Background: Left atrial appendage closure is an established therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation. Although device-related thrombosis (DRT) is relatively rare, it is potentially linked to adverse events. As data on DRT characteristics, outcome, and treatment regimen are scarce, we aimed to assess these questions in a multicenter approach. Methods: One hundred fifty-six patients with the diagnosis of DRT after left atrial appendage closure were included in the multinational EUROC-DRT registry. Baseline characteristics included clinical and echocardiographic data. After inclusion, all patients underwent further clinical and echocardiographic follow-up to assess DRT dynamics, treatment success, and outcome. Results: DRT was detected after a median of 93 days (interquartile range, 54–161 days) with 17.9% being detected >6 months after left atrial appendage closure. Patients with DRT were at high ischemic and bleeding risk (CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc 4.5±1.7, HAS-BLED 3.3±1.2) and had nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (67.3%), previous stroke (53.8%), and spontaneous echo contrast (50.6%). The initial treatment regimens showed comparable resolution rates (antiplatelet monotherapy: 57.1%, dual antiplatelet therapy: 85.7%, vitamin K antagonists: 80.0%, novel oral anticoagulants: 75.0%, and heparin: 68.6%). After intensification or switch of treatment, complete DRT resolution was achieved in 79.5% of patients. Two-year follow-up revealed a high risk of mortality (20.0%) and ischemic stroke (13.8%) in patients with DRT. Patients with incomplete DRT resolution showed numerically higher stroke rates and increased mortality rates (stroke: 17.6% versus 12.3%, P =0.29; mortality: 31.3% versus 13.1%, P =0.05). Conclusions: A substantial proportion of DRT is detected >6 months after left atrial appendage closure, highlighting the need for imaging follow-up. Patients with DRT appear to be at a high risk for stroke and mortality. While DRT resolution was achieved in most patients, incomplete DRT resolution appeared to identify patients at even higher risk. Optimal DRT diagnostic criteria and treatment regimens are warranted.

Background. Despite the enormous benefits of radial access, this route is associated with a risk of radial artery occlusion (RAO). Objective. We compared the incidence of RAO in patients undergoing transradial coronary angiography and intervention after short versus prolonged hemostasis protocol. Also we assessed the efficacy of rescue 1-hour ipsilateral ulnar artery compression if RAO was observed after hemostasis. Material and Methods. Patients referred for elective transradial coronary procedures were eligible. After 6 F radial sheath removal, patients were randomized to short (3 hours) (n = 495) or prolonged (8 hours) (n = 503) hemostasis and a simple bandage was placed over the puncture site. After hemostasis was completed, oximetry plethysmography was used to assess the patency of the radial artery. Results. One thousand patients were randomized. Baseline characteristics were similar between both groups with average age 61.4 ± 9.4 years (71% male) and PCI performed on half of the patients. The RAO rate immediately after hemostasis was 3.2% in the short hemostasis group and 10.1% in the prolonged group ( p < 0.001 ). Rescue recanalization was successful only in the short group in 56.2% (11/19); at hospital discharge, RAO rates were 1.4% in the short group and 10.1% in the prolonged group ( p < 0.001 ). Conclusion. Shorter hemostasis was associated with significantly less RAO compared to prolonged hemostasis. Rescue radial artery recanalization was effective in > 50%, but only in the short hemostasis group.

Purpose: to compare rates of access site complications at early (after 4 hours) and traditional (after 24 hours) removal of a compression bandage after diagnostic transradial (TR) coronary angiography (CA) in patients not receiving anticoagulants.Materials and methods. We included into this study 392 patients (mean age 63±8.7 years, 62.8% men) who underwent transradial coronary angiography. Patients were divided into 2 groups. In group 1 patients (n=221) compression bandage was removed from puncture site in 4 hours after procedure with subsequent control of radial artery patency using presence of pulse metric curve during ulnar artery compression (the reverse Barbeau test with pulse oximeter). In patients of group 2 (n=171) compression band was removed after 24 hours. In both groups control of radial artery patency was carried out after 24 hours using the reverse Barbeau test. Upon detection of radial artery occlusion (RAO) ultrasound imaging of the forearm arteries was performed.Results. No RAO was detected in group 1 while in group 2 number of detected RAO was 15 (8.8%) (р<0.05). Rates of hematomas at puncture site were not significantly different. Puncture site bleeding after band removal requiring repeated banding occurred in 1 patient of group one (0.6%); no such cases were registered in group 2 (p>0.05).Conclusion. Compared with traditional method early removal of compression bandage after TR CA was associated with lower rate of RAO.

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Представлено описание трех клинических случаев ишемического инсульта (ИИ) на фоне открытого овального окна (ООО) у молодых женщин. Первая пациентка перенесла два эпизода очагового неврологического дефицита, связанных с физической нагрузкой. Очаг инфаркта мозжечка визуализирован при магнитно-резонансной томографии (МРТ) головного мозга. У второй пациентки, страдающей мигренью с аурой, во время эмоционального стресса развилась транзиторная слабость в правых конечностях, верифицирован очаг инфаркта левой теменной доли. У третьей больной утром после пробуждения внезапно возникли асимметрия лица и онемение левой руки. Больной проведен внутривенный тромболизис, при контрольной МРТ выявлен инфаркт правой теменной доли головного мозга. У всех пациенток при стандартном обследовании причина ИИ не была установлена. При транскраниальной допплерографии с пузырьковой пробой и последующей чреспищеводной эхокардиографии выявлено ООО, расцененное как клинически значимое. Всем пациенткам успешно выполнена эндоваскулярная окклюзия. Обсуждаются проблемы вторичной профилактики ООО-ассоциированного инсульта, предложен лечебно-диагностический алгоритм при этом заболевании.

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Postinfarction ventricular septal rupture remains a lethal complication of acute myocardial infarction. Percutaneous closure is feasible and may provide an alternative treatment option to surgical repair, particularly in the nonacute phase. Transcatheter closure of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture using innovative custom-made devices may be a promising alternative to high-risk surgery.

Aim. To study predictors of radial artery occlusion (RAO) and ways to prevent it after interventions using radial access.Material and methods. The study consisted of prospective and retrospective parts. The total number of included patients was 2284. Patients undergoing interventions by radial access in various medical organizations were retrospectively considered. The prospective study included 1284 patients who were subject to interventional treatment. Patients were randomized into two groups as follows: in group 1, hemostasis was performed within 4 hours, in group 2 — >6 hours. All patients underwent a bedside Barbeau test with a pulse oximeter and an ultrasound of access arteries to determine the radial artery patency/occlusion.Results. The RAO rate in the retrospective part was 21,8%, while in the prospective one — 10,1% with long-term hemostasis and 1,4% with short-term hemostasis (p<0,001). Predictors of RAO were type 2 diabetes (odds ratio (OR), 1,9, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1,1-3,4, p=0,03) and an increase in hemostasis duration by 1 hour (OR, 1,2, 95% CI, 1,1-1,3, p<0,001). When analyzing the retrospective part, the predictors of RAO were body mass index (OR, 1,06, 95% CI, 1,02-1,09, p=0,002), female sex (OR, 0,6, 95% CI, 0,4-0,9, p=0,02), smoking (OR, 1,38, 95% CI, 1-1,91, p=0,047). The administration of statins in different dosages, as well as antihypertensive and anti-ischemic agents, did not have a significant effect on the RAO rate.Conclusion. The main predictors of RAO were type 2 diabetes, an increase in hemostasis duration, female sex, smoking, and the artery-to-introducer diameter ratio. Taking statins, anti-ischemic and antihypertensive agents does not have a protective effect on RAO rate.