Coronary physiology assessments: historical overview and future challenges.

Coronary physiological assessment has garnered extensive application in managing patients with coronary artery disease, encompassing both acute and chronic scenarios. Beyond the historical purpose as tool to define the hemodynamic significance of a given artery lesion, coronary artery physiology allows for a complete investigation of epicardial and microvascular circulation. The longitudinal assessment of the distribution pattern of coronary disease based on pressure wire technology provides crucial information to define the best management and procedural planning. Moreover, post-percutaneous coronary intervention physiology reassessment showed a strong association with clinical outcomes and, more importantly, it can spot residual pressure gradients potentially amenable to further intervention and optimization. Growing evidence about the non-invasive angiography-based indices helps to overcome the limitations of the use of intracoronary physiology. This review aims to provide an overview of different utilizations of coronary physiology offering a historical perspective with a particular focus on current challenges and future potential applications.

Italian Society of Interventional Cardiology (GISE) and Italian Society of Arterial Hypertension (SIIA) Position Paper on the role of renal denervation in the management of the difficult-to-treat hypertension.

Renal denervation (RDN) is a safe and effective strategy for the treatment of difficult to treat hypertension. The blood pressure (BP)-lowering efficacy of RDN is comparable to those of many single antihypertensive medications and it allows to consider the RDN as a valuable option for the treatment of difficult to treat hypertension together with lifestyle modifications and medical therapy. A multidisciplinary team is of pivotal importance from the selection of the patient candidate for the procedure to the post-procedural management. Further studies are needed to investigate the effect of RDN on clinical outcomes and to better identify the predictors of BP response to RDN in order to recognize the patients who are more likely to benefit from the procedure.

Severe aortic stenosis: secular trends of incidence and outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Severe aortic stenosis (AS) is the guideline-based indication for aortic valve replacement (AVR), which has markedly increased with transcatheter approaches, suggesting possible increasing AS incidence. However, reported secular trends of AS incidence remain contradictory and lack quantitative Doppler echocardiographic ascertainment. METHODS: All adults residents in Olmsted County (MN, USA) diagnosed over 20 years (1997-2016) with incident severe AS (first diagnosis) based on quantitatively defined measures (aortic valve area ≤ 1 cm2, aortic valve area index ≤ 0.6 cm2/m2, mean gradient ≥ 40 mmHg, peak velocity ≥ 4 m/s, Doppler velocity index ≤ 0.25) were counted to define trends in incidence, presentation, treatment, and outcome. RESULTS: Incident severe AS was diagnosed in 1069 community residents. The incidence rate was 52.5 [49.4-55.8] per 100 000 patient-year, slightly higher in males vs. females and was almost unchanged after age and sex adjustment for the US population 53.8 [50.6-57.0] per 100 000 residents/year. Over 20 years, severe AS incidence remained stable (P = .2) but absolute burden of incident cases markedly increased (P = .0004) due to population growth. Incidence trend differed by sex, stable in men (incidence rate ratio 0.99, P = .7) but declining in women (incidence rate ratio 0.93, P = .02). Over the study, AS clinical characteristics remained remarkably stable and AVR performance grew and was more prompt (from 1.3 [0.1-3.3] years in 1997-2000 to 0.5 [0.2-2.1] years in 2013-16, P = .001) but undertreatment remained prominent (>40%). Early AVR was associated with survival benefit (adjusted hazard ratio 0.55 [0.42-0.71], P < .0001). Despite these improvements, overall mortality (3-month 8% and 3-year 36%), was swift, considerable and unabated (all P ≥ .4) throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS: Over 20 years, the population incidence of severe AS remained stable with increased absolute case burden related to population growth. Despite stable severe AS presentation, AVR performance grew notably, but while declining, undertreatment remained substantial and disease lethality did not yet decline. These population-based findings have important implications for improving AS management pathways.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Global TAVR Activity: The COVID-TAVI Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected health care systems. Patients in need of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are especially susceptible to treatment delays. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global TAVR activity. METHODS: This international registry reported monthly TAVR case volume in participating institutions prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2018 to December 2021). Hospital-level information on public vs private, urban vs rural, and TAVR volume was collected, as was country-level information on socioeconomic status, COVID-19 incidence, and governmental public health responses. RESULTS: We included 130 centers from 61 countries, including 65,980 TAVR procedures. The first and second pandemic waves were associated with a significant reduction of 15% (P < 0.001) and 7% (P < 0.001) in monthly TAVR case volume, respectively, compared with the prepandemic period. The third pandemic wave was not associated with reduced TAVR activity. A greater reduction in TAVR activity was observed in Africa (-52%; P = 0.001), Central-South America (-33%; P < 0.001), and Asia (-29%; P < 0.001). Private hospitals (P = 0.005), urban areas (P = 0.011), low-volume centers (P = 0.002), countries with lower development (P < 0.001) and economic status (P < 0.001), higher COVID-19 incidence (P < 0.001), and more stringent public health restrictions (P < 0.001) experienced a greater reduction in TAVR activity. CONCLUSIONS: TAVR procedural volume declined substantially during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in Africa, Central-South America, and Asia. National socioeconomic status, COVID-19 incidence, and public health responses were associated with treatment delays. This information should inform public health policy in case of future global health crises.

