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E Grube

Publications and source records attributed to E Grube.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Incidental finding of a papillary fibroelastoma on the aortic valve in 16 slice multi-detector row computed tomography.

Papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) is a benign, rare, gelatinous tumour derived from the endocardium, primarily the cardiac valves, which is usually diagnosed by high resolution echocardiography. Although rarely clinically symptomatic, PFEs have a potential for coronary ischaemia, systemic embolisation with neurologic symptoms, and sometimes valvar dysfunction. There are reports of coronary occlusion and even sudden cardiac death due to a ball valve phenomenon on the coronary ostia. This report describes the characteristics of a PFE with multidetector 16 slice computed tomography and 1.5 Tesla cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Aged↗

Long-term evaluation of paclitaxel-coated stents for treatment of native coronary lesions. First results of both the clinical and angiographic 18 month follow-up of TAXUS I.

The development of restenoses due to tissue proliferation within the stented segment is a major limitation of conventional stent implantations. Recently published studies have shown that drug-eluting stents effectively decrease the incidence of stent restenosis at 6 month follow-up as compared to bare metal stents. However, a persistent efficacy of this stent design beyond the 6 month period still needs to be proven. Therefore, in this study, we are demonstrating the first 18 month follow-up results of a Paclitaxel-coated coronary stent, based on the patient population of the TAXUS I study, a multicenter randomized study to evaluate both safety and efficacy of the Paclitaxel-coated NIRx stent as compared to an uncoated, bare metal stent. In this study we evaluated the long-term outcome of NIRx patients of our center, in which 20 out of 31 patients of the TAXUS I study with NIRx stent implantation have been enrolled. A clinical follow-up was available in 20 out of 20 patients (100%) 535 +/- 82 days post stent implantation (17.8 months). An angiographic follow-up was available in 14 out of 20 patients (70%) 580 +/- 77 days post stent implantation (19.1 months). The MACE rate at 18 month follow-up was 0.0%. There was no stent restenosis in the study group up to 18 month post drug-eluting stent implantation. There was one non-clinically driven target vessel revascularization due to a stent edge lumen renarrowing, which was subsequently calculated as a 43% diameter stenosis. Accordingly, this event was not regarded as MACE. The IVUS analysis of the study population has shown a decrease of the mean minimum lumen area from 8.45 mm(2) postinterventional to 6.87 mm(2) at 6 month follow-up with a relative mean maximum plaque area of 16%. At 18 month follow-up, there were no additional significant changes with a mean minimum lumen area of 7.16 mm(2) and a relative mean maximum plaque area of 13.4%. The reported results of the 18 month follow-up of TAXUS I are the first experiences demonstrating a persistent benefit of the Paclitaxel-coated NIRx stent. Therefore, this stent design seems to be safe and effective, even in long-term follow-up.

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[Brugada syndrome or ARVD (arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia) or both? Significance and value of right precordial ECG changes].

We report about a 20-year old patient suffering cardiopulmonary resuscitation due to ventricular fibrillation. We diagnosed Brugada syndrome after exclusion structural heart disease and a positive Ajmalin test and implanted an ICD. In that there is a 20-30% familiar disposition, it was necessary that all family members undergo a cardiac examination. It was found that one brother and one sister presented the beginning of a right ventricular dilatation and a fibrolipomatous area in the anterior wall segment of the right ventricle. This result is compatible with a "concealed" arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). As a prognostic indication we decided to implant an ICD prophylactically. The case report demonstrates the value of familiar examination of patients with an unclear ventricular arrhythmogenic event.

Adult↗

Drug eluting stents: initial experiences.

