Snapshot

DOI:

Robotics in structural heart interventions; debating colchicine recommendations; the AUREA trial; intra- vs supra-annular self-expanding valves in small aortic annuli; Myval durability at 4 years; restenosis patterns after drug-coated balloon PCI; news from the EAPCI; and more...

Summer is upon us here in Europe, and we have a few things to challenge and inform you as the days get warmer...

Robotics in structural heart interventions

In this expert review, Xiang Chen, Maurizio Taramasso and colleagues bring us up to date on the latest advances in robotics for structural heart interventions. Although still limited in some cases to animal models, many transcatheter and interventional imaging procedures have seen significant developments towards robot-guided or robot-assisted interventions. In addition to a detailed review of these technologies, the authors look at the context of robotics in interventional medicine and how it might be assisted by artificial intelligence, as well as the social, technical, and safety challenges that remain.

Re-evaluating colchicine: the debate

Although colchicine is the first anti-inflammatory drug to be recommended by guidelines for the management of acute and chronic coronary syndromes, it has never received a Class I recommendation. Kevin R. Bainey and Xavier Rossello discuss whether – given the results of recent randomised controlled trials such as CLEAR SYNERGY –the recommendation for colchicine should be maintained or downgraded.

Intra- versus supra-annular SEV in small aortic annuli

Masanori Yamamoto, Kentaro Hayashida and colleagues use data from the OCEAN-TAVI registry to compare clinical outcomes and echocardiographic parameters of the latest-generation intra- versus supra-annular self-expanding valves (SEV) in patients undergoing TAVI for small aortic annuli. Both short-term valve haemodynamics and clinical outcomes were largely similar in the overall cohort and after propensity score matching. Liesbeth Rosseel, Arif A. Khokhar and Ole De Backer comment on this retrospective study in an accompanying editorial.

Antithrombotic strategies for microembolisms post-TAVI

In the AUREA trial, Victor Alfonso Jimenez Diaz, Andres Iñiguez Romo and colleagues investigate strategies to reduce cerebral embolic lesions after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) by comparing outcomes in patients taking dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) versus acenocoumarol (a vitamin K antagonist) for 3 months post-procedure. Using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging at day 6, day 90 and at 1 year, the authors found a lower mean brain lesion volume at 3 months in those treated with DAPT, along with unanticipated findings on silent cerebral microembolisms in aortic stenosis patients. This article is accompanied by an editorial from George Dangas and Johny Nicolas.

4-year Myval durability

In one of the first durability studies to use Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 criteria, Akash Jain, Ignacio J. Amat-Santos and colleagues examine the Myval valve at 4 years. With primary endpoints of haemodynamic valve deterioration, bioprosthetic valve failure and patient-prosthesis mismatch, this midterm evaluation shows the Myval device to be comparable to other contemporary devices, with an 81.8% survival rate and favourable haemodynamics without significant aortic regurgitation. Philippe Pibarot and Eric Van Belle contribute an accompanying editorial. 

Volume 21 Number 13
Jul 7, 2025
Volume 21 Number 13
View full issue

Trending articles
318.3

State-of-the-Art Review

10.4244/EIJ-D-21-00695 Nov 19, 2021
Transcatheter treatment for tricuspid valve disease
Praz F et al
free
116.5

State-of-the-Art

10.4244/EIJ-D-24-00066 Apr 21, 2025
Management of complications after valvular interventions
Bansal A et al
free
108.3

Viewpoint

10.4244/EIJ-E-22-00007 May 15, 2022
TAVI at 20: how a crazy idea led to a clinical revolution
Eltchaninoff H et al
free
91.6

Image – Interventional flashlight

10.4244/EIJ-D-22-00344 Aug 5, 2022
First dedicated transcatheter leaflet splitting device: the ShortCut device
Tchétché D et al
free
72.15

State-of-the-art

10.4244/EIJ-D-22-00627 Feb 6, 2023
Left atrial appendage occlusion
Holmes D et al
free
68.9

State-of-the-Art

10.4244/EIJ-D-24-00992 Sep 15, 2025
Antithrombotic therapy in complex percutaneous coronary intervention
Castiello D et al
free
49.55

CLINICAL RESEARCH

10.4244/EIJ-D-17-00962 Apr 6, 2018
A new optical coherence tomography-based calcium scoring system to predict stent underexpansion
Fujino A et al
free
42.95

State-of-the-Art Review

10.4244/EIJ-D-21-00145 Sep 20, 2021
Robotics, imaging, and artificial intelligence in the catheterisation laboratory
Beyar R et al
free
X

PCR
Impact factor: 9.5
2024 Journal Citation Reports®
Science Edition (Clarivate Analytics, 2025)
Online ISSN 1969-6213 - Print ISSN 1774-024X
© 2005-2025 Europa Group - All rights reserved