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Background We aimed to determine left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) calcification impact following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with contemporary transcatheter heart valves. Recent studies reported a higher rate of 2-year mortality with greater than moderate LVOT calcium, but they have not established a reliable and validated method to assess the degree of valve calcification and utilized first-generation valves for their analyses. Materials/methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent TAVR at our institution from 2013 through 2017 with available valves. LVOT calcification quantification was assessed as a continuous variable. Results We included 273 patients: 179 had a non-calcified LVOT (NOLVOTCA) and 96 had a calcified LVOT (LVOTCA). Balloon post-dilatation (BPD) was utilized in 31.3% of LVOTCA vs. 19% of NOLVOTCA (p = 0.029). The Evolut R valve was used in 40.6% vs. 23.4% ( p = 0.002), while the Sapien 3 was used in 59.4% vs. 76.6% (p = 0.004), for the LVOTCA and NOLVOTCA, respectively. Paravalvular leak (PVL) at hospital discharge was higher in LVOTCA (47.5%) versus NOLVOTCA (29.1%; p = 0.004). All-cause mortality (11.5% vs. 10.1%; p = 0.5) and need for permanent pacemaker implantation were similar between the groups. There was a positive trend between LVOT calcification volume and the probability of any PVL (OR 1.012; 95% CI, 0.99–1.02). Conclusions TAVR performed in patients with calcified LVOT is safe, but LVOT calcification adversely impacts TAVR outcomes, with a higher PVL rate despite greater usage of BPD. Calcium quantification did not predict any PVL degree post-TAVR.

Background Most pivotal transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) trials have excluded patients with bicuspid aortic stenosis (AS). This study compared TAVR in low-risk patients with bicuspid AS to those with tricuspid AS, incorporating data from prospective trials. Methods We selected prospective US low-risk TAVR trials containing a bicuspid arm for this meta-analysis, examining outcomes at 30 days. Study results were pooled using a hierarchical Bayesian random-effects model. Results Included were 3 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved investigational device exemption (IDE) trials that enrolled a total of 1810 low-risk patients with symptomatic severe AS for TAVR. We compared 380 bicuspid patients with 1430 tricuspid patients. Event rates at 30 days overall were low, with similar mortality (odds ratio [OR], 0.38; 95% credible interval [CrI]: 0.08, 1.78; I2, 0%), non-disabling stroke (OR, 0.45; 95% CrI: 0.15, 1.07; I2 , 9%), and permanent pacemaker implantation (OR, 0.86; 95% CrI: 0.41, 1.47; I 2, 59%). There were statistically significant differences in disabling stroke (OR, 0.16; 95% CrI: 0.01, 0.90; I2 , NA) and coronary obstruction (OR, 0.21; 95% CrI: 0.05, 0.91) that disappeared after sensitivity analysis by adding a single event to the tricuspid arm. Hemodynamics were similar at 30 days. Conclusions Preliminary data from the FDA-approved IDE trials of low-risk patients with bicuspid AS undergoing TAVR demonstrated 30-day outcomes comparable to low-risk tricuspid patients, except for a trend toward higher stroke in bicuspid patients. Randomized trials are warranted to reassure the safety and long-term outcome of TAVR in patients with severe bicuspid AS.

Widespread utilization of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains controversial, with a lack of randomized supporting evidence and associated risk of device-related complications. We investigated whether high-risk PCI of native coronary arteries without elective MCS in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is safe and feasible. We performed a single-center, retrospective analysis for ACS patients meeting American College of Cardiology high-risk criteria: unprotected left main disease, last remaining conduit, ejection fraction

End-stage liver disease (ESLD) is increasingly prevalent and shares many risk factors with coronary artery disease (CAD). No specific guidelines exist for pre-liver transplant evaluation of CAD, and pretransplant cardiovascular testing varies widely. The aim of this study is to characterize pre-transplant cardiac testing practices with post-transplant clinical outcomes. We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing initial liver transplantation at our transplant center between January 2015 and March 2019. Patients with previous liver transplantation or multi-organ transplantation were excluded. Electronic medical records were reviewed for relevant demographic and clinical data. We included 285 patients with a mean follow-up of 2.4 years. Of 274 patients (96.1%) with pre-transplant transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), 18 (6.6%) were abnormal. Non-invasive ischemic testing was performed in 193 (68%) patients: 165 (58%) underwent stress TTE, 24 (8%) underwent myocardial perfusion imaging, 3 underwent coronary computed tomography, and 1 underwent exercise electrocardiogram. Sixteen patients (6%) had left heart catheterization of which 10 (63%) were abnormal and 5 proceeded to revascularization before transplant. There were 4 (1.4%) deaths within 30 days of transplant and 23 deaths (8.1%) in total. ST-elevation myocardial infarction was seen in 1 patient within 30 days and 1 patient after 30 days (0.7% total). No cardiovascular deaths were observed. Among patients undergoing liver transplantation, pre-transplantation cardiovascular testing is exceedingly common and post-transplant cardiovascular complications are rare. Additional research is needed to determine the optimal testing and surveillance in this patient population.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is approved for all patient risk profiles and is an option for all patients irrespective of age. However, patients enrolled in the low- and intermediate-risk trials were in their 70s, and those in the high-risk trials were in their 80s. TAVR has never been systematically tested in young (

