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We compared the outcome of patients with saphenous graft disease treated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered stents or noncovered stents. Angiographic success was similar; non-Q-wave myocardial infarction was lower in the PTFE group (p = 0.06) and long-term major cardiac events and restenosis rate were similar in the 2 groups. Implantation of PTFE-covered stent in vein graft disease seems to reduce the occurrence of distal embolization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging has been used to optimize stent implantation in coronary arteries, but the criteria used were chosen on an empiric basis. The aim of this study was to determine whether any of these criteria have an independent role in predicting the probability of freedom from restenosis. The study population consisted of 425 patients (496 lesions) who underwent angiographically successful IVUS-guided stenting. Five IVUS criteria were studied: (1) intrastent minimal lumen cross-sectional area (ISMLCSA) > or =9 mm2; (2) ISMLCSA (> or =9 mm2 and > or =80% of average reference lumen cross-sectional area [CSA]); (3) ISMLCSA > or =90% of average reference lumen CSA; (4) ISMLCSA > or =90% of distal reference lumen CSA; and (5) ISMLCSA > or =55% of average reference vessel CSA. These criteria were met in 33%, 29%, 68%, 82%, and 69% of lesions, respectively. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 335 of 421 eligible patients (80%) at 5.3 +/- 2.7 months. An absolute ISMLCSA > or =9 mm2 was associated with the lowest restenosis, but this criterion was primarily achieved in large vessels. The only criterion that was associated with higher probability of freedom from restenosis independently from vessel size was an ISMLCSA > or =55% of average reference vessel CSA. Therefore, when IVUS is used to guide stent implantation an effort should be made to achieve the largest lumen safely possible. An ISMLCSA > or =55% of the average reference vessel CSA seems to be the most appropriate criterion in terms of frequency of achievement and in terms of increasing the probability of freedom from restenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intrinsic characteristics of a stent including stent length may affect both procedural success and long-term outcome. The present study evaluated the immediate and follow-up results after implantation of the short and long NIR stent and compared these results with the Palmaz-Schatz stent. Between July 1995 and December 1996, stenting with a 16-mm NIR stent (NIR-16), a 32-mm NIR stent (NIR-32), or a Palmaz-Schatz stent (PS) was performed in 68, 57, and 155 lesions, respectively. There were no significant differences in the incidences of delivery failure (PS, 2.6%: NIR-16, 4.4%; NIR-32, 5.3%; p = NS) and procedural success (PS, 92%; NIR-16, 93%; NIR-32, 93%; p = NS) among the 3 groups. The reference vessel diameter was smaller in lesions with a 32-mm NIR stent than in those with a Palmaz-Schatz stent (PS, 3.14+/-0.58, NIR-16, 3.00+/-0.50; NIR-32, 2.90+/-0.47 mm; p <0.05). The lesion length was longer in lesions with a 32-mm NIR stent than in those with a Palmaz-Schatz or a 16-mm NIR stent (PS, 8.9+/-5.0; NIR-16, 11.0+/-4.1; NIR-32, 26.1+/-9.7 mm; p <0.01). After the procedure, the lesions with a 32-mm NIR stent had a smaller minimal lumen diameter than those with a Palmaz-Schatz stent (PS, 3.17+/-0.61; NIR-16, 2.99+/-0.51; NIR-32, 2.89+/-0.49 mm; p <0.01). At follow-up, a smaller minimal lumen diameter was observed in lesions with a 32-mm NIR stent than in those with a Palmaz-Schatz or a 16-mm NIR stent (PS, 2.32+/-0.98; NIR-16, 2.25+/-0.80; NIR-32, 1.68+/-0.79 mm; p <0.01). Restenosis rates were 16.5% in lesions with a Palmaz-Schatz stent, 13.3% in those with a 16-mm NIR stent, and 47.4% in those with a 32-mm NIR stent (p <0.01). Although stent delivery and procedural success of a long NIR stent were acceptable, the restenosis rate of a long NIR stent was high compared with a short NIR stent or a Palmaz-Schatz stent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of cardiac and cerebrovascular events during COVID-19 hospitalization on long-term prognosis remains uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the effect of myocardial infarction (MI), cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and pulmonary embolism (PE) during hospitalization on the long-term prognosis in patients who survived COVID-19 hospitalization. A retrospective observational analysis was performed on a cohort of 2,389 patients who survived COVID-19 hospitalization in our institution between January and June 2020. The patients were divided into MI (n = 111) and non-MI (n = 2,278) groups according to the presence of MI during hospitalization. As a subanalysis, the patients were assigned to CVA (n = 97) and non-CVA (n = 2,292) and PE (n = 54) and non-PE (n = 2,335) groups. The primary outcome was long-term survival after discharge. During a median follow-up period of 2.4 years after discharge, 30 patients (27.0%) in the MI group and 140 patients (6.2%) in the non-MI group died (p <0.001). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis demonstrated that the MI group was significantly associated with an increased incidence of all-cause death after discharge (log-rank p <0.001), as supported by the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis (hazard ratio [HR] 2.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.61 to 3.74, p <0.001). However, the presence of CVA (HR 1.46, 95% CI 0.91 to 2.34, p = 0.113) or PE (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.23 to 3.84, p = 0.937) were not associated with an increased incidence of all-cause death after discharge. In conclusion, among the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications associated with COVID-19 hospitalization, the presence of MI during hospitalization was proved to be a significant independent predictor of long-term mortality in patients who survived COVID-19 hospitalization., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no competing interests to declare., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)