Percutaneous Intervention With GuideLiner Catheter in 4 Patients With Anomalous Coronary Artery Originating From Opposite Sinus of Valsalva.

Percutaneous intervention in anomalous coronary arteries originating from the opposite sinus of Valsalva is complicated by their unusual location and course, which makes selective cannulation difficult. The GuideLiner (Vascular Solutions, Inc.) is a monorail guide extension catheter designed to advance beyond the tip of a mother guide catheter to enable deep intubation of a coronary artery, provide extra support, and improve coaxial alignment. We describe the cases of 4 patients with an anomalous coronary artery originating from the opposite sinus of Valsalva-including 2 with acute myocardial infarction-who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention with use of a GuideLiner catheter.

Local Intracoronary Fibrinolysis in Acute Myocardial Infarction of Ectatic Coronary Arteries in the Post-Abciximab Era.

Percutaneous intervention in the context of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is penalized with no-reflow phenomenon. The glycoprotein-IIb/IIIa-inhibitor abciximab was the most accepted method for pharmacology thrombus resolution in this scenario, nevertheless, this agent was recently withdrawn. We describe 5 patients treated with local intracoronary fibrinolysis administrated through predesigned catheters in the setting of AMI and CAE.

Transradial Secondary Approach During Transfemoral TAVI: Usefulness of Placing a Wire Before Femoral Puncture for Management and Treatment of Vascular Complications.

Vascular complications during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are relatively common, and some of them related to the transfemoral secondary access. The use of the transradial access (TRA) as an alternative vascular approach for transfemoral TAVI could reduce these complications, however, the treatment of potential vascular peripheral issues from this access has been scarcely described. The advance of a wire from the TRA to the primary transfemoral access at the beginning of the procedure could help the management of eventual vascular complications. A new TRA technique during transfemoral TAVI procedures is described, reporting the results in the first forty-two patients in one center.

Estudio de lesiones coronarias por segmentos mediante TCMD coronaria: correlación con el análisis cuantitativo por coronariografía invasiva / Coronary arterial segmental stenosis quantified by MDCT: correlation with quantitative coronary analyses by invasive angiography

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Left Bundle Branch Block after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation with Edwards Sapien 3 Valve: Influence of the Valve Depth Implantation.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine the relation between the valve depth implantation and the new-onset left bundle branch block (LBBB) in patients treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using Edwards Sapien 3 (S3) prosthesis. BACKGROUND: LBBB is the most common conduction disturbance after TAVI. The S3 has been associated with a higher incidence of LBBB. A deep valve implant could be related to new-onset LBBB with S3. METHODS: Seventy-six consecutive patients treated with transfemoral TAVI with S3 were included. Electrocardiogram (ECG) registries were recorded at baseline, after the procedure, and before discharge. Valve depth implantation was determined in 40 patients by off-line analysis of the two/three-dimensional transeophageal echocardiogram (TEE) images, with measure of the valve stent percentage under the aortic annulus. Previous and new conduction anomalies were documented; and patient, anatomic and procedural characteristics were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Complete atrioventricular block (AVB) incidence was 2.9%. LBBB after TAVI appeared in 39% of patients, being transient in almost half of the cases (permanent LBBB rate 20%). Patients with new-onset LBBB after TAVI were older, with a higher STS Score and a wider basal QRS. A deep valve position was associated with new-onset LBBB, with a ROC curve establishing a cut-off point of 34% of depth implant as risk factor for new-onset LBBB (sensitivity and specificity 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: In transfemoral TAVI with S3 prosthesis, a higher valve implantation (<34% of valve stent introduced into the ventricle) may minimize the new-onset LBBB, especially in old and high-risk patients with a wide basal QRS.

Assessing variability in compliance with recommendations given by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) for patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care using electronic records. The APNA study.