Background/purpose The MANTA vascular closure device (VCD) is the first commercially available dedicated closure device for large-bore femoral arterial access-site closure and was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2019. Real-world data on the most commonly reported complications and modes of failure associated with the MANTA closure device are limited. We analyzed post-marketing surveillance data from FDA's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database for the MANTA VCD (Teleflex, Wayne, Pennsylvania). Methods/materials Post-marketing surveillance data from the FDA MAUDE database from February 2019 through March 2020 were analyzed, yielding 170 reports. Results Of the 170 reports of major complications involving MANTA devices, 141 reports involved either injury (136) or death (5) related to the device. Of the 141 reports, bleeding was the most common adverse outcome described (45), followed by vessel occlusion (30) and vessel dissection (21). Device malfunction incidents (29 reports) were reported in 4 main categories: failed deployment (16 reports), malposition of the collagen (9), insufficient information (3), and device dislocation (1). Conclusions Our analysis of the MAUDE database demonstrates that in real-world practice, the MANTA VCD was found to be associated with complications, including death, vascular injury , and difficulties with the device itself. Ongoing user education, proctoring, and pre-procedural patient selection are important to minimize risks associated with the MANTA VCD.

Highlights • COVID-19 pandemic replaced face-to-face meetings with virtual ones. • We give highlights of late-breaking trials presented at the TVT Connect 2020. • We also report on selected structural trials presented at PCR e-Course 2020.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has greatly impacted the US healthcare system. Cardiac involvement in COVID-19 is common and manifested by troponin and natriuretic peptide elevation and tends to have a worse prognosis. We analyzed patients who presented to the MedStar Health system (11 hospitals in Washington, DC, and Maryland) with either an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) early in the pandemic (March 1, 2020 – June 30, 2020) using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision. Patients’ clinical course and outcomes, including in-hospital mortality, were compared on the basis of the results of COVID-19 status (positive or negative). The cohort included 1533 patients admitted with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), of whom 86 had confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, during the study period. COVID-19-positive patients were older and non-White and had more co-morbidities. Furthermore, inflammatory markers and N-terminal-proB-type-natriuretic peptide were higher in COVID-19-positive AMI patients. Only 20.0% (17) of COVID-19-positive patients underwent coronary angiography. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in AMI patients with concomitant COVID-19-positive status (27.9%) than in patients without COVID-19 during the same period (3.7%; p

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease has become an acceptable revascularization strategy. Evaluating the extent and characteristics of obstructive disease of the LMCA by angiography is challenging and limited in its accuracy. In contrast, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides accurate imaging of the coronary lumen as well as quantitative measurements and quantitative assessment of the vessel wall components. IVUS for LMCA PCI should be performed before, during, and after intervention; IVUS enhances every step in the procedure and is associated with a mortality advantage in comparison with angiographic guidance alone. In this review, we provide an update on LMCA PCI and the role of IVUS for lesion assessment and stent optimization. In addition, the latest clinical evidence of the benefits of IVUS-guided LMCA PCI as compared to angiography is reviewed.

Clinical trials have shown improved outcomes with an early invasive approach for non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). However, real-world data on clinical characteristics and outcomes based on time to revascularization are lacking. We aimed to analyze NSTEMI rates, revascularization timing, and mortality using the 2016 Nationwide Readmissions Database. We identify patients who underwent diagnostic angiography and subsequently received either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Finally, revascularization timing and mortality rates (in-hospital and 30-day) were extracted. Our analysis included 748,463 weighted NSTEMI hospitalizations in 2016. Of these hospitalizations, 50.3% (376,695) involved diagnostic angiography, with 34.1% (255,199) revascularized. Of revascularized patients, 77.6% (197,945) underwent PCI and 22.4% (57,254) underwent CABG. Patients with more comorbidities tended to have more delayed revascularization. PCI was most commonly performed on the day of admission (32.9%; 65,155). This differs from CABG, which was most commonly performed on day 3 after admission (13.7%; 7,823). The in-hospital mortality rate increased after day 1 for PCI patients and after day 4 for CABG patients, whereas 30-day in-hospital mortality for both populations increased as revascularization was delayed. Our study shows that patients undergoing early revascularization differ from those undergoing later revascularization. Mortality is generally high with delayed revascularization, as these are sicker patients. Randomized clinical trials are needed to evaluate whether very early revascularization (

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) performed during non-work hours is believed to have inferior outcomes because of operator fatigue, differences in baseline patient characteristics, and fewer on-call catheterization laboratory staff. We aimed to analyze a cohort of patients who underwent PCI (all comers) at our tertiary-care center between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2018, and compare procedural and in-hospital outcomes between 2 groups defined by whether PCI was performed during normal work hours (7:00 A.M. to 7:00 PM) versus non-work hours (7:01 P.M. to 6:59 A.M. weekdays; all hours weekends and holidays). Finally, we examined temporal changes throughout the 24-hour weekday. Primary outcomes were unadjusted in-hospital adverse outcomes (composite death, recurrent myocardial infarction, emergent coronary artery bypass grafting, and target lesion revascularization). We identified 21,848 patients who underwent PCI at our institution. The proportions of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) were higher during non-work hours. Overall, unadjusted in-hospital adverse outcomes were higher during non-work hours than during normal work hours (8.80% vs 2.00%; p

