Adjunctive thrombus aspiration and mechanical protection from distal embolization in primary percutaneous intervention for acute myocardial infarction.

Primary percutaneous intervention for acute occlusion of a native coronary artery may be complicated by distal embolization of plaque or thrombotic debris, with infarct extension. We tested the clinical application of a new therapeutic strategy combining maximal antiplatelet therapy, with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition, and adjunctive mechanical protection from distal embolization and direct aspiration of thrombus with a new balloon and catheter system (PercuSurgetrade mark). Successful aspiration of thrombus could be obtained in 7 out of 8 attempted procedures, with inability to negotiate the angulated take-off of the circumflex coronary artery in one patient. The current mechanical characteristics of the device, primarily developed for use in larger saphenous vein grafts, and certain caveats and limitations are discussed. New dedicated systems should be available in the near future for the native coronary circulation. Excellent immediate angiographic results were obtained in all treated patients, without evidence of loss of distal branches and no intraprocedural complications.

Treatment of a native right coronary artery with the PercuSurge Guardwire protection system during PTCA and stenting.

Cardiac catheterization in a patient with recent-onset unstable angina demonstrated a suboccluded dominant right coronary artery (RCA), with angiographic evidence of a large thrombus load and a severe focal stenosis of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. After abciximab, uneventful PTCA and stenting of the LAD was performed. The thrombus containing lesion of RCA was treated with balloon predilatation and stent deployment, and the whole procedure was accomplished with protection of the distal vessel by means of PercuSurge. This device was planned to avoid distal debris migration during percutaneous interventions of saphenous bypass grafts. The system is designed to allow the placement of a temporary occlusion device, a low-profile balloon, distal to the lesion to be treated during the procedure. The occlusive balloon is kept inflated during the treatment of the lesion. Before deflating the balloon and allowing blood to reach the distal vessel, whenever it is necessary, the material proximal to the balloon is aspirated through a monorail catheter. This aspiration removes blood and thrombi proximal to the occlusive balloon from the treated coronary artery. The case we present first reports the application of the device in a large native coronary artery, with an optimal distal flow restoring and no evidence of thrombus embolization. This type of protection of distal coronary vessels towards micro- and macroembolization of thrombi is a promising system of performing safer percutaneous interventions, even in acute ischemic syndromes.

Factors affecting the therapeutic choice in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. The Studio Lombardo Angiografia Multivasali (SLAM) Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To assess how clinical and angiographic findings are related to the decision to carry out coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary bypass grafting in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. DESIGN: Prospective survey carried out in 14 centres in the Lombardia region of Italy. PATIENTS: 1468 consecutive patients under going coronary arteriography for known or suspected ischaemic heart disease between May and October 1994, who were found to have multivessel coronary artery disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Multivariate analysis was undertaken using stepwise logistic regression to identify the clinical and angiographic variables correlated with revascularisation (v medical treatment) in all of patients, and with surgery (v angioplasty) in the subset of revascularised patients. RESULTS: In all patients the clinical decision after coronary arteriography was made by physicians of each participating centre on the basis of their experience and clinical judgment: 53% of patients had bypass surgery, 28% had PTCA, and 19% continued medical treatment. The choice of a revascularisation procedure was directly related to a clinical diagnosis of unstable angina (P < < 0.001), the presence of left anterior descending artery disease (P < < 0.001), and to an ejection fraction > or = 40% (P < < 0.001), and inversely related to history of previous coronary bypass surgery (P < < 0.001). In revascularised patients, bypass surgery was the preferred treatment in patients with left anterior descending artery disease (P < < 0.001), three-vessel disease (P < < 0.001), and in those with at least one occluded vessel (P = 0.008). The choice of PTCA was significantly related to history of previous PTCA (P < < 0.001) or coronary bypass surgery (P < < 0.001), to a clinical diagnosis of non-Q wave myocardial infarction (P = 0.002), and to the possibility of implanting an intracoronary stent (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Bypass surgery is still the most widely used treatment for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. This analysis provides a basis for comparison with future developments in the treatment of such patients. Further advancements in PTCA technology are needed to tilt the balance in favour of this less invasive procedure.

[Unstable angina: immediate and mid-term results]. / Angina instabile: risultati immediati e a medio termine.

Coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for unstable angina is a procedure having good anatomical and clinical success. Best immediate results are achieved after a clinical "cooling" of the unstable phase, by means of intravenous heparin and acetylsalicylic acid. Coronary thrombolysis has no role in improving results of PTCA in unstable angina. Incomplete revascularization is safe and clinically effective in the acute phase, and staged procedures are recommended if two or more vessels are to be treated. Restenosis rate seems to be higher in unstable patients, especially in those who are on refractory phase.

[Comparison of 6 and 8 French catheters for arterial catheterization and coronarography: prospects of the development of coronarography in ambulatory care]. / Confronto fra cateteri 6 ed 8 French per cateterismo arterioso e coronarografia: prospettive di sviluppo della coronarografia in regime ambulatoriale.

