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In a randomized trial, 1059 patients with an acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation presented to hospitals that did not have the capability of performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and received fibrinolysis. They were then assigned to either immediate transfer to a PCI center for catheterization or transfer only if fibrinolysis failed. The immediate-transfer strategy was associated with significantly fewer ischemic complications at 30 days. In patients with an acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation, routine early angioplasty after fibrinolysis was associated with significantly fewer ischemic complications at 30 days. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an effective treatment for myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation when it can be performed rapidly. 1 However, primary PCI is performed at less than 25% of acute care hospitals in the United States. 2 , 3 Many patients with myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation present to hospitals that do not have the capability of performing PCI and therefore cannot undergo PCI within the timelines recommended in the guidelines 4 ; instead, they receive fibrinolysis as the initial reperfusion therapy. Although the proportion of such patients has decreased in recent years, 27.6% of the patients in the National Registry . . .

After an acute coronary syndrome, as many as 1 in 5 patients will have a second ischemic event within 5 years. Residual risk is related to several factors that may be mitigated by pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions. Antiplatelet therapy is a cornerstone in the management of acute coronary syndrome. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) was introduced as an effective treatment for myocardial infarction almost 5 decades ago and remains the most widely used antiplatelet therapy. Although ASA is effective in reducing mortality rates, combining ASA with a second antiplatelet agent, a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor (known as dual antiplatelet therapy) provides additional benefit and is now the preferred initial strategy for acute coronary syndromes over ASA alone. Here, Alkhalil et al examine emerging evidence regarding the use of antiplatelet therapy in acute coronary syndromes, as well as updates to the Canadian and European Society of Cardiology guidelines that highlight adjustments in the choice and duration of antiplatelet therapy, in addition to ASA). They focus on strategies to reduce bleeding risk after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is the treatment of choice for inoperable and high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. Our objectives were to elucidate potential differences in clinical outcomes and safety between balloon-expandable versus self-expandable transcatheter heart valves (THV). We performed a retrospective cohort study of all transfemoral TAVI procedures in Ontario, Canada, from 2007 to 2013. Patients were categorized into either balloon-expandable or self-expandable THV groups. The primary outcomes were 30-day and 1-year death, with secondary outcomes of all-cause readmission. Safety outcomes included bleeding, permanent pacemaker implantation, need for a second THV device, postprocedural paravalvular aortic regurgitation, stroke, vascular access complication, and intensive care unit length of stay. Inverse probability of treatment-weighted regression analyses using a propensity score were used to account for differences in baseline confounders. Our cohort consisted of 714 patients, of whom 397 received a self-expandable THV, whereas 317 had a balloon-expandable THV system. There were no differences in death or all-cause readmission. In terms of safety, the self-expandable group was associated with significantly higher rates of inhospital stroke (p value <0.05), need for a second THV device (5.3% vs 2.7%; p value = 0.013), and permanent pacemaker (22.6% vs 8.9%; p value <0.001), whereas the balloon-expandable group had more vascular access site complications (23.1% vs 16.7%; p value = 0.002). Thus, we found similar clinical outcomes of death or readmission for patients who underwent transfemoral TAVI with either balloon-expandable or self-expandable THV systems. However, there were important differences in their safety profiles.

Radial access for percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with lower rates of access site complications and bleeding. However, elderly patients have more complex vascular anatomy and radial access may be more challenging in this population. There remains uncertainty regarding the role of radial access in elderly patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. The RIVAL trial randomized patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing cardiac catheterization to radial versus femoral access. In this analysis, the rates of access site complications and access site cross-over were compared across different age groups. Among the 7,021 patients, 1035 (15%) were ≥75 years of age. Across all age categories, radial access was consistently associated with higher rates of access site cross over and lower rates of major access site complications, with no significant interaction between age and access site. Radial access was associated with lower rates of major vascular access site complications in patients ≥75 years of age (3.6% vs 6.6%; P = .03) and in patients <75 years of age (1.0% vs 3.2%; P < .001; P value for interaction = .2). The rates of access site crossover were higher with radial access among patients ≥75 (12.5% vs 2.6%; P < .001) and <75 (6.7% vs 1.9%; P < .001; P value for interaction = .9). There were no significant differences in the primary composite outcome (death, myocardial infarction, stroke or non coronary artery bypass graft major bleeding) or its individual components in either age group. In patients ≥75 years of age undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, there was no significant difference in procedure time (120 vs 115 minutes; P = .3). Consistent with the overall RIVAL trial population, elderly patients undergoing cardiac catheterization have lower rates of major bleeding or access site complications and higher rates of access site crossover with radial access compared to femoral access.