Background Utilization of catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) has steadily increased in recent years. Exploring short-term outcomes is vital in health care planning and resource allocation. Methods The Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2010 to 2014 was queried using the ICD-9 codes for VT (427.1) and catheter ablation (37.34) to identify study population. Incidence, causes of 30-day readmission, in-hospital complications as well as predictors of 30-day readmissions, complications, and cost of care were analyzed. Results Among 11 725 patients who survived to discharge after index admission for VT ablation, 1911 (16.3%) were readmitted within 30 days. Paroxysmal VT was the most common cause of 30-day readmission (39.51%). Dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease (CKD), previous CABG, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic pulmonary disease, and anemia predicted increased risk of 30-day readmissions. The overall in-hospital complication rate was 8.2% with vascular and cardiac complications being the most common. Co-existing CKD and CHF and the need for mechanical circulatory support (MCS) predicted higher complication rates. Similarly increasing age, CKD, CHF, anemia, in-hospital use of MCS or left heart catheterization, teaching hospital, and disposition to nursing facilities predicted higher cost. Conclusion Approximately one in six patients was readmitted after VT ablation, with paroxysmal VT being the most common cause of the readmission. A complication rate of 8.2% was noted. We also identified a predictive model for increased risk of readmission, complication, and factors influencing the cost of care that can be utilized to improve the outcomes related to VT ablation.

Advances in stent design and the development of bioresorbable polymers have allowed the development of novel stent technologies such as the Orsiro bioresorbable-polymer sirolimus eluting stent (BP-SES). Over several noninferiority trials, the BP-SES has demonstrated itself to be a safe and effective therapy for obstructive coronary artery disease. This article reviews the current evidence of the efficacy of the BP-SES and examines its performance in high-risk populations, such as patients presenting with ST-segment myocardial infarction, chronic total occlusions, diabetes, and small vessel disease.

Percutaneous coronary intervention with a drug-eluting stent is the most common mode of revascularization for coronary artery disease. However, restenosis rates remain high. Non-stent-base...

New-onset left bundle branch block (NLBBB) is the most common complication after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Expert consensus recommends temporary transvenous pacemaker (TTVP) support for 24 hours in these patients. To date, no study has examined TTVP use during the index hospitalization in detail. Therefore, we aimed to assess TTVP use in patients with TAVI who developed NLBBB. In this prospective observational study, we performed a detailed analysis of 24-hour telemetry in patients who developed NLBBB during TAVI. Baseline characteristics and procedural and postprocedural data were recorded. The primary outcome was pacing by the TTVP. We evaluated inappropriate TTVP use, electrophysiology study findings, permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation, and NLBBB resolution. A total of 83 patients (74.4 ± 8.7 years, 41% female) developed NLBBB during TAVI. During index hospitalization, 1 patient (1%) required TTVP because of complete heart block and received a PPM. Five of the 83 (6%) patients were inappropriately paced, and 1 patient (1%) had ventricular fibrillation, likely secondary to TTVP. A total of 34 patients (41%) underwent electrophysiology study during hospitalization, with 4 of 83 (5%) subsequently receiving a PPM. One (1%) patient died during hospitalization, and 9 patients were lost to follow-up because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the remaining 73 patients with a 30-day follow-up, NLBBB had resolved in 36 (49%) at 30 days, and 2 (3%) were readmitted with complete heart block and received PPM. In conclusion, in patients with TAVI who develop NLBBB, temporary pacing is rarely necessary, may carry additional risks to the patient, and prolong hospitalization time.

Background/purpose Pericardial effusion (PE) is a complication of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) and, specifically, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), that confers a worse prognosis. The safety of performing pericardiocentesis in patients with PHT has not been established. We aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of performing pericardiocentesis in patients with significant PHT. Methods/materials We performed a retrospective analysis from August 2013 to December 2018 at our tertiary-care center of patients who underwent a pericardiocentesis procedure. Patients, procedure, echocardiographic findings, any major intraprocedural complications, and post-procedural related complications up to 30 days were recorded. Specifically, we studied patients with significant PHT. Results The cohort included 170 patients, with an average age of 62.6 years and an even distribution of gender and co-morbidities. The etiology for the PE varied. Major complications were rare (1.7%) and only 10 patients (5.9%) required re-intervention for reaccumulation of fluid. There were 27 patients (15.9%) with significant PHT, 5 with World Health Organization (WHO) Group I PAH (2.94%). In the entire cohort, there were only 3 major complications (1.7%), none among PHT patients. Conclusions Pericardiocentesis is a safe procedure, including in patients with significant PHT, including those with WHO Group I PAH. We advocate the use of invasive hemodynamic monitoring in patients with significant PHT. Summary Pericardiocentesis tends to be a safe procedure. However, the safety of performing pericardiocentesis in patients with significant pulmonary hypertension has not been well established. We aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of performing pericardiocentesis, and specifically in patients with significant PHT out our tertiary center by performing a retrospective analysis.