Predicted clinical and economic burden associated with reduction in access to acute coronary interventional care during the COVID-19 lockdown in two European countries.

AIMS: As a consequence of untimely or missed revascularization of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients died at home or survived with serious sequelae, resulting in potential long-term worse prognosis and related health-economic implications.This analysis sought to predict long-term health outcomes [survival and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs)] and cost of reduced treatment of STEMIs occurring during the first COVID-19 lockdown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a Markov decision-analytic model, we incorporated probability of hospitalization, timeliness of PCI, and projected long-term survival and cost (including societal costs) of mortality and morbidity, for STEMI occurring during the first UK and Spanish lockdowns, comparing them with expected pre-lockdown outcomes for an equivalent patient group.STEMI patients during the first UK lockdown were predicted to lose an average of 1.55 life-years and 1.17 QALYs compared with patients presenting with a STEMI pre-pandemic. Based on an annual STEMI incidence of 49 332 cases, the total additional lifetime costs calculated at the population level were £36.6 million (€41.3 million), mainly driven by costs of work absenteeism. Similarly in Spain, STEMI patients during the lockdown were expected to survive 2.03 years less than pre-pandemic patients, with a corresponding reduction in projected QALYs (-1.63). At the population level, reduced PCI access would lead to additional costs of €88.6 million. CONCLUSION: The effect of a 1-month lockdown on STEMI treatment led to a reduction in survival and QALYs compared to the pre-pandemic era. Moreover, in working-age patients, untimely revascularization led to adverse prognosis, affecting societal productivity and therefore considerably increasing societal costs.

Right Atrial Function Role in Tricuspid Regurgitation-Related Systemic Venous Congestion.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a frequent valvular pathology and when significant, may cause systemic venous congestion (SC). The right atrium (RA) is an intermediate structure between the tricuspid valve and the venous system and its role in SC is not yet defined. A total of 116 patients with a measurable TR effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) and regurgitant volume (RVol) were selected from 2020 to 2022. SC was estimated by echocardiography using inferior vena cava diameter and estimated right atrial pressure (eRAP) and by clinical congestive features. TR grade was mild in 23 patients (20%), moderate in 53 patients (46%), and severe in 40 patients (34%). There was a significant decrease in RA function measured by strain with increasing TR severity (p <0.001). There was a marked difference in RA strain between the groups with eRAP >10 and ≤10 mm Hg (25 ± 11% vs 11 ± 7%, p <0.0001). Variables independently associated with inferior vena cava diameter were RA strain (ß -0.532, p <0.001), RA volume indexed (ß 0.249, p = 0.002), RVol (ß 0.229, p = 0.005) and EROA (ß 0.185, p = 0.016), and independently associated with eRAP >10 mm Hg were EROA (odds ratio [OR] 1.024, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.002 to 1.046), RVol (OR 1.039, 95% CI 1.007 to 1.072) and RA strain (OR 0.863, 95% CI 0.794 to 0.940). The addition of RA strain to models containing EROA or RVol significantly improved the power of the model. RA strain was independently associated with the presence of 3 or more congestive features. In conclusion, echocardiographic and clinical signs of SC are frequent in higher degrees of TR, and RA function seems to play a key role in modulating the downstream effect of TR.

Management strategies for heavily calcified coronary stenoses: an EAPCI clinical consensus statement in collaboration with the EURO4C-PCR group.

