Background-There are limited data on the long-term clinical outcome after an angiographically confirmed (definite) stent thrombosis (ST). Methods and Results-Four hundred thirty-one consecutive patients with a definite ST were enrolled in this multicenter registry. The primary end point was the composite of cardiac death and definite recurrent ST. Secondary end points were all-cause death, cardiac death, definite recurrent ST, definite and probable recurrent ST, any myocardial infarction, and any target-vessel revascularization. The primary end point occurred in 111 patients after a median follow-up of 27.1 months. The estimated cumulative event rates at 30 days and 1, 2, and 3 years were 18.0%, 23.6%, 25.2%, and 27.9%, respectively. The cumulative incidence rates of definite recurrent ST, definite or probable recurrent ST, any myocardial infarction, and any target-vessel revascularization were 18.8%, 20.1%, 21.3%, and 32.0%, respectively, at the longest available follow-up. Independent predictors for the primary end point were diabetes mellitus, total stent length, severe calcification, American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association B2-C lesions, TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) flow grade Ͻ3 after percutaneous coronary intervention, and left ventricular ejection fraction Ͻ45%. The implantation of an additional coronary stent during the first ST was also associated with unfavorable outcome. Clinical outcome was not affected by the type of previously implanted stent (drug-eluting or bare-metal stent) or the category of ST (early versus late). Conclusions-The long-term clinical outcome after a first definite ST is unfavorable, with a high mortality and recurrence rate. Diabetes mellitus, left ventricular ejection fraction Ͻ45%, long total stent length, complex coronary lesions, TIMI flow grade Ͻ3 after percutaneous coronary intervention, and implantation of an additional coronary stent during the emergent percutaneous coronary intervention for the ST were associated with this unfavorable outcome. (Circulation. 2009;119:828-834.)

Point-of-care platelet function testing in patients undergoing PCI: between a rock and a hard place Since recent studies have linked an impaired response to antiplatelet therapy with a higher incidence of atherothrombotic events, the monitoring of the efficacy of antiplatelet therapy in the individual patient has attracted much attention. In the present report, we demonstrate that platelet function testing with several point-of-care assays results in ambiguous and conflicting results: some assays indicated that the patient's platelets were insufficiently inhibited by clopidogrel whereas other assays reported an adequate response. Therefore, platelet function assays should not be used solely to guide treatment decisions, and tailor-made antithrombotic treatment has to wait for the most predictive platelet function test to emerge for measuring the risk for thrombotic complications after stenting. Until then, daily clinical practice should not be guided by point-of-care platelet function testing. (Neth Heart J 2007;15:299-305).

Background Involved lateral lymph nodes (LLNs) have been associated with increased local recurrence (LR) and ipsi-lateral LR (LLR) rates. However, consensus regarding the indication and type of surgical treatment for suspicious LLNs is lacking. This study evaluated the surgical treatment of LLNs in an untrained setting at a national level. Methods Patients who underwent additional LLN surgery were selected from a national cross-sectional cohort study regarding patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery in 69 Dutch hospitals in 2016. LLN surgery consisted of either ‘node-picking’ (the removal of an individual LLN) or ‘partial regional node dissection’ (PRND; an incomplete resection of the LLN area). For all patients with primarily enlarged (≥7 mm) LLNs, those undergoing rectal surgery with an additional LLN procedure were compared to those  undergoing only rectal resection. Results Out of 3057 patients, 64 underwent additional LLN surgery, with 4-year LR and LLR rates of 26% and 15%, respectively. Forty-eight patients (75%) had enlarged LLNs, with corresponding recurrence rates of 26% and 19%, respectively. Node-picking (n = 40) resulted in a 20% 4-year LLR, and a 14% LLR after PRND (n = 8; p = 0.677). Multivariable analysis of 158 patients with enlarged LLNs undergoing additional LLN surgery (n = 48) or rectal resection alone (n = 110) showed no significant association of LLN surgery with 4-year LR or LLR, but suggested higher recurrence risks after LLN surgery (LR: hazard ratio [HR] 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7–3.2, p = 0.264; LLR: HR 1.9, 95% CI 0.2–2.5, p = 0.874). Conclusion Evaluation of Dutch practice in 2016 revealed that approximately one-third of patients with primarily enlarged LLNs underwent surgical treatment, mostly consisting of node-picking. Recurrence rates were not significantly affected by LLN surgery, but did suggest worse outcomes. Outcomes of LLN surgery after adequate training requires further research.