A major limitation of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for the treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is impaired microvascular perfusion due to embolization and obstruction of microcirculation with thrombus. Manual thrombectomy has the potential to reduce distal embolization and improve microvascular perfusion. Clinical trials have shown mixed results regarding thrombectomy. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of routine upfront manual aspiration thrombectomy during PPCI compared with percutaneous coronary intervention alone in patients with STEMI. This is a multicenter, prospective, open, international, randomized trial with blinded assessment of outcomes. Patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI are randomized to upfront routine manual aspiration thrombectomy with the Export catheter (Medtronic CardioVascular, Santa Rosa, CA) or to percutaneous coronary intervention alone. The primary outcome is the composite of cardiovascular death, recurrent myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, or new or worsening New York Heart Association class IV heart failure up to 180 days. The trial uses an event-driven design and will recruit 10,700 patients. The TOTAL trial will determine the effect of routine manual aspiration thrombectomy during PPCI on clinically important outcomes.

Patients with ST-segment elevation MI and multivessel coronary disease who had undergone successful culprit-lesion PCI were assigned to a strategy of either PCI of all other suitable stenoses or no further revascularization. At 3 years, the risk of cardiovascular death or new MI was lower with complete revascularization.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the treatment of choice for patients presenting with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, if catheterization facilities are not immediately available, the effectiveness of PCI can be affected by delays in transfer. Evidence suggests that antiplatelet therapy administered early, preferably in the ambulance during transfer, may provide better and earlier perfusion. Ticagrelor, a direct platelet P2Y12 receptor inhibitor, is indicated for the management of patients with acute coronary syndromes. The ATLANTIC study (NCT01347580; EudraCT 2011-000214-19) is a 30-day international, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study in male and female patients (aged ≥18 years) who are diagnosed as having STEMI, with intended primary PCI. In total, 1770 patients will be randomized immediately after diagnosis to prehospital administration of ticagrelor 180 mg followed by matching placebo administered in hospital, or prehospital administration of placebo followed by ticagrelor 180 mg administered in hospital. All patients will then receive ticagrelor 90 mg twice daily for 30 days. The coprimary end point is the percentage of patients reaching thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade 3 in the infarct-related artery at initial angiography or achieving ≥70% ST-segment elevation resolution pre-PCI. The primary safety end point is major, life-threatening, or minor bleeding after ticagrelor administration. The results of this study may have an impact on future recommendations for treatment for patients with STEMI.

Prehospital triage of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces treatment times. Prehospital triage and transport of STEMI patients have traditionally been undertaken in emergency medical service systems with Advanced Care Paramedics (ACPs). However, ACPs are not available in many regions. A pilot study was conducted to determine the feasibility of prehospital STEMI triage in a region with only Primary Care Paramedics. Hemodynamically stable patients with chest pain and suspected STEMI were brought directly to a catheterization laboratory for primary PCI. End points included accuracy of prehospital STEMI identification, complications during transfer, and treatment times. One hundred thirty-four consecutive patients with suspected STEMI were triaged for primary PCI. Only 1 patient developed complications during transport (rapid atrial flutter) that required ACP skills. One hundred thirty-three patients underwent urgent angiography, and 105 patients underwent PCI. Based on physician interpretation of the prehospital electrocardiogram, there was agreement with triage decision for 121 (90%) of the 134 cases. The final diagnosis based on the angiogram and cardiac markers was true STEMI for 106 patients and false positive for 28 patients. The median first medical contact to balloon time was 91 (81-115) minutes. Hemodynamically stable patients with suspected STEMI can be safely and effectively transported directly for primary PCI by paramedics without advanced care training. Prehospital STEMI triage for primary PCI can be extended to regions that have few or no paramedics with advanced care training.

This study compared administration of the antiplatelet agent ticagrelor in the ambulance with administration in the cath lab in patients with ST-segment elevation MI. Prehospital administration did not improve coronary reperfusion before PCI but did reduce the risk of stent thrombosis. Effective antiplatelet therapy combining the inhibition of both thromboxane A 2 –dependent platelet aggregation and P2Y 12 receptors is necessary in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), particularly those with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Studies in this patient population have shown that the more intense P2Y 12 -receptor inhibition achieved with the use of prasugrel, ticagrelor, or cangrelor, as compared with clopidogrel, is associated with better clinical outcomes and a lower risk of stent thrombosis. 1 – 5 The benefit was obtained with in-hospital administration of these drugs, and it is not known whether earlier administration would be as safe and . . .