Transcatheter aortic valve implantation without balloon pre-dilation is feasible and safe, resulting in similar acute safety and efficacy as the current standard approach of TAVI with pre-dilation.

Background and Purpose-Fear of distal embolization and stroke has aroused concern regarding carotid stenting. Devices to protect the cerebral circulation may make carotid stenting safer. Methods-A multidisciplinary study group tested a balloon occlusion-aspiration emboli entrapment device in conjunction with carotid stenting. The device consists of an elastomeric balloon on a steerable wire with a detachable adapter that inflates and deflates the distal temporary occlusion balloon. An aspiration catheter is used to remove trapped emboli after stenting and before occlusion balloon deflation. Results-Seventy-five patients with severe internal carotid artery stenosis were treated with stents deployed with this cerebrovasculature protection system. All 75 patients (100%) had grossly visible particulate material aspirated, and all were treated successfully without major or minor stroke or death at 30 days. Preintervention stenosis was 81Ϯ10%, and residual stenosis was 5Ϯ7%. Nine patients (12%) had angiographic evidence of thrombus before intervention, but no patient had thrombus or vessel cutoff after the procedure. Four patients (5%) developed transient neurological symptoms during protection balloon occlusion, but symptoms resolved with balloon deflation. The 22 to 667 particles aspirated per patient ranged from 3.6 to 5262 m in maximum diameter (mean, 203Ϯ256 m). These particles included fibrous plaque debris, lipid or cholesterol vacuoles, and calcific plaque fragments. Conclusions-Protected carotid stenting was performed successfully and safely in this study early in the experience with cerebrovascular protection devices. Particulate emboli are frequent with stenting, and cerebral protection will likely be necessary to minimize stroke. Randomized trials comparing protected carotid stenting with endarterectomy are warranted.

No abstract

The TR approach for CAS is safe and efficacious, with acceptable cross-over rate. In both groups, vascular complications rarely occurred.

We report our experience using transradial access (TRA) for carotid artery stenting (CAS). Eighty-eight patients underwent CAS using a nonfemoral approach, 79 of them by TRA. Carotid artery stenting was performed using standard techniques with a long hydrophilic sheath. Mean age was 69.5 years. A total of 46 patients were symptomatic and 34 were asymptomatic. Transradial access and procedural success were achieved in 98.8% and 96.6% of the cases, respectively. There were no deaths, myocardial infarction, or radial access site complications. In all, 2 patients sustained a stroke, 1 hemorrhage, and 1 ischemia. Carotid artery stenting using TRA was safe and technically feasible.

These results suggest that direct CoreValve implantation in patients with severe aortic stenosis is feasible and may lead to hemodynamic and clinical improvement in patients who are poor candidates for aortic valve surgery, pending confirmation in larger series with longer follow-up.

The current comprehensive bench testing assessment demonstrates the importance of high device position for the attainment of optimal haemodynamics during aortic ViV procedures.

No abstract