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BackgroundEndometriosis is a complex chronic disease characterized by pain, including painful sex, that can contribute to considerable sexual function, self-esteem, and relationship challenges. Digital storytelling is an arts-based, participatory methodology wherein individuals create and share their illness experiences in detailing their lived experiences. ObjectiveThe study objective was to pilot-test a web-based digital storytelling workshop focused on endometriosis to understand storytellers’ experiences of workshop participation. We assessed the feasibility of story cocreation and sharing, including the emotional impact of workshop participation, the acceptability of the workshop for the subject matter, and the storytellers’ willingness to share their stories with broader audiences as a method for knowledge translation. MethodsThis study used a community-based participatory methodology supplemented with patient-oriented research and integrated knowledge translation. Study participants, referred to as storytellers, cocreated 3- to 5-minute individual digital stories about their lived experiences of endometriosis during a web-based workshop (comprising five 2-hour sessions over 6 weeks) facilitated by The Center for Digital Storytelling. Data were collected through participant observations at the workshop, storyteller weekly reflective journals, and an end-of-workshop focus group interview with storytellers. These data were analyzed using a qualitative interpretive description approach. ResultsA total of 5 women and 1 nonbinary storyteller aged 19 to 39 years who had experienced endometriosis for 4 to 22 years participated in the study. We characterized storytelling workshop participation and the acceptability of story cocreation by describing participants’ experiences of opportunity, commitment, and connection; complex emotions that were healing; and a desire to share. Feasibility was demonstrated through 100% engagement in the workshops. All 6 storytellers reported feeling empowered by publicly sharing their cocreated digital stories through social media and the Sex, Pain & Endometriosis website. ConclusionsDespite the complexities of the story-building process, the workshop and the cocreation and sharing of digital stories were feasible. The storytellers found that this process allowed for emotional healing and personal empowerment by offering a unique way to talk about painful sex, which also facilitated a connection among those in the workshop. The use of digital storytelling as a knowledge translation tool shows promise, and this approach also has potential as a therapeutic intervention.

Non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in the general population, and its prevalence increases among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis. This population presents high risk of both hemorrhagic and thrombotic events, with little evidence regarding the use of oral anticoagulation treatment (OAT) and multiple complications arising from it; however, stroke prevention with percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is an alternative to be considered. We retrospectively describe the safety and efficacy of percutaneous LAAC in eight patients with NVAF and CKD on hemodialysis during a 12-month follow-up. The mean age was 78.8 years (range 64–86; SD ± 6.7), and seven patients were male. The mean CHA2DS2-VASC and HAS-BLED scores were high, 4.8 (SD ± 1.5) and 3.8 (SD ± 1.3), respectively. Seventy-five percent of the patients were referred for this intervention due to a history of major bleeding, with gastrointestinal bleeding being the most common type, while the remaining twenty-five percent of the patients were referred because of a high risk of bleeding. The percutaneous LAAC procedure was successfully completed in 100% of the patients, with complete exclusion of the appendage without complications or leaks exceeding 5 mm. There was one death not related to the procedure four days after the intervention. Among the other seven patients, no deaths, cardioembolic events or major bleeding were reported during the follow-up period. In our sample, percutaneous LAAC appears to be a safe and effective alternative to anticoagulation in patients with NVAF and CKD on hemodialysis.

ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives: Coronary bifurcation lesions are a common scenario in our interventional practice and can be challenging for our routine clinical practice. Yet despite the existence of well-defined techniques, side-branch compromise is still the most important problem. Currently, the standard strategy recommended is a 1-stent technique: balloon angioplasty and provisional stenting. Published non-randomized data reveal that in up to 26% of the cases the indication for rotational atherectomy was to preserve the side-branch. A randomized comparison between rotational atherectomy and provisional stenting (RAPS) and standard strategy (SS) for the management of bifurcation lesions is needed at this point. Methods: We conducted a single center, prospective, randomized pilot study of consecutive patients from our center with bifurcation lesions. We compared the RAPS strategy to the SS. Lesions had to be located in the main vessel only. The bifurcation lesion angle was recorded. The primary endpoint was the need for side-branch therapy. Results: 148 patients were included: 74 patients (95 rotational atherectomy) were enrolled in the RAPS group and 74 patients in the SS group. The bifurcation lesion most frequently treated was that of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. The primary endpoint was lower in the RAPS group compared to the SS group (1.1 vs 31.2%; P < .001). Target vessel failure (TVF) was 13.1% and 24.8% (P = .04) in RAPS and SS, respectively. Both the primary endpoint and TVF were higher with bifurcation lesion angles < 70º compared to bifurcation lesion angles ≥ 70º (P = .03 and P = .02) in both groups. Conclusions: The need for side-branch therapy and TVF was lower when the RAPS strategy was used compared to the SS. Bifurcation lesion angles < 70º are associated with higher side-branch compromise and TVF rates. The SS was associated with a 4.92-fold higher risk of side-branch compromise compared to the RAPS strategy with bifurcation lesion angles < 70º. These data reinforce the idea of the overall clinical relevance of the RAPS strategy regarding the patency of the side-branch.

RESUMEN Introducción y objetivos: Durante el intervencionismo coronario percutáneo es frecuente observar lesiones coronarias que afectan a las bifurcaciones. El compromiso de la rama lateral es la principal complicación observada con las diversas técnicas descritas para su tratamiento. La estrategia convencional (EC) recomendada en la actualidad es la colocación de un stent condicional. Los datos publicados de estudios no aleatorizados muestran que hasta en el 26% de los casos la indicación de la aterectomía rotacional fue el tratamiento de lesiones en las bifurcaciones. Es necesario el desarrollo de un estudio aleatorizado que compare la estrategia de aterectomía rotacional y stent condicional (ARSCC) frente a la EC. Métodos: Estudio piloto aleatorizado, prospectivo, de un solo centro, en pacientes con enfermedad coronaria en una bifurcación. Se comparó la estrategia de ARSC con la EC. Se prestó especial atención al ángulo de la bifurcación. El objetivo primario evalúa la necesidad de tratamiento de la rama lateral con ambas técnicas. Resultados: Se incluyeron 148 pacientes: 74 (95 aterectomías rotacionales) en el grupo de ARSC y 74 en el grupo de EC. El objetivo primario fue menor con la ARSC que con la EC: 1,1% frente a 31,2% (p < 0,001). El objetivo de fallo del vaso tratado (FVT) fue del 13,1% en el grupo de ARSC y del 24,8% en el grupo de EC (p = 0,04). El objetivo primario y el FVT fueron mayores si la lesión era en una bifurcación < 70° en comparación con una bifurcación ≥ 70° en ambos grupos (p = 0,03 y p = 0,02). Conclusiones: La necesidad de tratamiento de la rama lateral y el FVT fueron menores con la estrategia de ARSC que con la EC. Un ángulo < 70° en la bifurcación aumenta el riesgo de compromiso de la rama lateral y las tasas de FVT. La EC se asoció a un incremento del riesgo de compromiso de la rama lateral de 4,92 veces cuando el ángulo de la bifurcación era < 70°. Estos datos sugieren que el abordaje de lesiones en una bifurcación mediante aterectomía rotacional podría tener un beneficio clínico global. Palabras clave: Lesión en bifurcación. Ángulo de la bifurcación. Aterectomía rotacional. Compromiso de rama lateral. Calcificación coronaria.

