Emmanouil Brilakis

Several studies suggest differences in burnout and coping mechanisms between female and male physicians. We conducted an international, online survey exploring sex-based differences in the well-being of interventional cardiologists. Of 1251 participants, 121 (9.7%) were women. Compared with men, women were more likely to be single and under 50 years old, and they asked more often for development opportunities and better communication with administration. Overall burnout was similar between women and men, but women interventional cardiology attendings were more likely to think that they were achieving less than they should...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

There is significant variation in wire utilization patterns for chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of polymer-jacketed wires (PJWs) versus non-PJWs in antegrade procedures. We analyzed clinical and angiographic characteristics, and procedural outcomes of 7,575 antegrade CTO PCIs that were performed at 47 centers between 2012 and 2023. Cases in which PJWs were exclusively used were classified in the PJW group, while cases where at least one non-PJW was employed were classified in the non-PJW group...

OBJECTIVES: Guide catheter extensions (GCEs) are commonly used to facilitate percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). We investigated the incidence and modes of failure of GCEs.. METHODS: Data from the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database between 2012 and 2022 were used to investigate the most common modes of failure and related adverse events with the use of GCEs. We performed analysis of 4 commonly used catheters: GuideLiner (Teleflex), Guidezilla (Boston Scientific), TrapLiner (Teleflex), and Telescope (Medtronic)...

A 72-year-old woman presented with progressive angina and anterior ischemia on a nuclear stress test.

OBJECTIVES: Ostial CTOs can be challenging to revascularize. We aim to describe the outcomes of ostial chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of 8788 CTO PCIs performed at 35 US and non-US centers between 2012 and 2022. In-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) included death, myocardial infarction, urgent repeat target-vessel revascularization, tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis or surgery, and stroke...

BACKGROUND: The optimal range of activated clotting time (ACT) in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has received limited study. METHODS: We examined the association between ACT and in-hospital ischemic and bleeding outcomes in patients who underwent CTO PCI in the Prospective Global Registry for the Study of CTO Intervention. RESULTS: ACT values were available for 4377 patients who underwent CTO PCI between 2012 and 2023 at 29 centers...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The utilization of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patient with previous bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement continues to increase. This is due to an aging population and increased utilization of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to treat symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS). These patients often have concurrent high complexity coronary artery disease (CAD). Various strategies are available for the management of significant CAD in patients undergoing TAVR, including PCI before or after TAVR...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Retrograde chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with lower success and higher complication rates when compared with the antegrade approach. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess contemporary techniques and outcomes of retrograde CTO PCI. METHODS: We examined the baseline characteristics, procedural techniques and outcomes of 4,058 retrograde CTO PCIs performed at 44 centers between 2012 and 2023...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

This study aims to evaluate the impact that the presence of interventional collaterals has on the outcomes of CTO PCI. We examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of 11 205 patients who underwent 11 444 CTO PCIs at 45 US and non-US centers between 2012 and 2023.

A 60-year-old man was referred for percutaneous coronary intervention of a proximal left circumflex (Cx) chronic total occlusion (CTO) with distal filling via epicardial collaterals from the left anterior descending (LAD) artery.

Successful crossing of the target coronary lesion with a guidewire is an essential step in percutaneous coronary intervention. Guidewire advancement can be challenging, especially in tortuous, severely stenosed, and heavily calcified lesions. The use of a microcatheter significantly improves the guidewire steerability and penetration force, but it requires specific training and is associated with increased procedural costs. We present the first in vivo experience with a new type of rapid exchange microcatheter (Micro Rx, Interventional Medical Device Solutions), describe bench testing of combinations of guidewires and microcatheters, and suggest potential applications...

BACKGROUND: Contemporary chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) practice has received limited study. AIM: To examine the contemporary CTO PCI practice. METHODS: We performed an online, anonymous, international survey of CTO PCI operators. RESULTS: Five hundred forty-five CTO PCI operators and 190 interventional cardiology fellows with an interest in CTO PCI participated in this survey...

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on heavily calcified lesions has been associated with more complications.1 Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) was recently approved for treating de novo calcified coronary lesions based on excellent safety and efficacy on several studies, but there are limited "real world" outcomes. We conducted a comprehensive search of the MAUDE database between February 12, 2021, and February 28, 2023 using the manufacturer and brand name tabs with the keywords "Shockwave Medical" and "Shockwave," respectively...

BACKGROUND: There is limited information on the impact of the target vessel on the procedural techniques and outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We analyzed the baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of 11,580 CTO PCIs performed between 2012 and 2022 at 44 centers. RESULTS: The most common CTO target vessel was the right coronary artery (RCA) (53.1%) followed by the left anterior descending artery (LAD) (26...

BACKGROUND: We examined the effect of atrial fibrillation on the outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We examined the baseline characteristics and procedural outcomes of 9,166 CTO PCIs performed at 39 US and non-US centers between 2012 and 2023. RESULTS: Atrial fibrillation was present in 1122 (12%) patients. These patients were older and had a higher incidence of comorbidities, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, and lower eGFR...

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a common complication of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and can lead to adverse cardiovascular events. This is a non-randomized, observational, prospective study of STEMI patients with multivessel disease who underwent primary PCI, grouped based on whether they underwent balloon pre-dilatation stenting or direct stenting of the culprit lesion. Coronary physiology measurements were performed 3 months post-PCI including coronary flow reserve (CFR) and index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) measurements at the culprit vessel...