Background Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is diagnosed in 1% to 2% of patients presenting with suspected acute coronary syndromes. Readmission patterns after TC have been less studied. Thus, we sought to perform a study to evaluate the etiologies, trends, and predictors of 90-day readmission in TC. Methods The Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD), 2014, was used to select the study cohort. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnostic code 429.83 was used to identify TC. Admissions within 90 days of index admission were considered early readmissions. Readmission etiologies were identified by an ICD-9-CM code. Hierarchical multivariate models were used to evaluate predictors of early readmission. Results A total of 28,079 patients were identified during the study period, of whom 24.3% (n = 6841) were readmitted within 90 days of discharge. In-hospital mortality during index admissions was 5.69%. The most common etiologies for readmission were cardiac (18.56%), respiratory (17.20%), and infections (13.12%). Among cardiac complications, acute heart failure was the most common etiology (7.48%). The highest number of readmissions happened on the first day after discharge (n = 125). On multivariate analysis, the age of 50–64 years, diabetes, heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, peripheral vascular disease, anemia, and malignancy were shown to be significant predictors of readmission. Patients of female gender are less likely to be readmitted and have lower in-hospital mortality. Conclusions Patients with TC are highly likely to be readmitted within the first month after discharge, most likely with secondary to cardiac or respiratory complications. These findings warrant close post-discharge transition to reduce morbidity and improve healthcare outcomes. Summary This analysis from the Nationwide Readmission Database outlines a detailed analysis on etiologies, trends, and predictors of 90-day readmission for patients presenting with takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can identify vulnerable coronary atherosclerotic plaques. We aimed to compare the presence or absence of baseline intravascular imaging of non-culprit lesions and their subsequent adverse events.We identified patients from the Lipid Rich Plaque (LRP) study who had a non-culprit-lesion adverse event and divided them into 2 cohorts: those with lesions detected with NIRS-IVUS imaging at baseline and those with lesions not imaged at baseline.Overall, 73 patients had an adverse event (99 coronary segments) during the 24-month follow-up period. Among them, 41 patients (56.2%) had a non-culprit-lesion adverse event related to a coronary segment imaged at baseline, and 32 patients (43.8%) had a non-culprit-lesion adverse event adjudicated to a segment that was not scanned at baseline. Angiographic core laboratory analysis suggested that unscanned lesions were more often in the right coronary artery (~50%); branches of the left coronary artery, i.e., diagonal or left obtuse marginal arteries (~20%); smaller vessels; or more tortuous vessels; and less often in the left anterior descending or distal locations. There was a weak trend for acute severe events (adjudicated myocardial infarction and acute coronary syndrome) in patients with lesions not scanned at baseline (50.0% versus 36.6%, p = 0.250).In patients with follow-up non-culprit-lesion adverse events, nearly half were not imaged with NIRS-IVUS at baseline. Because events related to non-imaged lesions were at least as severe as events related to imaged lesions, future clinical trials and clinical protocols should be designed to minimize this issue.The Lipid-Rich Plaque Study (LRP), https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02033694, NCT02033694.

Background Cardiac involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been established. This is manifested by troponin elevation, and associated with worse prognosis as compared with patients without myocardial injury. Purpose We sought to evaluate if the outcomes of these patients has improved as experience accumulated during the pandemic. Methods We analyzed COVID-19-positive patients with the evidence of myocardial injury (defined as troponin elevation) who presented to our large US healthcare system in the northeast region during the “Early Phase” of the pandemic (March 1–June 30, 2020) and compared their characteristics and outcomes to the COVID-19-positive patients with the presence of troponin elevation in the “Current Phase” of the pandemic (October 1, 2020–January 31, 2021). Results The cohort included 788 COVID-19-positive admitted patients for whom troponin was elevated, 167 during the “Early Phase” and 621 during the “Current Phase”. The cohort's mean age was 70.2±14.9 years; 54.3% were men (Figure 1). Maximum troponin-I in the “Early Phase” was 13.46±34.72 versus 11.21±20.57 in the “Current Phase” (p=0.553) In-hospital mortality was significantly higher (50.3%) in the “Early Phase” group compared to the “Current Phase” group (24.6%; p Conclusions Treatment outcomes have significantly improved since the beginning of the pandemic in COVID-19-positive patients with troponin elevation. This may be attributed to awareness, severity of the disease, improvements in therapies and provider experience. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

The occurrence of venous thromboembolisms in patients with COVID-19 has been established. We sought to evaluate the clinical impact of thrombosis in patients with COVID-19 over the span of the pandemic to date. We analyzed patients with COVID-19 with a diagnosis of thrombosis who presented to the MedStar Health system (11 hospitals in Washington, District of Columbia, and Maryland) during the pandemic (March 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021). We compared the clinical course and outcomes based on the presence or absence of thrombosis and then, specifically, the presence of cardiac thrombosis. The cohort included 11,537 patients who were admitted for COVID-19. Of these patients, 1,248 had noncardiac thrombotic events and 1,009 had cardiac thrombosis (myocardial infarction) during their hospital admission. Of the noncardiac thrombotic events, 562 (45.0%) were pulmonary embolisms, 480 (38.5%) were deep venous thromboembolisms, and 347 (27.8%) were strokes. In the thrombosis arm, the mean age of the cohort was 64.5 ± 15.3 years, 53.3% were men, and the majority were African-American (64.9%). Patients with thrombosis tended to be older with more co-morbidities. The in-hospital mortality rate was significantly higher (16.0%) in patients with COVID-19 with concomitant non-cardiac thrombosis than in those without thrombosis (7.9%, p

Objectives To analyze post-marketing surveillance data from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database for the VASCADE Vascular Closure System (Cardiva Medical Inc., Santa Clara, CA). Background The VASCADE Vascular Closure System is a closure device for femoral arterial and venous access-site closure that was approved by the FDA in 2013. However, post-marketing data and experience on the most commonly reported complications and modes of failure associated with the VASCADE Vascular Closure System are limited. Methods Post-marketing surveillance data from the FDA MAUDE database from October 2013 through March 2020 were analyzed, yielding 201 reports. Results Of the 201 reports of major complications involving VASCADE devices, 156 reports involved either injury (145) or death (11) related to the device. Of the 145 injury reports, bleeding was the most common adverse outcome described (85), followed by pseudoaneurysm (29) and pulselessness of an extremity (21). The device malfunction incidents (41 reports) were reported in three main categories, with deployment failure being the most commonly reported complication. Conclusions Our analysis of the MAUDE database demonstrates that in contemporary post-marketing practice, physicians should be well-trained and educated to use the VASCADE closure device because improper utilization is a common cause of device failure, and complications with the VASCADE device can have profound clinical implications.