Local delivery of immunosuppressive or antiproliferative agents using a drug-eluting stent is a new technology meant to inhibit in-stent restenosis providing both a biological and mechanical solution and has recently emerged as a very promising approach. Up to now several agents have been in use: Paclitaxel, Rapamycin, Actinomycin D or Tacrolimus. Evaluating these drugs regarding their release kinetics, effective dosage, safety in clinical practice and benefit, several studies have been published or are still ongoing: SCORE (Paclitaxel-derivative), TAXUS I, II, III, IV (Paclitaxel), ELUTE, ASPECT (Paclitaxel), RAVEL, SIRIUS (Sirolimus), ACTION (Actinomycin), EVIDENT, PRESENT (Tacrolimus). Paclitaxel was the first stent-based antiproliferative agent under clinical investigation providing profound inhibition of neointimal thickening, depending on delivery duration and drug dosage. The randomized multicenter SCORE trail (Quanam stent, Paclitaxel coated) enrolled 266 patients at 17 sites. At 6 month follow-up, a drop of 83% in stent restenosis using the drug-eluting stent could be achieved (6.4% drug-eluting stent vs. 36.9% control group) attributable to a remarkable decrease in intimal proliferation. Unfortunately, due to both frequent stent thrombosis and side-branch occlusions the reported 30-day MACE rate was 10.2%. The randomized TAXUS I safety trail (NIRx, Paclitaxel coated) also demonstrated beneficial reduction of restenotic lesions at 6-month FU (0% vs. 11%) but, this time, associated with the absence of thrombotic events presumably due to the lower drug dosage. The ongoing TAXUS II, III and IV trails are aimed at providing additional insight regarding the efficacy of the TAXUS Paclitaxel-eluting stent. Both the RAVEL and the SIRIUS trial have been conducted to evaluate a Sirolimus-coated stent (Bx VELOCITY stent). From the results available, the beneficial findings regarding reduction of renarrowing using a drug-eluting stent have been confirmed without any adverse effects. Although parameters like drug toxicity, optimal drug dosage or delayed endothelial healing need to be further evaluated, summarizing the today's clinical experience the strategy of drug-coated stents promises a striking benefit in interventional treatment of coronary lesions.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

Drug-eluting stents: clinical experiences and perspectives.

Drug-eluting stents (DES) have entered the arena and are about to changed the landscape of Interventional Cardiology. Today, the number of agents under preclinical and clinical investigation has increased considerably, including drugs such as Paclitaxel, Sirolimus, Tacrolimus, Everolimus, Dexamethasone, etc. Several studies have recently been published or are still ongoing evaluating different stent designs with respect to their safety and efficacy in treatment of coronary lesions. The SCORE trial (Paclitaxel) revealed a significant reduction in restenosis at follow-up (FU) in the drug-eluting stent group (6.4% vs 36.9% control group), attributable to decreased intimal proliferation. However, stentthromboses and myocardial infarctions, due to both stent design and high drug dosages, were observed causing a MACE rate of 10.2% in the DES group. Confirming the beneficial reduction of stent renarrowing using a local drug-eluting device, the rate of restenosis in the TAXUS-I trial (Paclitaxel) was 0% at follow-up in patients with DES vs 10% in patients with bare stents. Differences in MACE were not observed, which underlined the potential impact of an optimal stent design. First clinical experiences with a Sirolimus-coated stent (FIM trial) demonstrated again a profound inhibition of neointimal ingrowth at 4-month follow-up. The RAVEL trial, the first multicenter trial evaluating the Sirolimus stent and the largest DES study published so far, confirmed the FIM findings with a rate of restenosis in the DES group of 0% at 6 month FU. At 12 month FU, the beneficial impact on neointimal growth inhibition was persistent. The pivotal study SIRIUS is addressed to evaluate this stent design more extensively. However, given all the results being available today, local application of anti-proliferative agents delivered by coronary stents is one of the most promising techniques in treatment of coronary lesions. Nevertheless, we need more trials and an agreement of definitions in order to evaluate this treatment concept and eliminate unwanted side-effects.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

Balloon-protected carotid artery stenting: relationship of periprocedural neurological complications with the size of particulate debris.