OBJECTIVE: Assess compliance with the IDF recommendations for patients with Diabetes Type2 (DM2), and its variability, by groups of doctors and nurses who provide primary care services in Navarre (Spain). MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGIES: A cross-sectional study of a population of 462,568 inhabitants, aged ≥18 years in 2013, attended by 381 units of doctor/nurse (quota). Clinical data were collected retrospectively through electronic records. Using cluster analysis, we identified two groups of units according to the score for each indicator. We calculated the Odds Ratio, adjusted for age sex, BMI, socioeconomic status and smoking, for complying with each recommendation whether a patient was treated by one of the quota from the highest score to the lowest. 30,312 patients with DM2 were identified: prevalence: 6.39%; coefficient of variation between UDN: 22.8%; biggest cluster 7.7% and smallest 5.3%; OR=1.54 (1.50-1.58). The HbA1c control at ≤8% was 82.8% (82.2-83.3) and >9% was 7.6% (7.3-8.0), with OR 1.79 (1.69-1.89) and 2.62 (2.36-2.91) respectively. Control of BP and LDL-C show significant differences between the clusters. CONCLUSIONS: An important variability was identified according to the doctor treating patients. The average HbA1c control is acceptable being limited in BP and LDL-C.

Outcomes of patients at estimated low surgical risk undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation with balloon-expandable prostheses.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) is an accepted treatment for patients with severe aortic stenosis and high surgical risk. However, there is lack in data about TAVI in low-risk patients that are already being treated with this therapy in some clinical contexts. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients treated with transfemoral TAVI using Edwards Sapien prosthesis in one center was performed, classifying the patients into three groups according to the surgical risk (high/intermediate/low risk for STS score>8/4-8/<4). Clinical characteristics, procedure and follow-up outcomes were collected, comparing the results between low and high surgical risk groups. RESULTS: 89 TAVIs using Edwards balloon expandable prosthesis were performed (9 Sapien XT and 80 Sapien 3 valves were implanted). 40 patients (45%) presented a STS score<4, while 33 (37%) had a STS>8. Low-risk patients were significantly younger and had lower rates of coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, pulmonary lung disease and atrial fibrillation. There were no significant differences in most of the technical variables of the procedure, apart from vascular complications and complete left bundle branch block after valve implant, which were higher in the group with STS>8. Patients of low risk presented shorter hospital stay (2,91±1,6, vs 4,8±3,9 days), with lower rates of mortality at mid- and long follow-up (death from any cause 15,2% vs 0%, p 0,04). CONCLUSIONS: TAVI in low-risk patients is safe and associated with better outcome at mid and long-term follow-up compared to high-risk patients.

Congenital atresia of the left main coronary artery in an adult: A rare anomaly with an unfavorable prognosis. Review of the literature.

Congenital atresia of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) is one of the rarest congenital anomalies, which may have an unfavorable prognosis leading to myocardial ischemia, ventricle dysfunction or even sudden cardiac death. There are 34 cases of LMCA in adults reported in the literature, most of them successfully treated with coronary revascularization. We report the case of an adult with LMCA who presented with terminal heart failure that required biventricular assistance and heart transplant.

[Selection of quality indicators for primary care prescription through a consensus group]. / Selección de indicadores de calidad de prescripción en atención primaria mediante un grupo de consenso.

OBJECTIVE: To work out a system of indicators for improvement of primary care prescription, by incorporating the values and views of the professionals issuing prescriptions. DESIGN: Qualitative technique to search for consensus among experts, based on nominal groups. SETTING: All primary care areas in the Health Service of Aragon, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: Primary care doctors, doctors in primary care management teams, specialists, primary care pharmacists. METHOD: Two parallel groups involving a total of 24 experts were formed. In the session these questions were posed: "what indicators focusing on the drug and what indicators relating diagnosis and treatment do you think most useful for evaluating prescription quality?" Each panellist put forward indicators that were then discussed and placed on a scale of 1 to 9. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty six indicators were generated, 81 drug-focused and 55 relating diagnosis and treatment; 56% were given a weighting above 5. The 2 groups coincided in 11 cases. The most valued indicators were generally those that brought a greater degree of consensus. CONCLUSION: It is feasible, through this technique, to produce a set of agreed indicators for evaluating primary care doctors' prescription.