The aim of this study was to evaluate day-hospital coronary angiography as a valid method to reduce hospital recovery costs and patient waiting lists. We evaluated its technical feasibility by randomizing sixty hospital patients. These were divided into two groups, and 6 or 8 French Judkins of Amplatz coronary angiography catheters were used for each group following the Judkins technique. Patients were invited to walk after four hours. Local complications, the number of catheters used, their stability and maneuverability, as well as the radiological resolution of the image were evaluated. No major cardiac complications occurred. One transient cerebral ischemic episode during 6F coronary angiography was quickly resolved by medical therapy. Two local haemorrhages and three cases of hypotension were observed in the 8 French group, while minor bleeding phenomena were similar in both groups (3 vs 5). Differences occurred in local haematoma incidence after 24 hours (13 in 8F vs 2 in 6F); there was no difference in the number of catheters used, the completion time of the examination, or the radiological resolution. Maneuverability and stability of the 6F group were reduced, but not so much as to compromise examination. The AA concluded that 6F catheters are useful in day-hospital coronary angiography, with a similar examination quality, and a reduction in local complication.

Effectiveness of calcium antagonist drugs in patients with unstable angina and proven coronary artery disease.

Eighty-five patients admitted to our CCU for unstable angina (UA) with proven coronary artery disease, in whom i.v. therapy with nitroglycerin (N) and heparin (H) did not reduce both painful and painless episodes of myocardial ischaemia, were treated by i.v. administration of verapamil (V) and diltiazem (D) in order to assess the efficacy of calcium antagonists in reducing myocardial ischaemia. All patients were given i.v. N + H throughout the whole study period; none showed significant increase in serum CK MB concentration. V and D were assigned following a double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled design after a 48 h period of N + H therapy. Continuous Holter monitoring (CHM) was performed during the whole study period. V and D significantly reduced the total number of ischaemic episodes day-1 (N + H = 6.8 +/- 3.9; D = 2.1 +/- 2.3, P less than 0.001; V = 1.7 +/- 2.7, P less than 0.001), the number of silent episodes (SE) (N + H = 5.2 +/- 3; D = 1.4 +/- 1.4, P less than 0.001; V = 1.5 +/- 2.5, P less than 0.001) and the duration of SE (N + H: 428 min for all patients, D: 61 min, V: 112 min). In patients with UA and proven CAD in whom i.v. N and H are ineffective to control myocardial ischaemia, V and D given i.v. reduced both painful and painless ischaemic episodes and allow safe delay of coronary arteriography and myocardial revascularization without adjunctive risk. Continuous Holter monitoring is important to detect the total ischaemic burden.

[The Italian Group for the Study of Streptokinase in Myocardial Infarct: Analysis of intrahospital causes of death]. / G.I.S.S.I.: Analisi delle cause di morte intraospedaliera.

Aim of the present study was to analyse the causes of death of the patients admitted to the G.I.S.S.I. Study. Clinical records of the 1386 in-hospital deaths were centrally analysed by two independent clinicians, who were not aware of the performed treatment and based their classification criteria upon clinical and anatomic data. Death causes were classified as follows: cardiac failure, electromechanical dissociation, cardiac rupture, sudden death and extracardiac deaths. Cardiac failure was the most frequent cause of mortality, as 725 pts out of the 1386 (52%) died from this complication in the whole group. 392 pts were part of the control group (6.7%), while 333 had received SK (5.6%): the difference was significant. No difference was observed between treated patients and control group for what concerns the remaining causes of death. Mortality from cardiac failure was strikingly reduced in a few groups of patients: females (from 11.4 down to 8.7%); age less than 65 years (from 4.1 down to 3.2%); early treated pts (up to 3 hrs): from 6.3 down to 5.2%; anterior location of AMI (9.2 down to 7.4%); first AMI episode (from 5.9 down to 4.7%). Such a reduction was remarkable for patients who remained alive after the 7th day from onset of symptoms: cardiac failure was the cause of death in 65 out of 5385 treated patients, and in 100 out of 5333 control group patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Drug therapy combinations in angina pectoris]. / Associations médicamenteuses dans l'angine de poitrine.

The critical level of myocardial oxygen consumption at which anginal pain will occur can be assessed in patients with coronary artery disease. We studied the results of exercise ECG in patients with effort angina, administered placebo, nitrate derivatives, betablockers, and calcium inhibitors, alone and in different associations. Nitrate derivatives and calcium inhibitors appeared to be more effective than betablockers. The study demonstrated the utility of the association of betablockers with other drugs with a more effective anti-anginal action but without the hypotensive or antiarrhythmic effects of betablockers which are often very desirable in the treatment of coronary artery disease.

Effects of nifedipine, acebutolol, and their association on exercise tolerance in patients with effort angina.

The action of nifedipine (N), acebutolol (A), and their association (A+N) was studied in 16 patients suffering from effort angina with documented coronary artery disease. The therapeutic action was valued by bicycle effort stress test after oral administration of medications in comparison with placebo (P), following a double-blind random sequence of treatments. Working capacity significantly increased after A (507 +/- 450 mkp, p less than 0.05), after N (1,140 +/- 767 mkp, p less than 0.001), and after A+N (1,198 +/- 644 mkp, p less than 0.01). The increments of work after P administration were not significant. Moreover, fatigue instead of angina appeared as a stopping criterion in 8 patients after A+N, and in only 1 patient after P, A, and N.