BACKGROUND: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has been advocated as an alternative to endarterectomy. To prevent cerebral atheroembolism during CAS, distal balloon occlusion of the target artery increasingly is employed during the procedure. A correlation of the size of captured particles with the incidence of periprocedural neurological complications (PNCs) has not been attempted. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a 4-center, phase-1 trial, 54 patients (46 men; age, 69+/-8 years) underwent 58 CAS procedures using the PercuSurge GuardWire system for distal protection. Aspirated debris was sent for histological/cytological analysis. Stent placement was successful in all cases. Mean balloon occlusion time was 10.4+/-4.0 minutes (range, 3.0 to 22.0 minutes). Three patients (5.2%) experienced PNCs: 1 prolonged reversible ischemic neurological deficit that resolved in </=48 hours, 1 stroke, and 1 transient ischemic attack. Relevant particles (those with an area >/=10 000 micrometer(2)) were found in 48 aspirates (83%). The median number of particles, their maximum diameter, and their maximum area were all significantly higher in the aspirates obtained during procedures associated with PNCs than in aspirates obtained during procedures not associated with PNCs. However, pronounced overlap in the distributions (PNCs versus no PNCs) of the number and maximum diameter of particles precluded any predictive inferences. In contrast, a maximum particle area >800 000 micrometer(2) (>0.8 mm(2)) was associated with a 60% chance of having a PNC. CONCLUSIONS: Despite balloon protection, PNCs occurred in 5.2% of patients who underwent CAS procedures. The maximum area of aspirated particles seems to be an indicator of increased risk for PNCs.

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Prevention of distal embolization during coronary angioplasty in saphenous vein grafts and native vessels using porous filter protection.

BACKGROUND: Although distal embolization and the "no-reflow" phenomenon are well described in saphenous vein graft (SVG) interventions, the frequency, magnitude, and characterization of embolized debris have not been evaluated in routine coronary interventions. A unique embolus protection device described herein provides a means of containing and retrieving plaque material dislodged during percutaneous coronary interventions. This report details the first clinical experience of the effectiveness and safety of an emboli protection system in 11 SVG lesions and 15 native coronary artery lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS: The AngioGuard Emboli Capture Guidewire (Cordis) consists of a PTCA wire with an expandable filter at the distal tip. The porous membrane permits normal distal blood flow, while trapping potential emboli by filtration. After crossing the lesion, the filter is expanded, and routine angioplasty is performed over the same wire. Emboli retrieval is achieved by collapsing the filter and retracting the emboli capture wire (ECW). In 26 patients, standard angioplasty was performed over the ECW; 20 of these 26 patients received a stent. Collected debris was sent for histopathological analysis. Plaque debris was retrieved after native coronary and SVG interventions in all cases. The ECW was positioned and retrieved without complications. No major adverse events occurred. Myocardial infarctions and no-reflow were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The embolization of plaque fragments frequently occurs during coronary and SVG intervention. Distal embolization leading to microvascular obstruction and no-reflow could be successfully minimized by using the ECW.

Adult↗

Novel drug-delivery stent: intravascular ultrasound observations from the first human experience with the QP2-eluting polymer stent system.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to use serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to evaluate the long-term effect of stent-based 7-hexanoyltaxol (QP2, a taxane analogue) delivery on neointimal tissue growth within the stent and on vessel dimensions at the adjacent reference segments. METHODS AND RESULTS: Serial IVUS analyses (immediately after intervention and at follow-up at 8.3 months) were performed in 15 native coronary lesions treated with the QuaDS-QP2 stent. IVUS measurements were performed at 8 cross-sections in each target segment (4 cross-sections within the stent and 2 cross-sections in each reference segment). At baseline, no significant plaque protrusion or thrombus was detected in the target segment. Mild incomplete stent apposition and edge dissection were observed in one and two cases, respectively. Percent expansion of the stent (minimum stent area/average reference lumen area) was 96.0+/-21.7%. At follow-up, mean neointimal area within the stent was 1.2+/-1.3 mm(2), and mean cross-sectional narrowing (neointimal area/stent area) was 13.6+/-14.9%. At the vessel segments immediately adjacent to the stent, a significant increase in plaque area (1.9+/-2.6 mm(2), P=0.001) was observed, but vessel area remained unchanged. However, no patients showed clinically significant in-stent or edge restenosis (diameter stenosis >/=50%) during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: The first human experience with the new drug-delivery stent showed a minimal amount of neointimal proliferation in the stented segment. Late lumen loss at the reference sites adjacent to the stent was acceptable and predominantly due to plaque proliferation.

