The incidence of perforation, while low, is increased with new devices. Women and the elderly are at highest risk. The clinical risk after perforation can be classified angiographically, but even low-risk perforations occasionally have poor clinical outcome. Patients should be observed for delayed cardiac tamponade for at least 24 hours.

Despite a higher percentage of high-risk patients, PCI with DES for ULMCA disease was not associated with an increase in immediate or medium-term complications compared with CABG. Our data suggest that a randomized comparison between the two revascularization strategies for ULMCA may be warranted.

Background-Previous studies suggest that management of ambulatory hemodynamics may improve outcomes in chronic heart failure. We conducted a prospective, observational, first-in-human study of a physician-directed patient self-management system targeting left atrial pressure. Methods and Results-Forty patients with reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and a history of New York Heart Association class III or IV heart failure and acute decompensation were implanted with an investigational left atrial pressure monitor, and readings were acquired twice daily. For the first 3 months, patients and clinicians were blinded as to these readings, and treatment continued per usual clinical assessment. Thereafter, left atrial pressure and individualized therapy instructions guided by these pressures were disclosed to the patient. Event-free survival was determined over a median follow-up of 25 months (range 3 to 38 months). Survival without decompensation was 61% at 3 years, and events tended to be less frequent after the first 3 months (hazard ratio 0.16 [95% confidence interval 0.04 to 0.68], Pϭ0.012). Mean daily left atrial pressure fell from 17.6 mm Hg (95% confidence interval 15.8 to 19.4 mm Hg) in the first 3 months to 14.8 mm Hg (95% confidence interval 13.0 to 16.6 mm Hg; Pϭ0.003) during pressure-guided therapy. The frequency of elevated readings (Ͼ25 mm Hg) was reduced by 67% (PϽ0.001). There were improvements in New York Heart Association class (Ϫ0.7Ϯ0.8, PϽ0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction (7Ϯ10%, PϽ0.001). Doses of angiotensin-converting enzyme/angiotensin-receptor blockers and ␤-blockers were uptitrated by 37% (PϽ0.001) and 40% (PϽ0.001), respectively, whereas doses of loop diuretics fell by 27% (Pϭ0.15). Conclusions-Physician-directed patient self-management of left atrial pressure has the potential to improve hemodynamics, symptoms, and outcomes in advanced heart failure. Clinical Trial Registration Information-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00547729.