The efficacy of early administration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for secondary prevention after acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) is uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis compares the safety and efficacy of early administration (

Background Recent meta-analyses have raised concerns about mortality with paclitaxel drug-coated balloons (DCB). This pooled, patient-level analysis of the BIOLUX P-I, P-II, and P-III studies was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Passeo-18 Lux DCB. Materials and Methods Individual patient-level demographic, clinical, diagnostic, and procedural data from the BIOLUX P-I, BIOLUX P-II, and BIOLUX P-III studies were pooled in a common database. Clinical safety (all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality) and efficacy (any amputation, target lesion/vessel revascularization) were extracted. Cox proportional modeling was used to assess the effect of critical limb ischemia at the time of enrollment and the occurrence of new amputation as a time-dependent variable on mortality. Results A total of 1009 patients were included in the analysis. Sixty-six patients were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and 943 underwent DCB angioplasty . The cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality did not differ between the groups (PTA 6.7%, DCB 6.7%, p = 0.65). The composite efficacy endpoint of freedom from any amputation and target lesion/vessel revascularization was superior in the DCB arm compared to PTA [PTA 28.8%, DCB 16.7%, p = 0.02]. Both in unadjusted and adjusted Cox proportional models (adjusted for critical limb ischemia and amputation), the use of DCB was not associated with any mortality at 1 year. Conclusions Our patient-level analysis shows that overall the use of the Passeo-18 Lux paclitaxel DCB in infrainguinal arteries was not associated with increased mortality at 1 year and reinforces the efficacy of DCB angioplasty in preventing amputation or the need for reintervention.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial injury is a complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We describe a large multi-center experience of COVID-19 patients with myocardial injury, examining the prognostic role left ventricular function plays on short-term outcomes. METHODS/MATERIALS: We included adult COVID-19 patients admitted to our health system with evidence of myocardial injury and who underwent a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) during index admission. Patients were dichotomized into those with reduced ejection fraction (EF

Background Prospective bicuspid low-risk transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) registries' data demonstrated encouraging short-term results. Detailed data on transcatheter heart valve (THV) geometry after deployment using contemporary devices are lacking. This study sought to examine valve geometry after TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic stenosis (AS). Methods The study population was patients from the LRT (Low Risk TAVR) trial who underwent TAVR using the SAPIEN 3 THV for bicuspid and tricuspid AS. THV geometry measured on 30-day computed tomography (CT) included valve height, angle, depth, and eccentricity. Additionally, THV hemodynamics and outcomes post-TAVR were compared among patients with bicuspid and tricuspid AS. Results A total of 107 patients from the LRT trial using the SAPIEN 3 THV were included in our analysis. On 30-day CT, the valve height ratio (1.07 vs. 1.07; p = 0.348), depths (right [5.6 mm vs. 6.2 mm; p = 0.223], left [5.3 mm vs. 4.4 mm; p = 0.082] and non [4.8 mm vs. 4.5 mm; p = 0.589] coronary cusps), eccentricities (1.08 vs. 1.07; p = 0.9550), and angles (except the right [3.9 degrees vs. 6.3 degrees; p = 0.003] and left [3.6 degrees vs. 6.0 degrees; p = 0.007]) were similar between bicuspid and tricuspid patients. Hemodynamics, stroke, and mortality were similar at 1 year. Conclusion Despite challenging bicuspid anatomy of the aortic valve , our comprehensive CT analysis supports similar THV geometry between patients with bicuspid and tricuspid AS undergoing TAVR using the SAPIEN 3 THV in low-risk patients. This translated to excellent short-term clinical outcomes and THV hemodynamics in both aortic valve morphologies. Trial registry NCT02628899 , https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02628899 .

Background Cardiac involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is known, manifested by troponin elevation. Studies in the initial phase of the pandemic demonstrated that these patients tended to have a worse prognosis than patients without myocardial injury . We sought to evaluate the clinical impact of significant troponin elevation in COVID-19-positive patients, along with predictors of poor outcomes, over the span of the pandemic to date. Methods We analyzed COVID-19-positive patients who presented to the MedStar Health system (11 hospitals in Washington, DC, and Maryland) during the pandemic (March 1–June 30, 2020). We compared clinical course and outcomes based on the presence of troponin elevation and identified predictors of mortality. Results The cohort included 2716 COVID-19-positive admitted patients for whom troponin was drawn. Of these patients, 250 had troponin elevation (≥1.0 ng/mL). In the troponin-elevation arm, the minimum troponin level was 1.9 ± 8.82 ng/mL; maximum elevation was 10.23 ± 31.07 ng/mL. The cohort's mean age was 68.0 ± 15.0 years; 52.8% were men. Most (68.5%) COVID-19-positive patients with troponin elevation were African American. Patients with troponin elevation tended to be older, with more co-morbidities, and most required mechanical ventilation . In-hospital mortality was significantly higher (48.4%) in COVID-19-positive patients with concomitant troponin elevation than without troponin elevation (12.2%; p Conclusion COVID-19 patients with troponin elevation are at higher risk for mechanical ventilation and mortality. Efforts should focus on early recognition, evaluation, and intensifying care of these patients.

