JSCAI BEATS

SCAI Leaders—Dr. David Rizik, Dr. James Hermiller, Dr. Andrew Klein, and Dr. Islam Abudayyeh—explore the significant hazards faced by interventional cardiologists in the catheterization lab (CCL), including radiation exposure, orthopedic injuries, and the physical and psychological stress associated with the profession. They also emphasize the moral imperative to improve workplace safety, advocati...

In this discussion, Suzanne Baron, MD, FSCAI, Zach Gertz, MD, Gregg W. Stone, MD, MSCAI, and Lissa Sugeng, MD, FSCAI, highlight key findings from the JSCAI article on the impact of forward flow in heart failure (HF) patients undergoing mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER). The panel discusses data from the COAPT trial, which stratified patients by baseline forward flow and assessed outc...

The clinical presentation and epidemiology of infective endocarditis (IE) have evolved over time. While the cornerstones of IE treatment remain antimicrobial therapy and surgery, percutaneous mechanical aspiration (PMA) has emerged as an option for carefully selected patients as a complementary modality, based on retrospective data, case series, and expert experience. In this comprehensive review,...

The video panel discussion featuring Cindy Grines, MD, MSCAI, Revathy Sampath-Kumar, MD, Ian Gilchrist, MD, MSCAI, Michel Le May, BSc, MD, and Pradyumna Tummala, MD highlights the findings of the study published in JSCAI. The study found that radial to femoral access-site crossover (RFC) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was associated with higher short-term mortality and bleeding co...

In this video conversation featuring Connor Tice, MD, John Blair, MD, Larry Dean, MD, MSCAI, and Morton Kern, MD, MSCAI, the panel explores the role of coronary function testing in providing diagnostic clarity and potential therapeutic options for patients presenting with angina, despite having nonobstructive coronary arteries on coronary angiography. This discussion highlights key takeaways from...

Physiological changes in the coronary circulation associated with PCI for CTOs remain largely unknown. This systematic review and meta-analysis, published in JSCAI, aimed to investigate physiological changes in the CTO and donor vessel before and immediately after PCI, as well as at follow-up. Dean Kereiakes MD MSCAI, Javier Escaned MD PhD, Emmanouil Brilakis MD PhD FSCAI, and William Fearon MD FS...

Leaders, Sahil Parikh, MD, FSCAI, Pietro Di Santo, MD, & Carlos Mena-Hurtado, MD FSCAI, discuss key findings from the ULTRAsound Assessment of Access SITe COMplications study, highlighting the superior accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in detecting pseudoaneurysms compared to physical examination alone. The authors explore how integrating POCUS into routine practice could enhance ea...

A Bayesian network meta-analysis of 30 studies involving 8,016 patients compared 12 PCI strategies for treating DES-ISR. Prakash Raj Oli, MBBS, Andrew Goldsweig, MD, FSCAI, Evan Shlofmitz, DO, discuss these findings in an insightful video interview, emphasizing key clinical takeaways and the need for further research. Read the article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jscai.2024.102428

Drs. Andrew Goldsweig, MD, MS, FSCAI, Ivan Hanson, MD, FSCAI, Bill O’Neil, MD, MSCAI, Srihari Naidu, MD, FSCAI & M. Babar Basir, DO, FSCAI discuss this original research in JSCAI highlighting the characteristics and outcomes of the SCAI stage E shock patients with AMICS undergoing PCI who improved to stage C or D within 24 hours of Impella support (“responders”) vs those patients who remained...

Cindy Grines, MD, MSCAI, Rajesh Rajan, MD, and Mirvat Alasnag, MD, FSCAI, discuss the first study to validate the SCAI-Cardiogenic Shock Working Group stages in a large cohort of AMICS patients in the Gulf region. The findings reveal that higher SCAI stages (D/E) are strongly linked to significantly worse short- and long-term survival outcomes. Patients in advanced stages of shock face more than a...

In this review, the authors discuss the various aspects of right heart blood flow patterns, as assessed by 4D flow MRI, in the context of shunt devices under clinical evaluation for patients with symptomatic HFpEF. This related video conversation features Andrew M. Goldsweig, MD, MS, FSCAI, Raviteja Guddeti, MD, Megan Coylewright, MD, FSCAI, Sheldon Litwin, MD, Santiago Garcia, MD, FSCAI, and Pete...

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatments for superficial femoral artery (SFA) disease, in this network meta-analysis of 57 randomized trials (9089 patients), the authors compared outcomes across nine modalities, including PTA, atherectomy, drug-coated balloons, and stents. The analysis showed superior technical success and 12-month patency for most techniques compared to PTA,...

