In STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI, the radial approach is associated with favorable outcomes and should be the preferred approach for experienced radial operators.

Our study shows that despite the evolution of medical technology and use of contemporary therapeutic measures, in-hospital mortality in CS-AMI patients who are managed invasively continues to rise. Additional research and targeted efforts are indicated to improve outcomes in this high-risk cohort.

Background-The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of statins on the growth of small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).

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A cute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most common adverse events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and is of prognostic significance.1,2 Risk factors for its development have been the focus of multiple studies, and several patient-related and procedure-related factors have been identified. 3,4 However, no prior studies have considered the risks of periprocedural blood transfusion.There are many pathophysiological mechanisms by which blood transfusion might cause AKI, which are mainly related to impaired tissue oxygen delivery, and inflammation and oxidative stress. 5 Recently, blood transfusion has been identified as a risk factor for AKI in cardiac surgery 5,6 and in transcatheter aortic valve replacement. 7 Patients undergoing PCI are prone to bleeding given the invasive nature of the procedure and the use of antithrombotic and antiplatelet agents. Transfusion is relatively commonly used in these patients, and there is considerable variation in blood transfusion practices among patients undergoing PCI at the US hospitals. 8 The appropriate use of transfusion in this patient population might be influenced by its effect on AKI.Anemia is well-recognized as a risk factor for AKI, 9 and recently periprocedural bleeding in PCI patients was also identified to be associated with AKI. 10 However, the relationship between anemia, bleeding, and transfusion and the risk of AKI has not been well studied. Further characterization of this relationship and definition of other risk factors might help broaden prophylactic strategies against post-PCI AKI.In this cohort of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent PCI, we aimed to (1) assess the association of blood transfusion with AKI and (2) characterize this relationship with anemia and bleeding. MethodsThe National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR)-CathPCI Registry is the largest ongoing registry of PCI in the United States, Background-Acute kidney injury (AKI) complicating percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. To date, no studies have evaluated the association of blood transfusion with AKI in patients undergoing PCI. Methods and Results-We used a retrospective cohort study of all patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing PCI from CathPCI Registry (n=1 756 864). The primary outcome was AKI defined as the rise in serum creatinine post procedure ≥0.5 mg/dL or ≥25% above baseline values. AKI developed in 9.0% of study sample. Patients with AKI were older, more often women, and had high prevalence of comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and advanced stages of chronic kidney disease at baseline. Blood transfusion was utilized in 2.2% of patients. In the overall sample, AKI developed in 35.1% of patients who received transfusion versus 8.4% of patients without transfusion (adjusted odds ratio, 4.87 [4.71-5.04]). In the subgroup of patients who sustained bleeding event and received transfusion, the rate of AKI was significantly increased across all preprocedure hemoglobin...