Transplant Renal Artery Stenosis (TRAS) is a recognized vascular complication after kidney transplantation. The overall risk predictors of TRAS are poorly understood. Retrospective analysis of patients with suspected TRAS (Doppler ultrasound PSV > 200 cm/s) who underwent angiographic study in a single center between 2007 and 2014. All patients with stenosis > 50% were considered with TRAS. Stenosis restricted in the body of the artery was also analyzed in a subgroup. 274 patients were submitted to a renal angiography and 166 confirmed TRAS. TRAS group featured an older population (46.3 ± 11.0 vs. 40.9 ±14.2 years; p = 0.001), more frequent hypertensive nephropathy (30.1% vs. 15.7%; p = 0.01), higher incidence of Delayed Graft Function (DGF) (52.0% vs. 25.6%; p < 0.001) and longer Cold Ischemia Time (CIT) (21.5 ± 10.6 vs. 15.7 ± 12.9h; p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, DGF (OR = 3.31; 95% CI 1.78‒6.30; p < 0.0001) was independent risk factors for TRAS. DM and CIT showed a tendency towards TRAS. The compound discriminatory capacity of the multivariable model (AUC = 0.775; 95% CI 0.718‒0.831) is significantly higher than systolic blood pressure and creatinine alone (AUC = 0.62; 95% CI 0.558–0.661). In body artery stenosis subgroup, DGF (OR = 1.86; 95% CI 1.04‒3.36; p = 0.03) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) (OR = 2.44; 95% CI 1.31‒4.60; p = 0.005) were independent risk factors for TRAS. In our transplant population, DGF increased more than 3-fold the risk of TRAS. In the subgroup analysis, both DGF and DM increases the risk of body artery stenosis. The addition of other factors to hypertension and renal dysfunction may increase diagnostic accuracy. clinicaltrials.gov (n° NCT04225338).

Within the last two decades, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has transformed the treatment strategy for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS), representing a less invasive alternative to traditional open-chest surgery. With time, advances in device features, imaging planning, and implantation techniques have contributed to an improvement in safety as well as a reduction in procedural complications. This has led to the expansion of TAVR to lower-risk patients, where TAVR has shown favorable outcomes compared to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). As TAVR expands to younger and lower-risk patients with longer life expectancies, the need for reintervention for failing transcatheter heart valves is expected to increase. Redo-TAVR has gained increasing relevance in the lifetime management of AS as one of the treatment strategies available for structural valve dysfunction (SVD). However, some issues are associated with this approach, including coronary re-access and the risk of coronary obstruction. In this review, we provide essential concepts to properly select candidates for Redo-TAVR, updated data on clinical outcomes and complication rates, and current gaps in evidence.

Pharmacoinvasive strategy is an effective myocardial reperfusion therapy when primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI) cannot be performed in a timely manner. Authors sought to evaluate metrics of care and cardiovascular outcomes in a decade-long registry of a pharmacoinvasive strategy network for the treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Data from a local network including patients undergoing fibrinolysis in county hospitals and systematically transferred to the tertiary center were accessed from March 2010 to September 2020. Numerical variables were described as median and interquartile range. Area under the curve (AUC-ROC) was used to analyze the predictive value of TIMI and GRACE scores for in-hospital mortality. A total of 2,710 consecutive STEMI patients aged 59 [51–66] years, 815 women (30.1%) and 837 individuals with diabetes (30.9%) were analyzed. The time from symptom onset to first-medical-contact was 120 [60–210] minutes and the door-to-needle time was 70 [43–115] minutes. Rescue-PCI was required in 929 patients (34.3%), in whom the fibrinolytic-catheterization time was 7.2 [4.9–11.8] hours, compared to 15.7 [6.8–22,7] hours in those who had successful lytic reperfusion. All cause in-hospital mortality occurred in 151 (5.6%) patients, reinfarction in 47 (1.7%) and ischemic stroke in 33 (1.2%). Major bleeding occurred in 73 (2.7%) patients, including 19 (0.7%) cases of intracranial bleeding. C-statistic confirmed that both scores had high predictive values for in-hospital mortality, demonstrated by TIMI AUC-ROC of 0.80 [0,77–0.84] and GRACE AUC-ROC of 0.86 [0.83—0.89]. In a real world registry of a decade-long network for the treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction based on the pharmacoinvasive strategy, low rates of in-hospital mortality and cardiovascular outcomes were observed, despite prolonged time metrics for both fibrinolytic therapy and rescue-PCI. Register Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02090712 date of first registration 18/03/2014.

Objective: To analyze the incidence, risk factors, and associations of clinical outcomes for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after coronary angioplasty. Method: Prospective cohort of 182 patients followed for three months after undergoing angioplasty, from July 2020 to June 2021. The analyzed variables were sociodemographic, clinical, and those related to the procedure. Results: The incidence of CI-AKI was 35.7% (n = 65) and was associated with old age, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease (p = 0.004, p < 0.001, and p = 0.009, respectively). Out of the 17 patients who died within 90 days, 76.5% had CI-AKI (n = 13), the odds ratio between death and CI-AKI was approximately 7.2 times (95% confidence interval (CI), [2.41;26.36]; p = 0.001). The decrease of one unit in the patient’s baseline hemoglobin showed a 6.5% increase for CI-AKI (95% CI, [−0.089; −0.040]; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: CI-AKI is prevalent in patients with ACS after angioplasty and is related to diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, showing high mortality rates.

Need for permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains a common complication. We aimed to assess computed tomography (CT)-based anatomical and electrocardiogram (ECG)-based parameters in a predictive model for PPI following TAVR. We assessed CT-based parameters, including the predicted course of the conduction axis from atrioventricular node to left bundle branch origin relative to the aortic virtual basal ring. Electrophysiological variables were combined in assessing a model to predict post-TAVR PPI. Among 433 patients (mean age 82.0 [9.0] years, 54.0% female), 90 (21.0%) required PPI. Multiple binary logistic modeling demonstrated a shallower position of the membranous septum inferior margin midpoint increased the odds of PPI by 20% for every 1 mm (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.20) adjusted for the CT assessment phase. Increasing aortic root rotational angle associated with lower PPI odds (odds ratio [OR]: 0.98; 95% CI [0.95-1.00]), while an angle between the membranous septum midpoint and noncoronary leaflet nadir associated with increased PPI odds (OR: 1.04; 95% CI [1.01-1.08]). Preprocedural right bundle branch block and first-degree atrioventricular block associated with increased odds for PPI (OR: 3.76; 95% CI [1.71-8.21]; and OR: 1.84; 95% CI [1.06-3.18], respectively). The model had an area under the curve of 0.73 (95% CI [0.67-0.79]), sensitivity of 0.74 (95% CI [0.47-0.93]), and specificity of 0.65 (95% CI [0.40-0.87]) for predicting PPI requirement. A predictive model for determining the risk of PPI following TAVR is reported, combining comprehensive conduction-specific anatomical measurements relative to the aortic root and electrical measurements with clinical parameters. This model requires prospective application to understand its performance in the real-world.