The prognosis of left circumflex (LC) versus non-LC in-stent restenosis (ISR) ostial lesions following treatment has not been assessed. We aimed to assess this prognosis. Anecdotally, treatment of ostial LC ISR has been associated with high recurrence rates. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients from our institution who underwent coronary intervention of an ostial ISR lesion between 2003 and 2018. The primary endpoint was target lesion revascularization (TLR) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Overall, 563 patients underwent ostial ISR lesion intervention, 144 for an ostial LC ISR lesion. Compared to patients with ostial ISR in non-LC lesions, patients with ostial LC ISR were older, had higher rates of diabetes mellitus and previous coronary bypass surgery. At 1-year follow-up, TLR-MACE rates were 26.6% in the LC group versus 18.4% in the non-LC group (p = 0.036). The TLR rate was also higher in the LC group compared to the non-LC group (p = 0.0498). Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated a higher TLR-MACE rate for LC versus non-LC ostial ISR lesions. In conclusion, our study shows increased event rates after treatment of LC versus non-LC ISR lesions. Further studies should be done to assess the optimal treatment approach for ostial LC ISR.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) has dramatically changed the outcome of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, despite improvements in interventional technology, registry data show little recent change in the prognosis of patients who survive STEMI, with a significant incidence of cardiogenic shock, heart failure, and cardiac death. Despite a technically successful PPCI procedure, a variable proportion of patients experience suboptimal myocardial reperfusion. Large infarct size and coronary microvascular injury, as the consequence of ischaemia–reperfusion injury and distal embolization of atherothrombotic debris, account for suboptimal long-term prognosis of STEMI patients. In order to address this unmet therapeutic need, a broad-range of device-based treatments has been developed. These device-based therapies can be categorized according to the pathophysiological pathways they target: (i) techniques to prevent distal atherothrombotic embolization, (ii) techniques to prevent or mitigate ischaemia/reperfusion injury, and (iii) techniques to enhance coronary microvascular function/integrity. This review is an overview of these novel technologies with a focus on their pathophysiological background, procedural details, available evidence, and with a critical perspective about their potential future implementation in the clinical care of STEMI patients.

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is a therapeutic option for patients with severe mitral disease who are deemed inoperable due to their overall surgical risk. The close relationships between the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and the anterior mitral valve leaflet can lead to LVOT obstruction, a common complication with high mortality. Predicting and preventing LVOT obstruction is therefore essential, prior to TMVR. Laceration of the Anterior Mitral leaflet to Prevent Outflow ObtructioN (LAMPOON) is a transcatheter electrosurgical technique to split the anterior mitral valve leaflet immediately prior to TMVR. The technique has been studied in a prospective clinical trial and has evolved with many iterations for specific anatomies. In this review, we discuss the different LAMPOON techniques to prevent and treat LVOT obstruction.

Highlights • ACC Scientific Sessions 2020 shared the latest research in cardiology. • We highlight results from 14 late-breaking trials. • Areas covered include TAVR, coronary, and peripheral artery disease.

Areas covered:In this review, we outline the underlying causes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) as evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT). We report both the definitions of each mechanism and its frequency as reported in the literature to date. Finally, we present an algorithm based on the findings in the review that gives an outlined approach to perform intervention on ACS patients.Expert opinion:Although the most common and most accepted intervention in ACS cases is stent implantation, data suggest a stentless approach in cases of plaque erosion, which generally occurs in younger patients presenting with an acute coronary syndrome that have TIMI flow of 2/3 and either a small or large burden of thrombus and underlying stenosis of less than 50%.

Background: The supra-annular leaflet position and tall stent frame of the self-expanding Evolut PRO or Evolut PRO+ transcatheter heart valves (THVs) may cause coronary occlusion during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)-in-TAVR and present challenges for future coronary access. We sought to evaluate the risk of TAVR-in-TAVR with Evolut PRO or Evolut PRO+ THVs and the feasibility of future coronary access. Methods: The CoreValve Evolut PRO Prospective Registry (EPROMPT; NCT03423459) prospectively enrolled patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis to undergo TAVR using a commercially available latest generation self-expanding THV at 2 centers in the United States. Computed tomography was performed 30 days after TAVR, which we used to simulate TAVR-in-TAVR with a second Evolut PRO or Evolut PRO+ THV and evaluate for risk of coronary obstruction and feasibility of future coronary access. Results: Eighty-one patients enrolled with interpretable computed tomography are reported herein. Computed tomography simulation predicted sinus of Valsalva sequestration and resultant coronary obstruction during future TAVR-in-TAVR in up to 23% of patients. Computed tomography simulation predicted that the position of the pinned THV leaflets would hinder future coronary access in up to 78% of patients after TAVR-in-TAVR. Conclusions: Further THV design improvements and leaflet modification strategies are needed to mitigate the risk of coronary obstruction during TAVR-in-TAVR with self-expanding THVs and to facilitate future coronary access. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT03423459.