Since the publication of the 2015 EAPCI consensus on rotational atherectomy, the number of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) performed in patients with severely calcified coronary artery disease has grown substantially. This has been prompted on one side by the clinical demand for the continuous increase in life expectancy, the sustained expansion of the primary PCI networks worldwide, and the routine performance of revascularization procedures in elderly patients; on the other side, the availability of new and dedicated technologies such as orbital atherectomy and intravascular lithotripsy, as well as the optimization of the rotational atherectomy system, has increased operators' confidence in attempting more challenging PCI. This current EAPCI clinical consensus statement prepared in collaboration with the EURO4C-PCR group describes the comprehensive management of patients with heavily calcified coronary stenoses, starting with how to use non-invasive and invasive imaging to assess calcium burden and inform procedural planning. Objective and practical guidance is provided on the selection of the optimal interventional tool and technique based on the specific calcium morphology and anatomic location. Finally, the specific clinical implications of treating these patients are considered, including the prevention and management of complications and the importance of adequate training and education.

Procedural and one-year outcomes of the BASILICA technique in Europe: the multicentre EURO-BASILICA registry.

BACKGROUND: The real-world outcomes of the use of the BASILICA (Bioprosthetic or Native Aortic Scallop Intentional Laceration to Prevent Iatrogenic Coronary Artery Obstruction) transcatheter technique in Europe have not been described. AIMS: We sought to evaluate the procedural and one-year outcomes of BASILICA in patients at high risk for coronary artery obstruction (CAO) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in a multicentre European registry (EURO-BASILICA). METHODS: Seventy-six patients undergoing BASILICA and TAVI at ten European centres were included. Eighty-five leaflets were identified as targets for BASILICA due to high risk for CAO. The updated Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 (VARC-3) definitions were used to determine prespecified endpoints of technical and procedural success and adverse events up to one year. RESULTS: Treated aortic valves included native (5.3%), surgical bioprosthetic (92.1%) and transcatheter valves (2.6%). Double BASILICA (for both left and right coronary cusps) was performed in 11.8% of patients. Technical success with BASILICA was achieved in 97.7% and resulted in freedom from any target leaflet-related CAO in 90.6% with a low rate of complete CAO (2.4%). Target leaflet-related CAO occurred significantly more often in older and stentless bioprosthetic valves and with higher implantation levels of transcatheter heart valves. Procedural success was 88.2%, and freedom from VARC-3-defined early safety endpoints was 79.0%. One-year survival was 84.2%; 90.5% of patients were in New York Heart Association Functional Class I/II. CONCLUSIONS: EURO-BASILICA is the first multicentre study evaluating the BASILICA technique in Europe. The technique appeared feasible and effective in preventing TAVI-induced CAO, and one-year clinical outcomes were favourable. The residual risk for CAO requires further study.

Quantitative coronary three-dimensional geometry and its association with atherosclerotic disease burden and composition.

BACKGROUND: Isolate features of the coronary anatomy have been associated with the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic disease. Computational methods have been described to allow precise quantification of the complex three-dimensional (3D) coronary geometry. The present study tested whether quantitative parameters that describe the spatial 3D coronary geometry is associated with the extension and composition of the underlying coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Patients with CAD scheduled for percutaneous intervention were investigated with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), and invasive coronary angiography, and virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (IVUS-VH). For all target vessels, 3D centerlines were extracted from CCTA images and processed to quantify 23 geometric indexes, grouped into 3 main categories as follows: (i) length-based; (ii) curvature-based, torsion-based, and curvature/torsion-combined; (iii) vessel path-based. The geometric variables were compared with IVUS-VH parameters assessing the extent and composition of coronary atherosclerosis. RESULTS: A total of 36 coronary patients (99 vessels) comprised the study population. From the 23 geometric indexes, 18 parameters were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with at least 1 IVUS-VH parameter at a univariate analysis. All three main geometric categories provided parameters significantly related with atherosclerosis variables. The 3D geometric indexes were associated with the degree of atherosclerotic extension, as well as with plaque composition. Geometric features remained significantly associated with all IVUS-VH parameters even after multivariate adjustment for clinical characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative 3D vessel morphology emerges as a relevant factor associated with atherosclerosis in patients with established CAD.

One-year outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the latest-generation SAPIEN balloon-expandable valve: the S3U registry.

