Mammary to innominate arteriovenous fistula: endovascular management of an anecdotal complication.

An internal thoracic artery pseudoaneurysm associated with an arteriovenous fistula to the innominate vein is a very rare complication after implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator. We report the successful endovascular management of this unusual complication.

Effect on bleeding, time to revascularization, and one-year clinical outcomes of the radial approach during primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

The radial approach during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been reported to reduce the incidence of bleeding complications. However, the radial approach still accounts for <10% of procedures worldwide and only 1% in the United States. Our objective was to compare the effect of radial versus femoral vascular access on the time to reperfusion, incidence of bleeding complications, and overall clinical outcomes in the setting of primary PCI. We prospectively collected data on all patients undergoing primary PCI at the Montreal Heart Institute from April 1, 2007 to March 30, 2008. The time to revascularization and major bleeding were prespecified as a co-primary end point, and major adverse cardiac events, including death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization within 12 months, were considered a secondary end point. A total of 489 patients were included in the present longitudinal cohort study, 234 in the femoral group and 254 in the radial group. In the propensity-adjusted model, the use of the femoral approach was a strong independent predictor of bleeding (odds ratio 4.22, 95% confidence interval 3.17 to 10.60). No significant difference between the radial and femoral groups was observed relative to the time to revascularization (21.4 +/- 11.8 minutes vs 22.8 +/- 10.3 minutes, respectively; p = 0.68). Moreover, the radial approach was associated with a decreased risk of major adverse cardiac events (odds ratio 0.31, 95% confidence interval 0.10 to 0.94). In conclusion, primary PCI using the radial approach was associated with a fourfold reduction in major bleeding, without compromising the time to revascularization. Moreover, the radial approach was associated with a significant reduction in major adverse cardiac events at 12 months.

Demographics, treatment and outcome of acute coronary syndromes: 17 years of experience in a specialized cardiac centre.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological information on patients with acute coronary syndromes managed in specialized cardiac centres is limited. OBJECTIVE: To report the evolution of demographics, treatment and outcome of patients admitted to a tertiary coronary care unit (CCU) over a 17-year period. METHODS: A prospective database of 18,719 patients admitted from April 1986 to March 2003 in a 21-bed CCU was analyzed. RESULTS: From 1986 to 2003, the number of admissions increased from 937 to 1577 per year, while the length of stay declined from 7.5 to 3.5 days. The mean age increased from 58.4 to 63.4 years, and the proportion of men remained stable at approximately 70%. The use of coronary angiograms increased from 49.8% to 81.1% in all patients, while fibrinolysis dropped to 0.4%. In-hospital mortality decreased from 9% to 1.5%. The percentage of overall instrumentation (arterial line, central venous catheter, temporary pacemaker, Swan-Ganz catheter and intra-aortic balloon pump) decreased from 38% to 8.1%. From 1995 to 2003, the proportion of stenting during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty increased dramatically from 0% to 86%. In the past five years, surgical revascularization has remained stable at approximately 20% of all admissions. The proportion of patients discharged with a noncoronary chest pain diagnosis has remained constant at approximately 4%. INTERPRETATION: There has been a tremendous increase in efficiency, with an approximate doubling of the admissions turnover rate in a tertiary CCU. Patients with acute coronary syndromes are stratified faster and treated more invasively. Therapeutic advances are reflected by an almost linear 0.5% per year decrease in in-hospital mortality.

Sustained elevation of serum CD40 ligand levels one month after coronary angioplasty predicts angiographic restenosis.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention induces an early inflammatory reaction. The intensity of such a reaction as measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein has been correlated with recurrent ischemic events, but its association with restenosis remains uncertain. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the type and duration of the postangioplasty inflammatory reaction and to identify new inflammatory markers correlating with restenosis. METHODS: Fifty-three consecutive patients who underwent successful balloon angioplasty were studied. Levels of specific inflammatory markers were measured before intervention, and at one-month and six-month follow-up. Six-month clinical and angiographic follow-up was conducted in all patients, and quantitative coronary analysis was systematically performed. RESULTS: Levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 showed a rise and fall pattern over six months, with peak levels measured at one month (P < 0.0001), while levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 increased after angioplasty and remained elevated at six months (P = 0.07). Plasma levels of sCD40L at one month correlated with angiographic late loss (r = 0.48, P = 0.001) and were predictive of six-month restenosis (area under receiver operating characteristic curve 0.75 [95% CI 0.61 to 0.88]). CONCLUSIONS: The results imply that inflammation persists for at least one month following angioplasty and that future therapeutic interventions targeting inflammation to prevent restenosis should be active during this period. Furthermore, the ability of sCD40L levels to predict restenosis at six months may indicate the relevance of this pathway as a therapeutic target for restenosis prevention.

Incidence of stent under-deployment as a cause of in-stent restenosis in long stents.

