Clinical trials

Patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are commonly treated with antiplatelet therapy to prevent stent thrombosis and recurrence of events. After an initial period of dual antiplatelet therapy, long-term treatment with a single P2Y12 inhibitor (such as clopidogrel, ticagrelor, or prasugrel) is often prescribed. However, the optimal drug and dose for long-term monotherapy remain uncertain, as patients may experience either insufficient platelet inhibition (leading to ischemic events) or excessive inhibition (increasing bleeding risk). The HI-TECH 2 study aims to identify the most appropriate type and dose of P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy to achieve a balanced level of platelet inhibition within a predefined therapeutic range. The study also seeks to better understand how blood coagulation activity evolves over time after PCI. This is a prospective, investigator-initiated, single-center, open-label study conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, patients receive stepwise reduced doses of ticagrelor or prasugrel to determine the optimal dose that most consistently achieves the desired level of platelet inhibition. In Phase 2, patients are randomly assigned to receive clopidogrel or the optimal doses of ticagrelor or prasugrel identified in Phase 1. The main question of the study is whether optimized ticagrelor or prasugrel regimens are more effective than standard-dose clopidogrel in achieving platelet inhibition within the target therapeutic window, as measured by validated platelet function tests. Additional objectives include evaluating the role of genetic factors in treatment response and assessing markers of coagulation activation over time. The results of this study may help personalize long-term antiplatelet therapy after PCI, improving the balance between reducing thrombotic risk and minimizing bleeding complications.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether an artificial intelligence (AI)-based ECG interpretation tool improves the early diagnosis and treatment of occlusion myocardial infarction (OMI) in adults presenting with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who do not meet traditional ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) criteria. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does AI-assisted ECG interpretation enable more timely identification and treatment of OMI, as defined by earlier initiation of coronary intervention? 2. Does AI-assisted diagnosis reduce infarct size, measured by peak high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) levels? Researchers will compare AI-assisted ECG interpretation to standard care to determine if the AI tool improves clinical outcomes and care timelines. Participants will: 1. Present with symptoms suggestive of ACS but without clear STEMI criteria 2. Be randomized 1:1 to either AI-assisted or standard ECG interpretation 3. Undergo follow-up assessments for cardiovascular outcomes, including 30-day death, time to treatment of total coronary occlusion, and peak hsTnT levels

The purpose of this study is to find out whether it is safe and practical to perform MIDCAB surgery (a minimally invasive heart bypass procedure) while patients receive a continuous cangrelor infusion during the operation. Cangrelor is a medicine that helps prevent blood clots and works quickly through a vein drip. The study compares patients receiving cangrelor during surgery to patients who had the same surgery in the past while on aspirin, with or without cangrelor given beforehand. Study Question: Can MIDCAB surgery be safely performed under cangrelor infusion, without increasing the risk of bleeding or other complications? Hypothesis: Using cangrelor during MIDCAB surgery is safe and feasible, and it provides effective protection against blood clots during the procedure. This study will help doctors understand whether intraoperative cangrelor can improve patient safety and outcomes in minimally invasive heart surgery.

The FARAPULSE PFA catheter (Boston Scientific), a first-generation Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) tool, has demonstrated good performance in isolating pulmonary veins (PV). Several centers, including ours, utilize pre-procedural computer tomography (CT) to evaluate individual pulmonary vein anatomy and optimize ablation planning. However, these imaging modalities are costly. Additionally, CT imaging exposes patients to radiation, and introduce significant logistical challenges to the procedural workflow. The FARAWAVE Nav PFA catheter, a second-generation device, integrates magnetic navigation capabilities with detailed mapping and PFA therapy into a single tool. This system leverages the FARAVIEW Software Module, offering tailored mapping solutions visualized on the FARAPULSE PFA system, including the creation of voltage and activation maps. These features address the limitations of the first-generation FARAPULSE catheter and have the potential to improve procedural accuracy and the durability of pulmonary vein isolation. Moreover, they may obviate the need for pre-procedural CT, thereby reducing costs and minimizing patient radiation exposure. Our study evaluates whether the FARAWAVE Nav catheter, used without pre-ablation CT, allows for a reduction in fluoroscopy time and overall patient radiation exposure compared to the conventional workflow with the FARAPULSE catheter. Furthermore, we will assess procedural time, costs, number of PFA applications, and AF recurrence-free survival

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to evaluate the use of the Selution SLR sirolimus-eluting balloon, in addition to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), for the preventive treatment of non-flow-limiting vulnerable coronary lesions, compared to GDMT alone, in adult patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and a recent acute coronary syndrome (within 90 days). The main research question is: Does the use of the Selution SLR sirolimus-eluting balloon in combination with GDMT reduce the progression and vulnerability of non-flow-limiting vulnerable coronary plaques? Participants will undergo * PCI procedure with baseline IVUS-NIRS assessment * Follow-up coronary angiography at 6 months with IVUS-NIRS assessment * Clinical follow-up at 3, 6, and 24 months after study enrollment

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the use of a specific drug eluting balloon (Magic Touch, Concept Medical®) versus standard drug eluting stent based strategies in patients with long coronary lesions. Participants with chronic coronary disease and long coronary stenosis will be randomly assign to be treated either with Magic Touch balloon or drug eluting stent.