BACKGROUND: Initial data about the performance of the new-generation SAPIEN 3 Ultra (S3U) valve are highly promising. However, evidence about the longer-term performance and safety of the S3U is scarce. AIMS: We aimed to investigate the 1-year clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using the S3U compared with its predecessor, the SAPIEN 3 valve (S3). METHODS: The SAPIEN 3 Ultra registry included consecutive patients who underwent transfemoral TAVI at 12 European centres with the S3U or S3 between October 2016 and December 2020. One-to-one propensity score (PS) matching was performed to account for differences in baseline characteristics. The primary outcomes of interest were all-cause death and the composite of all-cause death, disabling stroke and hospitalisation for heart failure at 1 year. RESULTS: The overall study cohort encompassed 1,692 patients treated with either the S3U (n=519) or S3 (n=1,173). The PS-matched population had a total of 992 patients (496 per group). At 1 year, the rate of death from any cause was 4.9% in the S3U group and 6.3% in the S3 group (p=0.743). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the rates of the primary composite outcome (9.5% in the S3 group and 6.6% in the S3U group; p=0.162). The S3U was associated with lower rates of mild paravalvular leak (PVL) compared with the S3 (odds ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval: 0.44 to 0.88; p<0.01). No significant differences in transprosthetic gradients were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the S3, the S3U transcatheter heart valve was associated with similar 1-year clinical outcomes but reduced rates of mild PVL.

The usefulness of QRS Index for prediction of echocardiographic response in cardiac resynchronization therapy: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The association between QRS narrowing and response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been investigated by several studies, but their findings remain inconclusive. Aim of our study was to explore the relationship between QRS Index and echocardiographic response to CRT. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective analysis included 326 consecutive patients (mean age was 70.0±10.1 years old; males 76.7%) who underwent CRT-D implantation in primary and secondary prevention between 2018 and 2020. The estimation of QRS shortening after CRT-D implantation was precisely assessed through the QRS Index, calculated as follows: [(QRS duration before implantation - paced QRS duration)/QRS duration before implantation]*100. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 12.7±4.5 months, 55.2% (180/326) of the patients showed an echocardiographic response to CRT. The median [25-75th] QRS Index was 3.85% [-14.1% - +13.9%]. The best predictive cut-off value of QRS Index was 1.40% (sensitivity 70.4%, specificity 64.5%, AUC 0.70). In patients with left bundle branch block, the median [25-75th] QRS Index was 9.85% [+3.87% - +16.7%]. In this subgroup, the AUC was 0.737 and the best predictive cut-off of QRS Index was 2.20% (sensitivity 78.3%, specificity 67%). The multivariable model showed that only left ventricular ejection fraction and QRS Index were independently associated with CRT response (respectively OR 0.92, CI 95% 0.86-0.98, P=0.01 and OR 1.057, CI 95% 1.026-1.089, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The QRS Index tightly correlated with CRT response. Only LVEF and QRS Index were independently associated with echocardiographic response to CRT.

Implantation of contemporary transcatheter aortic valves in small aortic annuli: the international multicentre TAVI-SMALL 2 registry.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of aortic stenosis in patients with small annuli is challenging and can result in prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM). AIMS: We aimed to compare the forward flow haemodynamics and clinical outcomes of contemporary transcatheter valves in patients with small annuli. METHODS: The TAVI-SMALL 2 international retrospective registry included 1,378 patients with severe aortic stenosis and small annuli (annular perimeter <72 mm or area <400 mm2) treated with transfemoral self-expanding (SEV; n=1,092) and balloon-expandable valves (BEV; n=286) in 16 high-volume centres between 2011 and 2020. Analyses comparing SEV versus BEV and supra-annular (SAV; n=920) versus intra-annular valves (IAV; n=458) included inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). The primary endpoints were the predischarge mean aortic gradient and incidence of severe PPM. The secondary endpoint was the incidence of more than mild paravalvular leak (PVL). RESULTS: The predischarge mean aortic gradient was lower after SAV versus IAV (7.8±3.9 vs 12.0±5.1; p<0.001) and SEV versus BEV implantation (8.0±4.1 vs 13.6±4.7; p<0.001). Severe PPM was more common with IAV and BEV when compared to SAV and SEV implantation, respectively, (8.8% vs 3.6%; p=0.007 and 8.7% vs 4.6%; p=0.041). At multivariable logistic regression weighted by IPTW, SAV protected from severe PPM regardless of its definition. More than mild PVL occurred more often with SEV versus BEV (11.6% vs 2.6%; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In small aortic annuli, implantation of SAV and SEV was associated with a more favourable forward haemodynamic profile than after IAV and BEV implantation, respectively. More than mild PVL was more common after SEV than BEV implantation.

Renal denervation in the management of hypertension in adults. A clinical consensus statement of the ESC Council on Hypertension and the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI).

