of all consecutive patients undergoing PCI to SVG CTO from May 2002 to July 2009 at 2 centers. The indication for PCI was the presence of angina or silent ischemia with evidence of inducible ischemia after functional testing in the territory supplied by the SVG, despite optimal medical therapy. We identified 34 patients with SVG CTO. Of the 34 patients, 23 (68%) underwent successful SVG recanalization with stent implantation. An embolic protection device was used in 78% and 95% of stents implanted were drug-eluting stents. No in-hospital major adverse cardiac events occurred in the successful PCI group; one myocardial infarction occurred in the unsuccessful group. At follow-up (median 18.0 months, interquartile range 10.4 to 48.3), 1 case of myocardial infarction had occurred in the successful group. The in-stent restenosis rate was 68% (n = 13), of which 77% were focal, with target vessel revascularization in 61%. In conclusion, despite the relatively low procedural success rates, the clinical outcomes after successful PCI to SVG CTO with modern techniques were favorable. The repeat revascularization rates were high; however, graft patency was achievable in most after reintervention.