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Abstract Aims Biventricular pacing (BiP) is an effective treatment in systolic heart failure (HF) patients with prolonged QRS. However, approximately 35% of the patients receiving BiP are classified as non-responders. The aim of this study is to evaluate the acute effects of VV-optimization on systolic heart function. Methods Twenty-one HF patients aged 72 (46-88) years, QRS 154 (120-190) ms, were studied with echocardiography, Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) and 3D-echo the first day after receiving a BiP device. TDI was performed; during simultaneous pacing (LV-lead pacing 4 ms before the RV-lead) and during sequential pacing (LV 20 and 40 ms before RV and RV 20 and 40 ms before LV-lead pacing). Systolic heart function was studied by tissue tracking (TT) for longitudinal function and systolic maximal velocity (SMV) for regional contractility and signs of dyssynchrony assessed by time-delays standard deviation of aortic valve opening to SMV, AVO-SMV/SD and tissue synchronization imaging (TSI). Results The TT mean value preoperatively was 4,2 ± 1,5 and increased at simultaneous pacing to 5,0 ± 1,2 mm (p < 0,05), and at best VV-interval to 5,4 ± 1,2 (p < 0,001). Simultaneous pacing achieved better TT distance compared with preoperative in 16 patients (76%). However, it was still higher after VV-optimization in 12 patients 57%. Corresponding figures for SMV were 3,0 ± 0,7, 3,5 ± 0,8 (p < 0,01), and 3,6 ± 0,8 (p < 0,001). Also dyssynchrony improved. Conclusions VV-optimization in the acute phase improves systolic heart function more than simultaneous BiP pacing. Long-term effects should be evaluated in prospective randomized trials.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the safety of drug-coated balloon (DCB)-only angioplasty compared to drug-eluting stent (DES), as part of routine clinical practice., Background: The recent BASKETSMALL2 trial demonstrated the safety and efficacy of DCB angioplasty for de novo small vessel disease. Registry data have also demonstrated that DCB angioplasty is safe; however, most of these studies are limited due to long recruitment time and a small number of patients with DCB compared to DES. Therefore, it is unclear if DCB-only strategy is safe to incorporate in routine elective clinical practice., Methods: We compared all-cause mortality and major cardiovascular endpoints (MACE), including unplanned target lesion revascularisation (TLR) of all patients treated with DCB or DES for first presentation of stable angina due to de novo coronary artery disease between 1st January 2015 and 15th November 2019. Data were analysed with Cox regression models and cumulative hazard plots., Results: We present 1237 patients; 544 treated with DCB and 693 treated with DES for de novo, mainly large-vessel coronary artery disease. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, only age and frailty remained significant adverse predictors of all-cause mortality. Univariable, cumulative hazard plots showed no difference between DCB and DES for either all-cause mortality or any of the major cardiovascular endpoints, including unplanned TLR. The results remained unchanged following propensity score-matched analysis., Conclusion: DCB-only angioplasty, for stable angina and predominantly large vessels, is safe compared to DES as part of routine clinical practice, in terms of all-cause mortality and MACE, including unplanned TLR., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES) has emerged as the standard of care, but stent-related events have persisted. Drug-coated balloon (DCB)-only angioplasty is an emerging technology, although it is not fully evaluated compared with DES in the context of pPCI., Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the safety of DCB-only angioplasty compared with second-generation DES in pPCI., Methods: All-cause mortality and net adverse cardiac events (cardiovascular mortality, acute coronary syndrome, ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, major bleeding, and unplanned target lesion revascularization [TLR]) were compared among all patients treated with DCBs only or with second-generation DES only for first presentation of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to de novo disease between January 1, 2016, and November 15, 2019. Patients treated with both DCBs and DES were excluded. Data were analyzed using Cox regression models, Kaplan-Meier estimator plots and propensity score matching., Results: Among 1,139 patients with STEMI due to de novo disease, 452 were treated with DCBs and 687 with DES. After a median follow-up period of >3 years, all-cause mortality was 49 of 452 and 62 of 687 in the DCB and DES groups, respectively (P = 0.18). On multivariable Cox regression analysis, there was no difference in mortality between DCBs and DES in the full and propensity score-matched cohorts. Age, frailty risk, history of heart failure, and family history of ischemic heart disease remained significant independent predictors of mortality. There was no difference in any of the secondary endpoints, including unplanned TLR., Conclusions: DCB-only angioplasty appears safe compared with DES for STEMI in terms of all-cause mortality and all net adverse cardiac events, including unplanned TLR. DCB may be an efficacious and safe alternative to DES in selected patient groups. (Drug Coated Balloon Only vs Drug Eluting Stent Angioplasty; NCT04482972)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures This is an investigator-initiated study partially supported by the National Institute for Health and Care (NIHR) Research Capability Fund from Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and B. Braun. Dr Corballis was a NIHR academic clinical fellow. Dr Reinhold has received funding as an NIHR clinical lecturer. Dr Vassiliou has received honoraria for speaking at conferences from Daichii Sankyo and Novartis; and has received a research grant from B. Braun for investigator-initiated research. Dr Eccleshall has received research grants for investigator-initiated research and lecture honoraria from B. Braun; and acts as a consultant for B. Braun, Medtronic, and MedAlliance. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study is to compare the outcomes of patients treated with drug-coated balloons (DCBs) or second-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) for de novo unprotected left main stem (LMS) disease. Previous studies comparing the treatment of LMS disease suggest that the mortality for DES PCI is not worse than CABG. There are limited data from studies investigating the treatment of de novo LMS disease with DCB angioplasty. We compared the all-cause and cardiac mortality of patients treated with paclitaxel DCB to those with second-generation DES for de novo LMS disease from July 2014 to November 2019. Data were analysed using Kaplan-Meier analyses and propensity-matched analyses. A total of 148 patients were treated with either a DCB or DES strategy. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality in the DCB group (19.5%) compared to the DES group (15.9%) (HR 1.42 [0.61-3.32], p = 0.42). Regarding cardiac mortality, 2 (4.9%) were recorded for the DCB group and 7 (6.5%) for the DES group (HR 1.21 [0.31-4.67], p = 0.786); for target vessel myocardial infarction, there were 0 (0%) for the DCB group and 7 (6.5%) for the DES group; and for target lesion revascularisation, there were 3 (7.3%) in the DCB group and 9 (8.3%) in the DES group (HR: 0.89 [0.24-3.30]). p = 0.86. These remained not significant after propensity score matching. We found no difference in the mortality outcomes with DCB angioplasty compared to second-generation DES, with a median follow-up of 33 months. DCB can therefore be regarded as a safe option in the treatment of LMS disease in suitable patients.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate long-term survival of paclitaxel DCB for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)., Background: Safety concerns have been raised over the use of paclitaxel devices for peripheral artery disease recently, following a meta-analysis suggesting increased late mortality. With regard to drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty for coronary artery intervention however, there is limited data to date regarding possible late mortality relating to paclitaxel., Methods: We compared all-cause mortality of patients treated with paclitaxel DCB to those with non-paclitaxel second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) for stable, de novo coronary artery disease from 1st January 2011 till 31st December 2018. To have homogenous groups allowing data on safety to be interpreted accurately, we excluded patients with previous PCI and patients treated with a combination of both DCB and DES in subsequent PCIs. Data were analysed with Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression statistical models., Results: We present 1517 patients; 429 treated with paclitaxel DCB and 1088 treated with DES. On univariate analysis, age, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, prior myocardial infarction, heart failure, smoking, atrial fibrillation, decreasing estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) [and renal failure (eGFR < 45)] were associated with worse survival. DCB intervention showed a non-significant trend towards better prognosis compared to DES (p = 0.08). On multivariable analysis age, decreasing eGFR and smoking associated with worse prognosis., Conclusion: We found no evidence of late mortality associated with DCB angioplasty compared with non-paclitaxel second-generation DES in up to 5 years follow-up. DCB is a safe option for the treatment of de novo coronary artery disease.

Background: observational studies suggest that older patients are less likely to receive secondary prevention medicines following acute coronary syndrome (ACS)., Objectives: to examine the association of increasing age with receipt of specialist care and influence of specialist care on long-term mortality in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)., Design: a cohort study., Setting: National ACS registry of England and Wales., Subjects: a total of 85,183 patients admitted with NSTEMI between 2006 and 2010., Methods: logistic regression analyses to assess receipt of secondary prevention medicines (ACE inhibitor, β-blocker, statin, aspirin) by age group; multivariate Cox regression models to examine longitudinal effect of cardiologist care on all-cause mortality by age group., Results: mean age 72.0 years (SD 13.0 years), mean follow-up was 2.13 years. Older patients received less cardiologist care (70.2% of NSTEMI patients ≥85 years compared with 94.7% of patients <65) years and had more co-morbidity. Cardiologists prescribed more secondary prevention in all age groups than generalists, but this was mostly explained away by co-morbidity (receipt of statin crude OR 1.51 (1.27,1.80), fully adjusted OR 1.11 (0.92,1.33) in patients ≥85 years). Receiving cardiologist care compared with generalist care was associated with a decreased risk of death in all even after adjustment for co-morbidity, disease severity and secondary prevention; this benefit reduced incrementally with older age group (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.58 (0.49,0.68) aged <65; 0.87 (0.82,0.92) aged ≥85)., Conclusion: older patients with NSTEMI were less likely to see a cardiologist, but reduced treatment by generalists was explained away by co-morbidity. Cardiologist care was associated with lower mortality in all age groups than a generalist, but this survival benefit was less pronounced in older patients., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The authors describe a case of platypnoea orthodeoxia syndrome in an 83-year-old man with a fenestrated atrial septal defect and severe coronary artery disease. The patient had been admitted to hospital six times in the previous year with acute breathlessness, attributed to paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The patient's symptoms resolved completely following surgical repair of the defect and coronary artery bypass grafting.