Background Intravascular ultrasound ( IVUS ) guidance during percutaneous coronary intervention ( PCI ) offers tomographic images of the coronary vessels, allowing optimization of stent implantation at the time of PCI . However, the long‐term beneficial effect of IVUS over PCI guided by coronary angiography ( CA ) alone remains under question. We sought to investigate the outcomes of IVUS ‐guided compared with CA ‐guided PCI . Methods and Results We performed a comprehensive search of PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Central Register, looking for randomized controlled trials and observational studies that compared PCI outcomes of IVUS with CA . Data were aggregated for the primary outcome measure using the random‐effects model as pooled risk ratio ( RR ). The primary outcomes were the rate of cardiovascular death, need for target lesion revascularization, occurrence of myocardial infarction, and rate of stent thrombosis. A total of 19 studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 27 610 patients divided into IVUS (n=11 513) and CA (n=16 097). Compared with standard CA ‐guided PCI , we found that the risks of cardiovascular death ( RR , 0.63; 95% CI , 0.54–0.73), myocardial infarction ( RR , 0.71; 95% CI , 0.58–0.86), target lesion revascularization ( RR , 0.81; 95% CI , 0.70–0.94), and stent thrombosis ( RR , 0.57; 95% CI , 0.41–0.79) were all significantly lower using IVUS guidance. Conclusions Compared with standard CA ‐guided PCI , the use of IVUS imaging guidance to optimize stent implantation is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular death and major adverse events, such as myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization, and stent thrombosis.

Over the course of the 3 decades, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implantation transformed the practice of cardiology. PCI with stenting is currently the most widely performed procedure for the treatment of symptomatic coronary disease. In large trials, drug-eluting stents (DES) have led to a significant reduction in in-stent restenosis (ISR) rates, one of the major limitations of bare-metal stents. Due to these favorable findings, DES was rapidly and widely adopted enabling more complex coronary interventions. Nevertheless, ISR remains a serious concern as late stent complications. ISR mainly results from aggressive neointimal proliferation and neoatherosclerosis. DES-ISR treatment continues to be challenging complications for interventional cardiologists.

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Patient with atrial fibrillation (AF) are at risk of developing stroke with the left atrial appendage (LAA) being the most common site for thrombus formation. If left untreated, AF is associated with 4 to 5 folds increase in the risk of ischemic stroke in all age groups. About 5% to 15% of AF patients have atrial thrombi on transesophageal echocardiography, and 91% of those thrombi are located in the LAA in patient with nonrheumatic AF. Although oral anticoagulants are the gold-standard treatment for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular AF, some patients are at high risk of bleeding and deemed not candidates for anticoagulation. Therefore, LAA occlusion (LAAO) has emerged as alternative approach for stroke prevention in those patients. Surgical LAAO is associated with high rate of unsuccessful closure and recommended only in patients with AF and undergoing cardiac surgery. Percutaneous LAAO uses transvenous access with trans-septal puncture and was first tested using the PLAATO device. Watchman is the most common and only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved device for LAAO. LAAO using Watchman device is non-inferior to warfarin therapy in preventing ischemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism. However, it is associated with lower rates of hemorrhagic stroke, bleeding and death. Amplatzer is another successful LAAO device that has CE mark and is waiting for FDA approval. Optimal antithrombotic therapy post LAAO is still under debate and highly patient-specific. The aim of this paper is to systematically review the current literature to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different LAAO devices.

Background The utilization of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using percutaneous ventricular assist device (PVAD) or intra‐aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been increasing. We sought to evaluate the outcome of coronary intervention using PVAD compared with IABP in noncardiogenic shock and nonacute myocardial infarction patients. Method Using the National Inpatient Sampling (NIS) database from 2005 to 2014, we identified patients who underwent PCI using ICD 9 codes. Patients with cardiogenic shock, acute coronary syndrome, or acute myocardial infarction were excluded. Patient was stratified based on the MCS used, either to PVAD or IABP. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to study PCI outcome using PVAD compared with IABP. Results Out of 21,848 patients who underwent PCI requiring MCS, 17,270 (79.0%) patients received IABP and 4,578 (21%) patients received PVAD. PVAD patients were older (69 vs. 67, p < .001), were less likely to be women (23.3% vs. 33.3%, p < .001), and had higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia prior PCI, prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery, anemia, chronic lung disease, liver disease, renal failure, and peripheral vascular disease compared with IABP group (p ≤ .007). Using Multivariate logistic regression, PVAD patients had lower in‐hospital mortality (6.1% vs. 8.8%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.62; 95% CI 0.51, 0.77, p < .001), vascular complications (4.3% vs. 7.5%, aOR 0.78; 95% CI 0.62, 0.99, p = .046), cardiac complications (5.6% vs. 14.5%, aOR 0.29; 95% CI 0.24, 0.36, p < .001), and respiratory complications (3.8% vs. 9.8%, aOR 0.37; 95% CI 0.28, 0.48, p < .001) compared with patients who received IABP. Conclusion Despite higher comorbidities, nonemergent PCI procedures using PVAD were associated with lower mortality compared with IABP.

Objectives: Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) clinical efficacy and safety in the treatment of calcified coronary artery disease (CAC) is not well known. We sought to assess IVL safety and efficacy in CAC. Methods:A comprehensive online databases search were performed to identify intravascular lithotripsy studies in patients with coronary artery disease. The primary outcome was IVL related change in the mean pre and post-procedural diameter of the coronary artery.Results: A total of 4 studies with 282 patients were included. The mean pre-IVL coronary diameter for all patients was 1.01mm, while the mean post-IVL coronary diameter was 2.70mm. The mean pre-post IVL diameter difference of coronary arteries on the pooled analysis was significantly lower by 4.08 mm (95% CI -4.94 to -3.30, p≤0.00001). The Overall increase in the post-IVL lumen diameter was significantly higher than the pre-IVL diameter with a mean difference of -4.16 (95% CI -5.08 to -3.24, p=0.000001).However, compared to pre-IVL, there was a significant reduction in the overall mean difference of luminal calcium angle after IVL of the stented coronary arteries (0.09, 95% CI 0.002-0.16, p=0.01). Conclusion:Intravascular lithotripsy can offer a significant improvement in the vessel lumen to facilitate coronary stent delivery and deployments in severely calcified coronary arteries.

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