Adult↗

Clinical and angiographic performance of a new-generation modular stent design for treatment of de novo coronary lesions.

The objectives of the Race Car study were to assess the safety and efficacy of the Medtronic AVE S670 stent, a new-generation stent with a modular design consisting of interconnected sinusoidal rings allowing improved flexibility with good conformability and scaffolding. A total of 285 stents were implanted in 267 patients with (un)stable angina pectoris who underwent angioplasty of a single de novo lesion in a native coronary artery with a diameter between 3.0 and 4.0 mm. Available stent lengths were 9, 12, and 15 mm. The primary endpoint was the 6-month restenosis rate. Secondary endpoints were device and procedural success and major adverse cardiac event (MACE)-free survival at 1 and 6 months. All patients received the study stents and no other stents were used (angiographic success: 100%). Eight patients experienced a MACE during hospital admission (Q-wave MI in 2, non-Q-wave MI in 4, TLR in 2). A procedural success was obtained in 97% of the patients. There were no additional events at 1 month. The clinical endpoints encountered at 6 months were Q-wave MI in 1, bypass surgery in 3, and repeat angioplasty in 25 (MACE-free survival: 86.5%). Quantitative angiographic results were the minimum lumen diameter increased from 1.05 +/- 0.32 before to 2.73 +/- 0.39 mm after stent implantation. At follow-up, the loss in diameter was 0.74 +/- 0.50 mm. The loss index was 0.45 +/- 0.31 and restenosis rate was 13.4%. This study has demonstrated that the S670 stent in patients with (un)stable angina pectoris requiring intervention of a single lesion has a low acute and 6-month major event rate and a low angiographic restenosis rate.

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[Embolism prevention during interventional treatment of aortocoronary bypass stenoses].

No-reflow is an unpredictable complication after percutaneous intervention in saphenous vein grafts. Plaque embolism, vasoconstriction and thrombosis are mechanisms that lead to poor distal run-off. Treatments with alternative techniques like DCA, TEC and ELCA as well as phamacological attempts like GP IIb/IIIA inhibitors, vasodilators and calcium-channel blockers do not improve outcome. This is the rationale for the development of mechanical devices to prevent distal embolization. Two concepts of distal protection devices are currently realized: occlusive balloon and filtering devices. The largest experience comes from the PercuSurge GuardWire, an occlusive balloon device. The recently presented data from the SAFER trial showed a significant prevention of distal embolization and improvement in clinical outcome. The second generation of filter devices is under investigation; the advantages of these systems are the preservation of blood flow and precise angiography-guided stent positioning. Another issue of investigation is a broader use of protection devices in carotid stenting, and in interventions in acute MI and acute coronary syndromes.

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Emergency polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent implantation to treat coronary ruptures.

BACKGROUND: Coronary perforation is a life-threatening complication of percutaneous interventions. In the past few years, the implantation of covered stents has emerged as a strategy for treatment when the traditional conservative approach (ie, prolonged balloon inflation and reversal of anticoagulation) fails. METHODS AND RESULTS: Since May 1997 (when polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]-covered stents were available at our institutions), 11 of the 12 consecutive patients who had coronary ruptures that were unsuccessfully sealed with prolonged balloon inflation and reversal of anticoagulation were treated with 12 PTFE-covered stents (PTFE group). The efficacy of the PTFE-covered stent was compared with that of noncovered stents, which were used to treat 17 perforations (non-PTFE group). One patient sustained a very distal perforation that was not suitable for covered stent sealing and underwent emergency surgery. All vessel ruptures treated with PTFE-covered stent implantation were successfully sealed. The time necessary to deploy the stent was 10+/-3 minutes (range, 4 to 15 minutes). All patients but one were discharged from the hospital and had an optimal early clinical outcome. One patient underwent emergency bypass surgery and died in the intensive care unit. The occurrence of cardiac tamponade and the necessity for emergency surgery was significantly lower in the PTFE group than in the non-PTFE group. At 14+/-4 months, the 10 discharged patients had not experienced any major adverse cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study supports the utility of the PTFE-covered stent for the nonsurgical treatment of vessel ruptures.