RESUMEN Introducción y objetivos: El objetivo del estudio fue investigar si la evaluación no invasiva del índice de calcificación coronaria mediante tomografía computarizada cardiaca multidetector (TCMD) puede predecir la necesidad de una aterectomía rotacional (AR) electiva durante la intervención coronaria percutánea. Métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes diagnosticados de estenosis coronaria grave con placas moderadamente o gravemente calcificadas durante la angiografía coronaria. Esos pacientes se sometieron a la cuantificación del índice de calcificación coronaria con la escala de Agatston utilizando TCMD y posteriormente a intervención percutánea. Solo fueron tratadas con AR las lesiones que se consideraba que no era posible cruzar ni dilatar, según un protocolo de revascularización prediseñado. Ninguno de los operadores conocía de antemano los resultados de la TCMD. Según el protocolo del estudio, en el análisis estadístico se incluyeron variables clínicas, angiográficas y relacionadas con la puntuación Agatston. Durante el seguimiento se estudiaron los resultados a corto y largo plazo en ambos grupos. Resultados: Se analizaron 40 pacientes: 20 que recibieron AR y 20 con intervención coronaria percutánea convencional. La mayoría se incluyó después de un síndrome coronario agudo y tenían una anatomía coronaria compleja (puntuación media de la escala Syntax de 25 puntos). La creatinina y la puntuación de Agatston por lesión fueron los únicos factores predictivos de la AR. No se observaron diferencias significativas en el pronóstico dentro del hospital o a largo plazo. Un nuevo parámetro, el índice CAC-Cre, fue útil para predecir la necesidad de AR. Conclusiones: El análisis de la calcificación de las arterias coronarias mediante la puntuación de Agatston mejora la evaluación no invasiva de las placas coronarias complejas antes de la intervención coronaria percutánea. La puntuación de Agatston por lesión, la creatinina sérica y el índice CAC-Cre son parámetros útiles para predecir la necesidad de una AR electiva durante la intervención coronaria percutánea.

ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives: This study aims to investigate if the non-invasive assessment of coronary calcium score using multislice cardiac computerized tomography (MSCT) may anticipate the need for elective rotational atherectomy (RA) during percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods: Patients were considered eligible for the study after receiving a diagnosis of severe coronary stenosis with moderate or severely calcified plaques during index coronary angiography. Those patients underwent the Agatston coronary artery calcium (CAC) score quantification using the MSCT and then underwent percutaneous intervention. Only those lesions considered non-crossable or non-dilatable according to a pre-specified revascularization protocol were treated with RA. All operators were blinded to the MSCT results. According to the study protocol, clinical, angiographic and Agatston-related variables were included in the statistical analysis. Short and long-term outcomes were investigated in both treatment groups during follow-up. Results: A total of 40 patients were included in the analysis: 20 underwent RA and 20 conventional percutaneous coronary interventions. Most patients were included after suffering from an acute coronary syndrome and had complex coronary anatomy (mean Syntax score, 25 points). The logistic regression analysis showed that creatinine levels and the per-lesion Agatston score were the only predictors of RA. No significant differences were observed regarding in-hospital or long-term procedural outcomes. A novel parameter, the CAC-Cre index, was found to be useful to anticipate the need for RA. Conclusion: Coronary artery calcification analysis using the Agatston score is a simple technique that improves the non-invasive assessment of complex coronary plaques prior to percutaneous coronary intervention. The per-lesion Agatston score, serum creatinine levels, and the CAC-Cre index may become useful parameters to anticipate the need for elective RAs during percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Data on the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implantation is limited and no previous studies investigated its impact in an elderly population. CRT implantation requires a relatively low quantity of contrast medium. Previous studies, however, focused primarily on contrast medium as etiological factor for AKI, reporting a high incidence (8–14%). The high incidence of AKI in absence of use of substantial amounts of contrast volume, suggests the existence of other factors that contribute to AKI. Objectives: To determine the predictive value of patient and procedure-related risk factors for the occurrence of AKI post CRT, as well as the AKIs impact on length of in-hospital stay (LOS) and 1-year mortality. Methods: Retrospective observational study, including consecutive patients that underwent CRT implantation in a single center. Results: 60 patients with a mean age of 77 ± 8.4 years were included in the study and Twelve (20%) developed AKI. Prior renal insufficiency (p = 0.03; OR = 15.4), larger procedure time (p = 0.02; OR = 1.03), intra-operative hypotension (p