Midterm Survival Rates High in Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis, Early Intervention Useful in Severe Cases Outcomes of Patients With Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis Followed Up in Heart Valve Clinics

A study by published in JAMA cardiology indicated that the potential benefit of early intervention must be considered in high-risk AS patients. Cases of asymptomatic AS followed up in heart valve centers had a good midterm survival rate. However, patients with severe AS at baseline and peak aortic jet velocity of 5.0 m/s or greater or LVEF less than 60% had increased risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality even after AVR, according to Patrizio Lancellotti, M.D., Ph.D., of University of Liège Hospital in Belgium, and colleagues. The investigators also identified certain factors that correlated with poorer prognosis. Continue reading →

Does the Wearable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Benefit MI Patients? Results From the VEST Trial

In patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) equal or less than 35%, the use of wearable cardioverter defibrillator early after the MI did not lead to significant lowering of death from arrhythmia or from any cause, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Continue reading →

Portico TAVR study demonstrates low rates of stroke, death at 1 year One-Year Outcomes with a Self-Expanding, Repositionable Transcatheter Heart Valve in Severe Aortic Stenosis Patients: PORTICO-I

Results from the Portico 1 study were presented during a late-breaking session at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics conference in San Diego showing that transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with the new transcatheter heart valve (THV) in patients at increased surgical risk is associated with low 1-year mortality and stroke rates. In the study, favorable hemodynamic results at 1 year were observed with low transvalvular pressure gradient and incidence of significant Paravalvular leakage (PVL). The results were also published online in the Journal of American College of Cardiology. Continue reading →

Vascular Video Series Part 8: What the Future Holds for Antithrombotic Therapies Dr. Libby, Dr. Bonaca, and Dr. Gibson Discuss

This video is supported by an unrestricted educational grant.