Objectives Assess the impact on fluoroscopy time and contrast use in patients with tortuous brachiocephalic/thoracic aortas undergoing right transradial coronary angiography (RTCA) and provide strategies to manage. Background Unfavorable anatomy with severe brachiocephalic/thoracic tortuosity, referred to as an "elephant head," remains a significant obstacle for RTCA. Methods We reviewed the coronary angiograms of patients who underwent RTCA and had tortuous aortas. Angiography was attempted first using a universal catheter (Tiger) and switched to a left coronary specific catheter (Judkins Left [JL]) if challenging. Fluoroscopy time, contrast volume, and greatest distance from the patient's midline to the catheter in the aorta were recorded. Results Forty-nine patients (62.6 ± 12.0 years, 69.4% male) were included. Fifteen (30.6%) patients underwent successful angiography with a Tiger catheter; 34 (69.4%) patients required switching to JL catheter. The average distance of Tiger catheters to the midline of the spine was 0.78 ± 0.41 cm versus 1.28 ± 0.44 cm (p = .001) in JL catheters. Tiger catheter use resulted in less fluoroscopy time (6.48 ± 4.73 min) and contrast use (58.87 ± 43.53 ml) than in cases switched to JL (13.26 ± 10.76 min [p = .026]; 86.5 ± 69.95 ml [(p = .017]). Conclusions For patients undergoing RTCA with significant brachiocephalic/thoracic aorta tortuosity, "elephant head," a Tiger catheter can be used efficiently for curvatures 1 cm, operators should consider immediately switching to a JL catheter.

The rationale for dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is to facilitate endothelialization of metallic struts of the transcatheter heart valve and to prevent thrombosis that could lead to thromboembolic events. Based on expert consensus, current societal guidelines recommend DAPT for 1 to 6 months after TAVI with weak evidence. Although the pivotal TAVI trials mandated this regimen, the evidence for the efficacy of DAPT to prevent transcatheter heart valve thrombosis is limited to 3 small trials and a handful of observational studies. Multiple coronary trials have demonstrated that DAPT is associated with increased bleeding in comparison with single antiplatelet therapy, especially in elderly patients. TAVI patients are predominantly elderly and frequently have risk factors that predispose them to bleeding. Herein, we summarize the evidence for antiplatelet therapy after TAVI and explore the theoretical benefit of DAPT to prevent thromboembolic events versus the risk of increased bleeding.

Introduction: Despite the high prevalence of CAD in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), the optimal management of concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) before trasncatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains controversial. Hypothesis: To characterize the contemporary, real-world burden of CAD in contemporary TAVR patients and to evaluate revascularization practices at a high-volume center in the United States. Methods: Analysis of all adult patients referred for TAVR at our center between January 2019 and January 2020. Presence of significant coronary artery disease (stenosis >50%) and subsequent management (medical therapy versus revascularization) were recorded. Presenting symptoms, use of non-invasive and invasive ischemia testing and pre-TAVR computed tomography (CT) imaging were all analyzed. Results: A total of 394 patients with severe AS were referred to our institution for TAVR. Thirty-nine patients (9.9%) instead underwent surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), of which only 5 (1.3%) underwent SAVR plus coronary artery bypass surgery. Of the remaining 355 patients (77.3 ± 9.3 years old and 59.7% males), 218 patients (61.4%) had insignificant CAD. Of the 137 patients (38.6%) with significant CAD, only 30 (8.5%) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Of these, less than half had anginal symptoms, a third had CAD in proximal segments and a third underwent ischemia testing prior to PCI. Pre-TAVR CT accurately identified significant CAD in 28/30 patients (93.3%) who ultimately underwent PCI. Conclusions: Only 1 in 25 contemporary TAVR patients had significant CAD and anginal symptoms requiring intervention, questioning the utility of routine invasive coronary angiography before TAVR. A Heart Team approach integrating anginal symptoms and ischemia testing is needed to guide the need, timing and strategy of revascularization. The pre-TAVR CT images could identify significant proximal segment CAD needing PCI.

Background: Use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HRPCI) remains controversial with lack of randomized evidence and associated complication risks from these devices. We investigated whether performing HRPCI without elective MCS in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is safe and feasible. Methods: A single-center, retrospective analysis was done for patients presenting with ACS meeting HRPCI criteria (defined by Interventional Council of American College of Cardiology) including unprotected left main disease, last remaining conduit, left ventricular ejection fraction Results: From 2003-2018, 1992 patients (2887 lesions) with unstable angina (UA) or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and 920 patients (1328 lesions) with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) underwent HRPCI. The study population had 64.8% men and 52.9% Caucasians in UA/NSTEMI-group and 64.3% men and 53.7% Caucasians in STEMI-group. Mean age for UA/NSTEMI and STEMI patients were 68.6+/-12.69 and 64.52+/-13.54 years respectively. Procedural success was achieved in 96.5% of UA/NSTEMI and 97.9% of STEMI patients. In-hospital and 30-day all-cause mortality was 2.1% for UA/NSTEMI and 4.7% for STEMI patients. Bailout MCS was required in 2.4% of UA/NSTEMI and 9.9% of STEMI patients. Rates of major complications for UA/NSTEMI and STEMI were low, except for renal failure (Panel A). Panel B provides HRPCI criteria distribution. Conclusions: HRPCI without elective MCS is safe and feasible in majority of ACS patients challenging the current practices of professional societies. A randomized trial comparing unprotected vs. protected HRPCI for ACS patients is warranted to identify patients that would benefit from MCS.

