Background-Patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cryptogenic stroke through paradoxical embolization to the cerebral circulation. This study evaluated the relationship between the morphological and functional size of the PFO by echocardiography compared with cerebral infarct volume identified on MRI. Methods and Results-Patients who were referred to interventional cardiology with the diagnosis of cryptogenic stroke were included and had either a transesophageal echocardiogram or an intracardiac echo and a brain MRI at the time of stroke. Transesophageal echocardiogram or intracardiac echo was used to obtain PFO measurements. MRI of the brain with 3 sequences (T2, diffusion-weighted imaging, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) was used to diagnose acute stroke and measure the infarct volume. In the 72 patients studied, the median measured stroke volume was 4.3 cm 3 on diffusion-weighted imaging, 4.1 cm 3 on T2, and 3.5 cm 3 on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery. There was no significant correlation between the PFO height, length, septum secundum thickness, or echo bubble grade and the infarct volume measured from the 3 MRI sequences. There was a significant correlation between septal excursion distance and infarct volume (rϭ0.35; Pϭ0.005), but the 12 patients with atrial septal aneurysm did not have the largest strokes. Conclusions-This analysis revealed that septal excursion distance correlates with stroke size by MRI. However, smaller PFO size without the presence of atrial septal aneurysm may still be associated with significant strokes. There was no significant association between PFO height, length by echo, or shunt grade by transcranial Doppler study and brain infarct volume. Therefore, PFO size or morphology should not be the only criteria to decide whether a PFO should be closed. (Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2010;3:506-510.)

Patients with high-risk coronary lesions may be denied coronary artery bypass grafting due to excessive comorbidities. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may be a feasible revascularization strategy in high-risk patients who present with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock. Historically, the use if intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been used in high-risk PCI and cardiogenic shock. However, recent data has shown that elective IABP insertion did not reduce the incidence of major cardiovascular events following PCI. The use of a left ventricular assist device is a reasonable and safe alternative compared with IABP counterpulsation, giving greater cardiac output and hemodynamic support in patients undergoing high-risk PCI and in those with severe cardiogenic shock. This review outlines a case of severe cardiogenic shock and hemodynamic instability where high-risk PCI is a reasonable option.

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Introduction:The preferred approach for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is transfemoral. There has been widespread adoption of the Perclose Proglide TM device for vascular closure. Typically, two devices are deployed before upsizing the access sheath in the "preclose technique." Prior investigations have compared the use of a single device versus double device technique, but none have shown significant clinical benefit to either approach.Methods: Five hundred and six patients underwent transfemoral TAVR (TF-TAVR) with single or double Perclose devices for vascular closure from July 2015 to February 2020. A retrospective review was conducted, and propensity-matched analyses were used to account for differences in baseline characteristics.Results: In the matched analysis, there were 251 patients in the single Perclose group and 238 in the double. There was a statistically significant improvement in overall procedural success using the single closure device (94.6% vs. 88.5%, p = 0.009) This was defined as intraprocedural hemostatic control, lack of contrast extravasation, arterial dissection, occlusion, or stenosis >50% in the final crossover angiogram, as well as unimpaired limb perfusion without claudication throughout the index hospitalization. There was also a significant improvement in arterial dissection rates (0.6% vs. 4.6%, p = 0.004), stenosis >50% (1.3% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.028), and Valve Academic Research Consortium major vascular complications (1.8% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.038). Conclusion:A single Perclose device is a safe means of vascular closure during TF-TAVR and may have important clinical benefits compared to the commonly used two-device technique.

A 65-year-old previously asymptomatic woman with a history of tobacco use presented after experiencing an hour of chest pain and syncope. A 12-lead electrocardiogram revealed an inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography revealed an acute thrombotic occlusion of the right coronary artery (Fig. 1); however, there was difficulty in maneuvering diagnostic catheters to the coronary ostia. Subsequent aortography revealed a double aortic arch (Fig. 2). After