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Introduction and objectives This study aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of modifying the classic implantation technique for aortic transcatheter heart valve (THV) implantation to a cusp-overlap-projection (COP) technique to achieve a higher implantation depth and to reduce the burden of new permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) at 30 days. Aortic self-expanding THV carries an elevated risk for PPMI. A higher implantation depth minimizes the damage in the conduction system and may reduce PPMI rates. Methods From March 2017, 226 patients were consecutively included: 113 patients were treated using the COP implantation technique compared with the previous 113 consecutive patients treated using the classic technique. In all patients, implantation depth was assessed by 3 methods (noncoronary cusp to the THV, mean of the noncoronary cusp and the left coronary cusp to the THV, and the deepest edge from the left coronary cusp and the noncoronary cusp to the THV). Results The COP group had a lower implantation depth than the group treated with the classic technique (4.8 mm ± 2.2 vs 5.7 mm ± 3.1; P = .011; 5.8 mm ± 3.1 vs 6.5 mm ± 2.4; P = .095; 7.1 mm ± 2.8 vs 7.4 mm ± 3.2; P = .392). Forty patients (17.7%) required a new PPMI after the 30-day follow-up but this requirement was significantly lower in the COP group (12.4% vs 23%, P = .036). The COP implantation technique consistently protected against the main event (OR, 0.45; 95%CI, 0.21-0.97; P = .043), with similar procedural success rates and complications. Conclusions The COP implantation technique is a simple modification of the implantation protocol and provides a higher implantation depth of self-expanding-THV with lower conduction disturbances and PPMI rates.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES In the last few decades, there has been a continuous process of improvement in medical treatment and secondary prevention measures after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Patients older than 65 years are at increased risk of death due to this event. Our aim was to determine whether patients aged less than 65 years and 65 years and older experiencing a STEMI can recover a life expectancy similar to that of the general population of the same age, sex, and geographical region. METHODS We included all patients experiencing a STEMI at our institution during a 6-year period in an observational-study (SurviSTEMI: survival in STEMI). We calculated their observed survival, expected survival, and excess mortality. We repeated all analyses for survivors of the acute event stratifying by 65 years. RESULTS For patients aged

Left Main Coronary Artery Aneurysm A 49-year-old man with hypertension was referred for evaluation of recurrent angina. Coronary angiography revealed a large aneurysm (shown in a video) in the left main coronary artery.