The complexity of our patients, their coronary artery disease, and our strategies for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and adjunctive medical therapy is ever increasing. As interventional cardiologists, we find ourselves having to constantly evolve and adapt our management strategies to deal with these challenges. In this edition covering contemporary PCI, we include articles from world-leading experts who provide updates on the current data and give us practical advice on how we should manage our patients to ensure the best possible clinical outcomes.

We begin our coverage of contemporary PCI with an article by Angela McInerney, MD, and Nieves Gonzalo, MD, who explore the “why, when, where, and how” of calcium modification therapies and techniques, highlighting that it’s all in the preparation.

Daniel Chamié, MD, and Hiram Bezerra, MD, provide an update on the current state of play for intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography guidance in PCI, reminding us that the data support the use of intravascular imaging to improve PCI results and clinical outcomes in all comers, with even more pronounced effects in high-risk patients and complex lesions.

When it comes to antiplatelet therapy, Razan Elsayed, MD, and Usman Baber, MD, review the data supporting that evidence-based and individualized dual antiplatelet therapy regimens may be tailored to a patient’s risk for both bleeding and thrombosis.

Structural heart therapies and techniques continue to evolve to meet the challenges and complexities in the clinical care of our patients. This structural heart section contains key insights from leading physician operators around the world on transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a practical step-by-step guide on a transcatheter electrosurgical technique, and updates on congenital atrial septal defects and patent foramen ovale (PFO). The data, techniques, and guidelines presented by these expert authors empower us to provide the most cutting-edge care in the communities we serve.

Siamac Yazdchi, MD, and Hursh Naik, MD, kick off our structural disease section with a review of the current state of TAVR in bicuspid aortic stenosis, detailing the data, current limitations, and future challenges.

Giorgio A. Medranda, MD; Jaffar M. Kahn, Bm BCh; Christopher Bruce, MB ChB; Patrick Gleason, MD; Joe Xie, MD; Adam B. Greenbaum, MD; Robert J. Lederman, MD; Vasilis C. Babaliaros, MD; and Toby Rogers, MD, provide a technical guide to performing solo and doppio BASILICA for coronary obstruction prevention during TAVR.

Marilena Di Salvo, MD; Marco Monte, MD; and Marco Barbanti, MD, detail the primary clinical manifestations associated with PFO and atrial septal defects and provide a current data update about their therapeutic implications.

In our Today’s Practice feature, Taylr Jesinger, MHA, from MedAxiom invites readers to think differently about how to innovate cardiovascular care and creativity within their organizations.

We close our issue by interviewing Mohamad A. Alkhouli, MD, who discusses tips for a successful academic writing career, his research and trial plans in structural heart disease, and his recent achievements.

We hope that you enjoy this issue of Cardiac Interventions Today and that you find it useful for your practice.

Rasha Al-Lamee, MD
Rahul Sharma, MD
Guest Chief Medical Editors