Since the publication of the 2018 European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension (ESC/ESH) Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension, several high-quality studies, including randomised, sham-controlled trials on catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) were published, confirming both the blood pressure (BP)-lowering efficacy and safety of radiofrequency and ultrasound RDN in a broad range of patients with hypertension, including resistant hypertension. A clinical consensus document by the ESC Council on Hypertension and the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) on RDN in the management of hypertension was considered necessary to inform clinical practice. This expert group proposes that RDN is an adjunct treatment option in uncontrolled resistant hypertension, confirmed by ambulatory BP measurements, despite best efforts at lifestyle and pharmacological interventions. RDN may also be used in patients who are unable to tolerate antihypertensive medications in the long term. A shared decision-making process is a key feature and preferably includes a patient who is well informed on the benefits and limitations of the procedure. The decision-making process should take (i) the patient's global cardiovascular (CV) risk and/or (ii) the presence of hypertension-mediated organ damage or CV complications into account. Multidisciplinary hypertension teams involving hypertension experts and interventionalists evaluate the indication and facilitate the RDN procedure. Interventionalists require expertise in renal interventions and specific training in RDN procedures. Centres performing these procedures require the skills and resources to deal with potential complications. Future research is needed to address open questions and investigate the impact of BP-lowering with RDN on clinical outcomes and potential clinical indications beyond hypertension.

Renal denervation in the management of hypertension in adults. A clinical consensus statement of the ESC Council on Hypertension and the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI).

Since the publication of the 2018 European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension (ESC/ESH) Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension, several high-quality studies, including randomised, sham-controlled trials on catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) were published, confirming both the blood pressure (BP)-lowering efficacy and safety of radiofrequency and ultrasound RDN in a broad range of patients with hypertension, including resistant hypertension. A clinical consensus document by the ESC Council on Hypertension and the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) on RDN in the management of hypertension was considered necessary to inform clinical practice. This expert group proposes that RDN is an adjunct treatment option in uncontrolled resistant hypertension, confirmed by ambulatory BP measurements, despite best efforts at lifestyle and pharmacological interventions. RDN may also be used in patients who are unable to tolerate antihypertensive medications in the long term. A shared decision-making process is a key feature and preferably includes a patient who is well informed on the benefits and limitations of the procedure. The decision-making process should take (i) the patient's global cardiovascular (CV) risk and/or (ii) the presence of hypertension-mediated organ damage or CV complications into account. Multidisciplinary hypertension teams involving hypertension experts and interventionalists evaluate the indication and facilitate the RDN procedure. Interventionalists require expertise in renal interventions and specific training in RDN procedures. Centres performing these procedures require the skills and resources to deal with potential complications. Future research is needed to address open questions and investigate the impact of BP-lowering with RDN on clinical outcomes and potential clinical indications beyond hypertension.

Radial artery occlusion after transradial procedures: impact on 1-year adverse events.

BACKGROUND: Radial artery occlusion after transradial procedures is a frequent iatrogenic thrombotic process. The impact on prognosis has not been investigated. This study sought to investigate whether radial artery occlusion is related to increased risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, defined as death, myocardial infarction, stroke and coronary revascularization. METHODS: Eight hundred thirty-seven consecutive patients who underwent a transradial coronary procedure had patency of radial artery checked at 24 hours. Radial artery occlusion occurred in 41 over 837 patients (4.8%); 764 (91.2%) were available for planned follow-up at 1 year and were included in the analysis. Event-free survival rate between patients with and without radial artery occlusion was calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates, and Cox proportional-hazards models were used to identify independent risk factors. RESULTS: At a median 370-day follow-up (IQR: 366-375 days), adverse events occurred in 37 patients (4.8%), 2 in patients with radial artery occlusion and 35 in patients without. One-year survival rate was 94.9% vs. 95% (unadjusted HR=1.026, 95% CI: 0.24 to 4.6, P=0.9). After multivariable modeling, age and coronary artery disease extension was associated with increased risk of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Age and coronary artery disease extension were independent predictors of adverse events at follow-up. RAO had no prognostic impact.

A large, prospective, multicentre study of left main PCI using a latest-generation zotarolimus-eluting stent: the ROLEX study.

