Prosthetic heart valves have been effectively used for many years. Nonetheless, they are associated with risks of thrombosis and thromboembolic events, as well as anticoagulation-induced bleeding. Substantial changes in anticoagulation measurement and dosing have occurred during the past several years. In this review, the rationale for anticoagulation in patients with prosthetic heart valves, the changes in monitoring and dosing, and the comparison of relevant anticoagulation trials are discussed. On the basis of the existing data, new recommendations regarding lower anticoagulation levels are offered, utilizing a single value goal rather than the traditional therapeutic range. Perioperative management of anticoagulation is discussed in light of the available literature, and major drug interactions are reviewed.

The authors report a 69‐year‐old woman with a hypercoagulable state manifesting as superior sagittal sinus thrombosis, thrombocytosis, right lower extremity deep venous thrombosis, and subsequent pulmonary embolus. The liver enzyme values were elevated in a cholestatic pattern. Carcinoembryonic antigen level was markedly elevated. Evaluation revealed that her longstanding “goiter” had slowly enlarged during the past 6 years. The serum calcitonin level was markedly elevated. Subsequent biopsy revealed medullary thyroid carcinoma. Surgical debulking of the tumor and lymph nodes resulted in substantial reduction of the calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen levels in a matter of days. Long‐term follow‐up revealed normalization of cholestasis and resolution of the hypercoagulable state. Review of the literature revealed no previously reported cholestasis or hypercoagulable state associated with medullary thyroid carcinoma. The literature on paraneoplastic cholestasis, carcinoembryonic antigen production, and hypercoagulable states is reviewed.

The AngioJet thrombectomy device removes thrombus by creating a negative pressure and causing fragmentation of the thrombus. The objective was to study the safety and efficacy of this thrombectomy device during coronary interventions and to report the results of our experience. We studied 72 patients (mean age, 64.9 +/- 12.6 years; 79% males) who had an AngioJet procedure during coronary intervention; 33 (46%) had vein graft intervention. All patients had angiographic thrombus. Most patients presented either with unstable angina (54%) or acute myocardial infarction (32%) within 24 hr. The procedural success was high with AngioJet (93%). TIMI grade 3 flow was achieved in 79% of lesions treated with AngioJet. In-hospital mortality was 1.4%, death/Q-wave myocardial infarction was 4.2%, and the composite endpoint of death and Q-wave myocardial infarction/revascularization was 5.6% for patients undergoing AngioJet. Subgroup analysis of patients with vein graft intervention demonstrated high procedural success in those undergoing AngioJet (91%). At 1-year follow-up of the successful percutaneous interventions with AngioJet, the mortality, death/Q-myocardial infarction, and composite endpoint rates were 10%, 13.3%, and 35.5%, respectively. Long-term event-free survival was worse in vein graft interventions. The incidence of death, death/myocardial infarction, or composite endpoints at 1 year was 16%, 19%, and 46%, respectively. High procedural success can be achieved with the AngioJet thrombectomy device in lesions containing thrombus. It is effective in both native coronary arteries and vein graft interventions. However, the long-term outcome of patients with vein graft intervention was worse.

BackgroundWithin the trans-subclavian approach, procedural techniques can vary widely, and reported access generally refers to an infraclavicular axillary approach. We describe and report the use of a novel supraclavicular true subclavian approach for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) exclusively for implantation of Sapien 3 valves.Case presentationWe report our first five consecutive patients undergoing TAVR with a Sapien 3 valve using a standardized subclavian approach at a single center. In-hospital and 30-day complications were reported. The use of this approach resulted in successful implantation in 100% of patients in a safe manner with 0% mortality, stroke, and vascular injury during hospitalization and at 30 day follow-up. The in-hospital pacemaker implantation rate was 20%. The average length of stay was 3 days.ConclusionsTAVR with Sapien implant can be safely performed with a standardized supraclavicular subclavian approach in patients with unfavorable femoral access.

As stent use increases, interventional cardiologists are increasingly faced with patients that require procedures in the vicinity of previously deployed stents. We present two cases of side-branch interventions in the vicinity of previously deployed stents where devices were trapped by the stent. In each case, traction on the device resulted in stent dislodgment. The stents were successfully extracted and replaced without complications.