Selección de indicadores de calidad de prescripción en atención primaria mediante un grupo de consenso / Selection of quality indicators for primary care prescription through a consensus group

Objetivo. Elaborar un sistema de indicadores que permita mejorar la evaluación de la prescripción en atención primaria, incorporando los valores y la opinión de los profesionales implicados en la prescripción. Diseño. Técnica cualitativa de búsqueda de consenso entre expertos basada en el grupo nominal. Emplazamiento. Todas las áreas de atención primaria del Servicio Aragonés de Salud. Participantes. Médicos de atención primaria, médicos del equipo directivo de atención primaria, médicos de atención especializada, farmacéuticos de atención primaria. Método. Se forman dos grupos paralelos en los que en total participaron 24 expertos. En la sesión se planteó la pregunta: «¿Qué indicadores centrados en el fármaco y qué indicadores que relacionen diagnóstico y tratamiento consideras más útiles para evaluar la calidad de la prescripción?» Cada panelista propuso indicadores que se discutieron y ponderaron en una escala de 1 a 9. Resultados. Se generaron 136 indicadores, 81 centrados en el fármaco y 55 que relacionan diagnóstico y tratamiento. El 56% obtuvo una ponderación mayor que 5. Ambos grupos coincidieron en 11. Los indicadores más valorados en general fueron los que suscitaron un mayor grado de consenso. Conclusión. Mediante esta técnica es factible producir un conjunto de indicadores consensuados para la evaluación de la prescripción de los médicos de atención primaria

Objective. To work out a system of indicators for improvement of primary care prescription, by incorporating the values and views of the professionals issuing prescriptions. Design. Qualitative technique to search for consensus among experts, based on nominal groups. Setting. All primary care areas in the Health Service of Aragon, Spain. Participants. Primary care doctors, doctors in primary care management teams, specialists, primary care pharmacists. Method. Two parallel groups involving a total of 24 experts were formed. In the session these questions were posed: "what indicators focusing on the drug and what indicators relating diagnosis and treatment do you think most useful for evaluating prescription quality?" Each panellist put forward indicators that were then discussed and placed on a scale of 1 to 9. Results. One hundred and thirty six indicators were generated, 81 drug-focused and 55 relating diagnosis and treatment; 56% were given a weighting above 5. The 2 groups coincided in 11 cases. The most valued indicators were generally those that brought a greater degree of consensus. Conclusion. It is feasible, through this technique, to produce a set of agreed indicators for evaluating primary care doctors' prescription

Antimicrobial chemotherapy for Legionnaires disease: levofloxacin versus macrolides.

BACKGROUND: The community outbreak of legionnaires disease that occurred in Murcia, Spain, in July 2001--to our knowledge, the largest such outbreak ever reported--afforded an unusual opportunity to compare the clinical response of patients with Legionella pneumonia treated with levofloxacin with that of patients treated with macrolides and to determine the role of rifampicin combined with levofloxacin in treating severe legionellosis. METHODS: An observational, prospective, nonrandomized study was conducted involving 292 patients seen at our hospital (Hospital "J. M. Morales Meseguer"; Murcia, Spain) who received a diagnosis of Legionella pneumonia during the Murcia outbreak. To compare both antibiotic regimens (macrolides vs. levofloxacin), patients were stratified by the severity of pneumonia. Duration of fever, clinical outcome, complications, side effects, and length of hospital stay were recorded. To assess the potential effects of adjuvant therapy with rifampicin, 45 case patients treated with levofloxacin plus rifampicin were evaluated and compared with 45 control pairs who were treated with levofloxacin alone. RESULTS: With the exception of 2 patients who died, all patients were cured. There were no significant differences between treatment groups in clinical outcome for patients with mild-to-moderate pneumonia. Nevertheless, in patients with severe pneumonia, levofloxacin exerted superior activity; it was associated with fewer complications (3.4% of patients receiving levofloxacin experienced complications, compared with 27.2% of patients receiving macrolides; P=.02) and shorter mean hospital stays (5.5 vs. 11.3 days; P=.04). Addition of rifampicin to the treatment regimen for patients receiveing levofloxacin for severe pneumonia provides no additional benefit. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings strongly suggest that monotherapy with levofloxacin is a safe and effective treatment for legionnaires disease, including in patients with severe disease. In these patients, levofloxacin appears to be more effective than clarithromycin.