Background: Multiple studies on Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) have shown that women tend to have delayed revascularization, with associated worse outcomes, when compared to men. However, there are no studies to date, evaluating the clinical characteristics and outcomes of men versus (vs.) women based on time to revascularization. Methods: The study cohort was obtained from the 2016 Nationwide Readmissions Database. We used the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, to identify patients who underwent diagnostic angiography and subsequently received either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Finally, mortality and 30-day readmissions rates based on gender and time to revascularization were extracted. Results: In 2016, there were a total of 748,439 weighted admissions for NSTEMI (57% men and 43% women). Compared to men, women were older and had higher percentage of baseline comorbidities. Women tended to be managed less invasively with only 45% undergoing coronary angiogram as compared to 54% in men (p Conclusions: Currently, there exists wide disparity among men and women in the treatment of NSTEMI. Women tend to have worse outcomes as the revascularization gets delayed. Randomized clinical trials are needed to evaluate if a strategy of urgent revascularization (

Introduction: Cardiac involvement in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is common. Estimated that 30% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have an elevated troponin and these patients have worse prognosis when compared to patients without myocardial injury. Hypothesis: The purpose of this study is to investigate if there is any racial disparity in the in-hospital clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients with myocardial injury. Methods: This study included all COVID-19 positive patients within the MedStar Health System (11 acute hospitals in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area) with an elevation of troponin and a diagnosis of either ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) or Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) based on International Classification of Diseases-10. Results: There was 3,589 COVID-19 admissions between March to June 2020. Of these, a total of 75 COVID-19 patients had either a STEMI or NSTEMI. Overall mean age was 70.9 ± 14.6 and 54.7% were male. Of these patients, the majority were African American (51; 68%) followed by Caucasians (15; 20%). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 24.3%, with African Americans having a higher rate (73.7%) as compared to Caucasians (15.8%) p 0.05. Furthermore, African Americans trended toward having higher rates of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, intubation, and longer ICU stays; however, not statistically significant. Despite African Americans appearing to be a sicker cohort, inflammatory markers and myocardial involvement did not differ between the two groups (Table 1). Conclusions: Patients with COVID-19 and concomitant myocardial injury have a high in-hospital mortality rate. There is a racial disparity with African Americans having a higher rate of in-hospital mortality. However, inflammatory markers and myocardial injury does not differ between the two groups meaning other unidentified underlying issue may be the etiology for a sicker cohort in African Americans.

Background/purpose Despite the high prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), the optimal management of concomitant CAD, including revascularization before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), remains controversial. Contemporary, real-world practice patterns have not yet been described. We aimed to characterize the burden of CAD in contemporary TAVR patients and evaluate revascularization practices at a high-volume center. Methods/materials We retrospectively analyzed all adult patients referred for TAVR at our center between January 2019 and January 2020. Presence of significant CAD and subsequent management were recorded. Presenting symptoms, use of non-invasive and invasive ischemia testing, and pre-TAVR computed tomography (CT) imaging were analyzed. Results A total of 394 patients with severe AS were referred for TAVR. Thirty-nine patients (9.9%) instead underwent surgery, of whom only 5 (1.3%) received coronary artery bypass grafting . Of the remaining 355 patients, 218 patients (61.4%) had insignificant CAD. Of the 137 patients (38.6%) with significant CAD, only 30 (8.5%) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Of these, less than half had anginal symptoms, a third had CAD in proximal segments, and a third underwent ischemia testing before PCI. Pre-TAVR CT accurately identified significant CAD in 28/30 patients (93.3%) who underwent PCI. Conclusions Only 1 in 25 contemporary TAVR patients had significant CAD and angina requiring intervention, calling into question the utility of routine invasive coronary angiography before TAVR. A Heart Team approach integrating anginal symptoms, ischemia testing and possibly pre-TAVR CT is needed to guide the need, timing, and strategy of revascularization.

Background To date, there are no real-world studies comparing cangrelor to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Thus, we performed this study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of cangrelor compared to GPI during PCI. Methods We identified patients who underwent PCI at our institution who received either cangrelor or GPI during PCI. Patients already on GPI or cangrelor prior to PCI or who received both cangrelor and GPI were excluded. Baseline demographics and clinical outcomes were extracted. Major bleeding is defined as a composite of major hematoma >4 cm, hematocrit drop >15, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Results A total of 2072 patients received adjunctive antiplatelet therapy during PCI (cangrelor [n=478]; GPI [n=1594]). Patients’ mean age was 61±12 years. Most (66%) presented with acute coronary syndrome. Patients who received cangrelor were older and had a higher percentage of acute coronary syndrome and lower baseline hematocrit in comparison with patients who received GPI. Procedural success was achieved in 94% of patients, with no difference between groups. Major bleeding events (1.7% vs. 5.1%, P=.001), any vascular complication rates, and hospital length of stay were significantly lower in the cangrelor group. In-hospital ischemic events did not differ between groups. On regression analysis, patients on cangrelor were noted to have significantly lower major bleeding events (OR 0.23; 95% CI, 0.09-0.59). Conclusions Balancing ischemic and bleeding risks with adjunctive antiplatelet drugs is of prime importance during PCI. Our real-world analysis shows that cangrelor is safe and effective when compared to GPI during PCI.