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[Clinical experiences with the PercuSurge GuardWire--a new system for prevention of peripheral embolisms in catheter interventions on degenerated coronary artery venous bypasses].

Peripheral embolization is a typical complication of catheter interventions in degenerated aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts. Alternative techniques, such as transluminal extraction catheter (TEC), directional coronary athrectomy (DCA) and eximer laser angioplasty (ELCA) were not able to reduce the risk of peripheral vessel occlusion or "no-reflow". For the protection from peripheral embolisation we used the PercuSurge GuardWire Temporary Occlusion & Aspiration System (PercuSurge Inc., Sunnyvale, USA) in 55 patients with 58 stenosis in degenerated saphenous vein grafts. The primary endpoint of this consecutive series was to access the efficacy of the system by post-interventional TIMI flow and determination of serial CK/CK-MB. The intervention was primarily successful in 55 of 58 cases (94.8%), with a reduction in stenosis from 87.6% (range 75-100%) to 4.5% (range 0-40%). TIMI flow improved from a mean of 2.1 +/- 1.4 to 2.9 +/- 0.4 after intervention. CK/CK-MB levels were 24/5, 27/7 and 26/6 U/l (mean values) before, 8 hours, 16 hours and 24 hours after intervention, ruling out myocardial ischemia. Three (5.2%) non-q wave infarctions occurred in this series, twice caused by a peripheral embolization during the crossing of the lesion with the wire und once because of "no-reflow". In the latter case the occlusion balloon had to be deflated before the aspiration could be performed. In 80 of 92 aspirates (86.9%) macroscopic embolic debris was visible. The PercuSurge GuardWire Temporary Occlusion & Aspiration System is a safe and effective device for the protection of distal embolization during interventions in degenerated aorto-coronary saphenous vein grafts.

Adult↗

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of left main stenosis--results of the German PTCA registry.

In cases with protected left main stenosis by previous bypass surgery or as an emergency intervention in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is performed as an alternative treatment strategy to bypass surgery. A review of 262 left main angioplasties revealed a procedure-related mortality in cases without protection of the left main coronary artery of 9.1% (4/44), in cases with partially protected left main stenosis by collaterals to either left coronary artery of 4.8% (1/21) and 0.5% (1/187) in cases with nonobstructed bypass grafts to either left coronary artery. Coronary angioplasty of an unprotected left main coronary artery, had an unacceptably high procedure-related mortality rate and should therefore not be performed even in cases of emergency intervention. The risk stratification of the procedure can be evaluated by the proposed grading of left main artery protection.

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Determinants of mortality after cardiac surgery: results of the registry of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Leitender Kardiologischer Krankenhausärzte (ALKK) on 10 525 patients.

