Metaanalysis of Multivessel vs Culprit Artery Only Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the most frequently used treatment modality for patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Current professional society guidelines recommend culprit artery only PCI. Recent evidence suggests the potential benefit of multivessel PCI among patients with STEMI that is not complicated by cardiogenic shock. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for clinical studies of patients with STEMI, not complicated by cardiogenic shock, who underwent primary PCI between January 1966 and January 2018. We evaluated all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, reinfarction, and repeat revascularization among patients randomized to a multivessel PCI strategy compared to a culprit artery only PCI strategy. Results: Four randomized clinical trials with a total of 1,044 patients met the inclusion criteria. Five hundred and sixty-six patients underwent multivessel PCI, and 478 patients underwent culprit artery only PCI. Multivessel PCI reduced all the studied endpoints: total death, cardiac death, reinfarction, and repeat revascularization (all P values <0.05). Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the largest metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials studying multivessel PCI vs culprit artery only PCI in STEMI patients without shock, among whom lesion severity was graded by angiography alone. We found that compared to culprit artery only PCI, the multivessel PCI strategy was beneficial in reducing all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, reinfarction, and the need for repeat revascularization.

Safety of catheter-directed thrombolysis for massive and submassive pulmonary embolism: Results of a multicenter registry and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) in the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). BACKGROUND: The use of CDT for the treatment of acute submassive and massive PE is increasing in frequency. However, its safety and efficacy have not been well elucidated. METHODS: This study is made of two parts: one is a two-center registry of acute PE patients treated with CDT. The safety outcome evaluated was any major complication including fatal, intracranial (ICH), intraocular, or retroperitoneal hemorrhage or any overt bleeding requiring transfusion or surgical repair. The efficacy outcome was acute change in invasive pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). The second part is a meta-analysis of all contemporary studies that used CDT for PE. Reported outcomes are the same as in the registry, with the addition of right ventricular to left ventricular (RV/LV) ratio change. RESULTS: In the registry, 137 patients were included (age 59 ± 15, 50% male, 88% submassive PE). ICH occurred in two patients and major complications in 13 (9.4%). PASP decreased post procedure by 19 ± 15 mm Hg (95% CI 16-23). In the meta-analysis, 16 studies were included with 860 patients. Rate of ICH was 0.35% and the major complication rate was 4.65%, most requiring transfusion only. In-hospital mortality was 12.9% in the massive and 0.74% in the submassive group. All studies showed improvement in PASP and/or RV/LV ratio post CDT. CONCLUSIONS: CDT is associated with a low major complication rate. Randomized studies are needed to evaluate its efficacy relative to anticoagulation alone. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Comparing Multivessel Versus Culprit-Only Revascularization for Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Multivessel Disease Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Current guidelines recommend against revascularization of the noninfarct artery during the index percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in hemodynamically stable patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This was based largely on observational studies with few data coming from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Recently, several small-to-moderate sized RCTs have provided data, suggesting that a multivessel revascularization approach may be appropriate. We performed a meta-analysis of RCTs comparing multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (MV PCI) versus culprit vessel-only revascularization (COR) during primary PCI in patients with STEMI and multivessel coronary disease (MVCD). We searched Medline, PubMed, and Scopus databases for RCTs comparing MV PCI versus COR in patients with STEMI and MVCD. The incidence of all-cause death, cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction, and revascularization during follow-up were extracted. Four RCTs fit our primary selection criteria. Among these, 566 patients underwent MV PCI (either at the time of the primary PCI or as a staged procedure) and 478 patients underwent COR. During long-term follow-up (range 1 to 2.5 years), combined data indicated a significant reduction in all-cause mortality (relative risk [RR] 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36 to 0.92, p = 0.02) and in cardiac death (RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.73, p = 0.004) with MV PCI. In addition, there was a significantly lower risk of recurrent myocardial infarction (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.75; p = 0.004) and future revascularization (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.52; p <0.00001). In conclusion, from the RCT data, MV PCI appears to improve outcomes in patients with STEMI and MVCD.

High dose statin loading prior to percutaneous coronary intervention decreases cardiovascular events: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of statin loading prior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). BACKGROUND: Statin loading prior to PCI has been shown to decrease peri-procedural myocardial infarction (pMI) but less is known regarding the clinical benefit of pre-procedural statin loading. METHODS: We searched for trials of statin naïve patients presenting with stable angina or NSTE-ACS and treated with statins prior to PCI. We evaluated the incidence of pMI and major cardiac events including spontaneous myocardial infarction, death, and target vessel revascularization. RESULTS: Out of 1,210 articles, 14 randomized controlled trials were included in this meta-analysis. Among 3,146 patients, 1,591 patients were randomized to a loading dose of statin before PCI and 1,555 patients were given statin therapy initiated only after the PCI. Statin loading prior to PCI was associated with a 56% relative reduction in pMI (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.35-0.56; P < 0.00001). There was a 41% reduction in clinical events in follow-up in the group of patients treated with statin loading prior to PCI (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.38-0.92, P = 0.02). When stratified according to the clinical presentation, the results were only significant for those patients with NSTE-ACS (OR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.07-0.47; P = 0.0005) and was not noted in the group of patients who underwent PCI for stable angina (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.53-1.61; P = 0.78). CONCLUSIONS: High dose statin therapy given prior to PCI in patients with NSTE-ACS is associated with a reduction in pMI and short-term clinical events. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Cilostazol increases patency and reduces adverse outcomes in percutaneous femoropopliteal revascularisation: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Cilostazol is an oral antiplatelet agent currently indicated for treatment of intermittent claudication. There is evidence that cilostazol may reduce femoropopliteal restenosis after percutaneous endovascular intervention. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane databases from 1966 through September 2013 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the addition of cilostazol to standard care in patients receiving femoropopliteal endovascular treatment. Restenosis, target lesion revascularisation and combined adverse outcomes (death, revascularisation and amputation) within 1-2 years postprocedure were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 205 articles, three RCTs were included in the analysis. The pooled data provided a total of 396 patients, 195 of whom received cilostazol. When compared to standard medical therapy alone, cilostazol significantly reduced the risk of restenosis (risk difference -0.20; 95% CI -0.29 to -0.11; p<0.0001; number needed to treat 5), target lesion revascularisation (risk difference -0.17; 95% CI -0.25 to -0.09; p<0.0001; number needed to treat 6). Death and amputation were not different in between groups. CONCLUSIONS AND LIMITATION: Cilostazol significantly increases femoropopliteal patency and decreases adverse outcomes in percutaneous endovascular intervention. However, further RCTs are needed because of limited sample size; this meta-analysis represents the best current evidence.