BACKGROUND: Data on left main (LM) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) have mostly been obtained in studies using drug-eluting stent (DES) platforms without dedicated large-vessel devices and with limited expansion capability. AIMS: Our study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of LM PCI with the latest-generation Resolute Onyx DES. METHODS: ROLEX (Revascularization Of LEft main with resolute onyX) is a prospective, multicentre study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03316833) enrolling patients with unprotected LM coronary artery disease and a SYNTAX score <33 undergoing PCI with the Resolute Onyx zotarolimus-eluting coronary stent, that includes dedicated extra-large vessel platforms. The primary endpoint (EP) was target lesion failure (TLF): a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (TVMI) and ischaemia-driven target lesion revascularisation (ID-TLR), at 1 year. All events were adjudicated by an independent clinical event committee. An independent core lab analysed all procedural angiograms. RESULTS: A total of 450 patients (mean age 71.8 years, SYNTAX score 24.5±7.2, acute coronary syndrome in 53%) were enrolled in 26 centres. Of these, 77% of subjects underwent PCI with a single-stent and 23% with a 2-stent technique (8% double kissing [DK] crush, 6% culotte, 9% T/T and small protrusion [TAP] stenting). Intravascular imaging guidance was used in 45% (42% intravascular ultrasound [IVUS], 3% optical coherence tomography [OCT]). At 1 year, the primary EP incidence was 5.1% (cardiac death 2.7%, TVMI 2.7%, ID-TLR 2.0%). The definite/probable stent thrombosis rate was 1.1%. In a prespecified adjusted subanalysis, the primary EP incidence was significantly lower in patients undergoing IVUS/OCT-guided versus angio-guided PCI (2.0 vs 7.6%; hazard ratio [HR] 0.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.13-0.58; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this large, multicentre, prospective registry, LM PCI with the Resolute Onyx DES showed good safety and efficacy at 1 year, particularly when guided by intracoronary imaging.

Functional Patterns of Coronary Disease: Diffuse, Focal, and Serial Lesions.

The physiological assessment of coronary lesions is influenced by the pattern and distribution of coronary artery disease (CAD), including focal lesions, serial lesions, diffuse disease, and mixed patterns. These various patterns of CAD impact the accuracy of pressure wire and angiography-derived physiology indexes, and diffuse disease in particular is an important determinant of the anticipated outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention. Therefore, identification of the physiological pattern of disease provides relevant information for the management of CAD and percutaneous coronary intervention procedural planning. At present, the classification of physiological patterns and its implications for the tailored management of a patient with CAD are poorly defined. This state-of-the-art review provides an overview of the available evidence on functional patterns of CAD with a special focus on their diagnostic and therapeutic implications. It also aims to provide clear definitions of physiological patterns of CAD based on the available evidence and expert opinion. A practical algorithm is provided to optimize the use of pressure wire and angiography-derived indexes of coronary physiology in the settings of focal, serial, and diffuse lesions, with the addition of intracoronary imaging in selected cases.

Transapical Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Real-World Early and Mid-Term Outcome of a Third-Level Centre.

BACKGROUND: Transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TA-TAVR) is generally considered to be associated with higher morbidity compared with transfemoral-TAVR. However, TA-TAVR remains a feasible alternative for patients who are unsuitable for TF-TAVR. It has been shown that outcomes after TAVR are linked to the operator's expertise. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to report short- and mid-term outcomes after TA-TAVR performed by an expert Heart-Team of a third-level centre. METHODS: From 2015 to 2022, 154 consecutive patients underwent TA-TAVR. The outcomes were analysed according to the VARC-3 criteria. Kaplan-Meier curves were estimated for major clinical events at mid-term follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age of the population was 79.3 years and the STS risk-score of mortality was 4.2 ± 3.6%. Periprocedural mortality was 1.9%. Acute kidney injury and prolonged ventilation occurred in 1.9%. Incidence of stroke was 0.6%. Pacemaker implantation rate was 1.9%. Freedom from cardiovascular mortality was 75.7%, and 60.2% at 3 and 5 years. Freedom from stroke was 92.3% and 88.9% at 3 and 5 years, respectively; freedom from endocarditis was 94.4% and 90.8% at 3 and 5 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: TA-TAVR may be considered a safe and effective alternative approach in patients unsuitable for TF-TAVR, especially when performed by a proficient Heart-Team.

The Treatment of Aortic Valve Stenosis in Intermediate and Low-Risk Patients-When, How and Where.

Until now, treatment of severe aortic stenosis (AS) is recommended after the disease becomes symptomatic or causes "silent" damages such as myocardial dysfunction [...].