BACKGROUND: Mortality from cardiac surgery is an essential indicator of quality and forms the basis of treatment strategy decisions in eligible patients. No contemporary complete data on unselected adult cardiac surgery patients are available in Germany. METHODS AND RESULTS: A registry was started in June 1997 of all patients referred to surgery from 85 cardiology centres in Germany. The registry was intended to include 10 000 patients and this number was reached in March 1998. Follow-up of the patients was by simple questionnaire, reporting the date of surgery, major complications, and symptomatic improvement. If the questionnaire was not returned, a reminder letter was sent and, if necessary, further telephone investigations were performed. This resulted in 99.9% complete data. Of 10 525 patients operated on, 3.91% had died by 30 days after surgery. The overall operative mortality was 4.57%, which included 69 patients who died after more than 30 days from complications related to surgery. By multivariate analysis, the following predictors of mortality were identified: previous surgery, emergency or complex operation; age >75 years, female gender, cardiac failure, angina CCS class IV, and three-vessel coronary disease. An integral part of the registry was a pre-operative prediction of surgical risk in five categories. This risk estimate revealed a surprisingly correct prediction of the mortality observed. CONCLUSIONS: In a representative unselected group of cardiac surgery patients, operative mortality was 4.57%. Several procedural and clinical parameters were significantly correlated with mortality, but the risk increment by each of these factors was small. Unstructured clinical judgement reliably predicted the operative risk.

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[30-day mortality after heart surgery: a pilot project of the Working Party of Directors of Hospital Cardiology Departments].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: 30-day mortality after operation is generally accepted as a central standard of quality, especially in regard to cardiac operations. The Working Party of Directors of Hospital Cardiology Departments (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Leitender Kardiologischer Krankenhausärzte, ALKK) in Germany set up a pilot project to analyse whether by direct communication with patients by a database centre the expenditure incurred in collecting complete data can be decisively reduced and full documentation of outcome can in this way be obtained even for a large multi-centre patient cohort. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1.6.1997 and 31.3.1998, data were consecutively collected by questionnaire on all patients registered for a cardiac operation at 85 of the 135 ALKK centres. The questionnaire included data about each patient and the indication for operation as well as the estimate of operative risk, assigned to one of five risk categories by the referring cardiologist either alone or in conjunction with the cardiac surgeon. RESULTS: Until 30.9.1998, the data were obtained on 11,349 patients who had given informed consent (response rate 99.99%), including survival figures. 824 (7.3%) patients had not undergone the planned cardiac surgery, 134 having died before the data of operation. The 30-day postoperative mortality, obtained in 99.99% of the 10,525 patients, was 3.92%. The operative mortality was lowest, at 3.73%, for aortocoronary bypass only (n = 7932), highest for aortocoronary bypass plus valvular operation (n = 785), at 8.04%. There was good agreement between the cardiologists' preoperative risk assessment and the observed mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The 30-day mortality after cardiac operation can be obtained almost completely and with reasonable expenditure even for a large patient cohort. The results confirm that hospital mortality data definitely understate the overall operative risk. The methodology used in this pilot project, namely the inclusion of information from the patients by questionnaire, can also be applied to clinical results in other areas.

Adult↗

Management of arterial puncture site after catheterization procedures: evaluating a suture-mediated closure device.

To overcome the challenge associated with achievement in hemostasis after a catheterization procedure, a suture-based closure device was compared with manual compression in a 600-patient randomized trial. The major study end points included the incidence of vascular complications and the time to ambulation after the procedure. The study included diagnostic or interventional procedures. The suture-mediated closure was performed immediately after the procedure independent of the anticoagulation level, whereas manual compression was performed per hospital protocol with sheath removal relying on normalization of patient's anticoagulation status. A significant reduction in time to achieve hemostasis (7.8 +/- 4.8 vs 19.6 +/- 13.2 minutes, p <0001) and time to ambulation (4.5 +/- 6.5 vs 17.8 +/- 5 hours, p <0001) was associated with use of the suture-mediated closure device. The incidence of vascular complications was similar in the overall population (5.7% for suturing device vs 11.3% for compression) or in the interventional patient subset (8.4% for suturing device vs 9.6% for compression). There was a significant reduction in the incidence of vascular complications in the diagnostic procedure subset (4.4% for suturing device vs 12.1% for compression, p <0.05). Thus, the use of a suture-mediated closure device represents a safe alternative to manual compression. Hemostasis and ambulation can be achieved faster with the suturing device than with manual compression, with a potential reduction in access site complications.

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