The EMPOWER CAD study is a postmarket, prospective, multicenter, single-arm observational study evaluating the Shockwave Coronary IVL system for treating women with calcified coronary artery disease. This conversation features Dean Kereiakes, MD, MSCAI, Margaret McEntegart, MD, FSCAI, Suzanne Baron, MD, FSCAI, & Robert Riley, MD, FSCAI, as they highlight the EMPOWER CAD study and address the u...

The mechanistic association between the hydraulic forces generated during contrast injection and the risk of coronary injury is poorly understood. The authors evaluate whether contrast injections increase intracoronary pressures beyond resting levels and estimate the risk of hydraulic propagation of coronary dissections. Findings suggest that pressure increases are negligible beyond the catheter t...

3D rotational angiography (3DRA) is a safe and effective tool for guiding cardiac catheterizations in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) weighing less than 5 kilograms, with no periprocedural deaths or minor adverse events observed and minimal major adverse events. Frank Ing, MD, MSCAI, Chenise N. Lucas, MD, Gregor J. Krings, MD, and Howaida El-Said, MD, FSCAI, discuss the findings, share...

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) enables advanced assessment of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, including plaque quantification, high-risk feature detection, and pericoronary adipose tissue analysis. This video interview, featuring Sophie E. van Rosendael, MD, PhD, Jonathon Leipsic, MD, Daniel Jones, MD, PhD, and Hamid Mojibian, MD, highlights recent advancements, key evide...

This installment from SCAI's series, "Pioneers in Interventional Cardiology," features @Tim Henry, MD, MSCAI, @Cindy Grines, MD, MSCAI, and @William O’Neill, MD, MSCAI, who share their journeys, challenges, and the impact that primary PCI for STEMI has had since its birth. Their stories take listeners through the three eras of STEMI care (the thrombolytic era, the facilitated and rescue PCI era, a...

Myocardial bridges are common but not always linked to angina, with unclear mechanisms. The study, published in JSCAI, explores the prevalence of epicardial spasm, microvascular spasm, and endothelium-independent coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in MB patients with chest pain. In this video discussion, Andrew Goldsweig, Tess Allan, John Blair, Samit Shah, and Odayme Quesada provide insight...

This case study presents a rare cause of subvalvular LVOT obstruction due to a subaortic membrane, highlighting diagnostic challenges in detecting this condition. The video conversation features primary author Jonathan X. Fang, along with panelists Morton Kern, Larry Dean, Gurumurthy Hiremath, and Arnold Seto, who discuss the intricacies of waveform tracing, variations in gradient shape, and poten...

Cardiogenic shock remains a critical challenge, with high mortality rates despite advancements in care. Delayed recognition, late support, and unequal access to care contribute to poor outcomes. Formalized CS programs, modeled after trauma and stroke care, have improved survival but face challenges like staff training, leadership, and funding. This video conversation highlights insights from an ar...

ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Timely reperfusion with primary percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with improved outcomes. SCAI puts forth an expert consensus document regarding best practices for cardiac catheterization laboratory team readiness, arterial access with an algorithm to help determine pr...

This study assessed the relationships of patient, lesion, and procedural characteristics to the subsequent risk of major and minor adverse limb events over the decade after successful endovascular revascularization of the superficial femoral artery for chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) or lifestyle-limiting claudication. Drs. Sahil Parikh, Scott Kinley, Marc Bonaca, & Kevin Rogers discu...

The authors investigated clinical outcomes of Saphenous Vein Graft-PCI using contemporary drug-eluting stents. Conclusions: patients who underwent SVG-PCI with contemporary DES, patients were characterized by a high-risk profile and high rates of adverse clinical events. However, the incidence of stent and lesion-related events was low. Expert leaders, Sandeep Nathan, Saman Saidi-Seresht, Stefan J...

Concerns about fetal radiation exposure may deter women from pursuing careers in invasive cardiology. However, real-world data on fetal exposure is limited. This study aimed to measure radiation exposure to invasive cardiologists that could affect the fetus during pregnancy. Leaders—David G. Rizik, Kenneth A. Fetterly, Mayra Guerrero, Celina Yong, and Holly Bauser-Heaton—discuss the findings. Watc...

This series from SCAI, "Pioneers in Interventional Cardiology," features Spencer B. King III, MD, MSCAI, John S. Douglas, Jr., MD, MSCAI, H. Vernon "Skip" Anderson, MD, FSCAI, and J. Jeffrey Marshall, MD, MSCAI. The panel discusses the groundbreaking work of Andreas Gruentzig, MD, and shares their personal recollections, memories, and firsthand experiences. This interview discusses the significanc...