Although stent under-deployment (SU) has been associated with increased risk of in-stent restenosis, little data have been reported on the incidence of SU in patients presenting with clinical in-stent restenosis. In 59 patients referred for vascular brachytherapy and showing angiographic in-stent restenosis, we sought (1) to determine the incidence of SU using standard intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) criteria (2) to evaluate the effects of repeat angioplasty on further stent expansion. Stented length was 32+/-17 mm and diameter stenosis was 75+/-14%. Before re-intervention, the incidence of reduced absolute values of minimal stent cross-sectional area (MSCSA) varied from 69% (< or =8 mm2) to 15% (< or =5 mm2). After re-intervention, the incidence decreased to 24% (< or =8 mm2) (p = 0.0001) and 0% (< or =5 mm2) (p = 0.005). Before re-intervention, SU as assessed by relative criteria varied from 21% (80% mean reference lumen area or 90% minimum distal reference lumen area) to 28% (100% minimum reference lumen area). After re-intervention, the incidence of SU varied from 7% (90% minimum distal reference lumen area) (p = 0.0001 vs. pre) to 24% (55% mean reference EEM area) (p = ns). No change in strut apposition (97% pre vs. 100% post) nor in symmetry index (100% pre vs. post) was noted. From all criteria, the 90 and 100% minimum reference lumen area criteria were the most altered by repeat balloon dilatation, 21% pre vs. 7% post and 28% pre vs. 11% post, respectively. In conclusion, among patients presenting with severe angiographic in-stent restenosis, a significant number showed signs of SU whose incidence varied according to applied criteria. Significant stent re-expansion can be obtained following IVUS-guided repeat angioplasty irrespective of initial SU criteria.

Ruptured aneurysm of the left sinus of Valsalva discovered 41 years after a decelerational injury.

We present an unusual case of ruptured aneurysm of the left sinus of Valsalva discovered 41 years after a car accident. Echocardiography was a key element in establishing the diagnosis of this rare anomaly, which is often congenital but has also been reported as acquired or traumatic in origin.

Treatment of bifurcation in-stent restenotic lesions with beta radiation using strontium 90 and sequential positioning pullback technique: procedural details and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: In-stent restenotic lesions have been problematic for many patients with the need for multiple repeat percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The need for repeat PCI has been significantly reduced in patients since the advent of vascular brachytherapy. In-stent restenosis resulting in bifurcation presents even more of a challenge. The use of radiation therapy for the treatment of this kind of lesion has not yet been reported. The purpose of this paper is to present five cases of radiation therapy in bifurcation in-stent restenotic lesions using the intraluminal beta radiation catheter delivery system (Beta-Cath System, Novoste Corporation, Norcross, Georgia). METHODS: We reviewed the database of patients enrolled in our Compassionate Use Registry between August 1999 and April 2002. The data is reported for 5 patients who received radiation in both branches of bifurcation lesions with the Beta-Cath catheter system. RESULTS: The mean diameter of the vessels was 3.1 mm 0.5 mm. The dose administered was from 18.3 to 23 Gy, with an overlap of 3.3 to 10.3 mm; the hinge angle between the branches went from 43.3 to 65.4 . Angiographic follow-up was obtained at 6 months in 4 patients, with a single patient showing a focal (< 5 mm) edge lesion treated by balloon angioplasty (TVR no TLR). No aneurysms or zones of ectasia were noted. CONCLUSION: Beta radiation with the Beta-Cath catheter system appears to be safe, secure and clinically useful in in-stent restenotic bifurcation lesions.

Two-year angiographic follow-up of intracoronary Sr90 therapy for restenosis prevention after balloon angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: Postcoronary angioplasty vascular brachytherapy (VBT) has emerged as a successful intervention for restenosis prevention in some clinical scenarios. Longer-term follow-up after VBT in de novo nonstented lesions has not been reported. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty patients treated with post-percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) VBT with Sr90 underwent clinical and angiographic follow-up at 6 and 24 months. Specific vessel segment quantitative coronary angiographic analyses were performed to identify radiation edge effects. Nineteen patients who had not undergone index procedure stenting or target vessel revascularization (TVR) over the 2-year period were analyzed separately. Of the 30 patients, 3 underwent TVR by 6-month follow-up. An additional 4 patients required TVR between 6 and 24 months. In the total cohort of 26 patients undergoing angiographic follow-up at 6 and 24 months, an increase in minimal lumen diameter of the initial target segment was noted at 6 months compared with postprocedure analysis (2.31+/-0.48 versus 2.04+/-0.43 mm, P<0.05). At 24 months, this was no longer significant (2.19+/-0.61 mm). In the proximal segments of the entire cohort and the nonintervened subgroup, the principal late loss occurred over the first 6 months with no additional late loss at 2-year follow-up. The distal segments remained stable over the entire follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Although some late failures of post-PTCA VBT are seen between 6 and 24 months, most treated vessels remain stable with no late loss or additional luminal increase beyond the 6-month period. This suggests that late aneurysm formation and significant late edge restenosis are unlikely in VBT after PTCA of de novo lesions for up to 2 years.

Effects of plaque composition on vascular remodelling after angioplasty in the MultiVitamins and Probucol (MVP) trial.

BACKGROUND: The antioxidant probucol reduced coronary restenosis in the MultiVitamins and Probucol (MVP) trial by improving vascular remodelling. Whether calcification limits the extent of adaptive vessel enlargement is not known. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether plaque composition at the dilated site affects probucol-induced vascular remodelling after angioplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Beginning 30 days before percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), 317 patients received either probucol, vitamins, probucol and vitamins, or placebo. Patients were then treated for six months after PTCA. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was performed post-PTCA and at follow-up in 94 patients (111 segments). The cross-section for serial analysis was the one at the angioplasty site with the smallest lumen area at follow-up. Quantitative analysis consisted of measurements of lumen area and external elastic membrane (EEM) area. The selected cross-section was also divided into five regions according to the type of plaque present (calcific, fibrotic, hypoechoic, fibrohypoechoic or normal). Plaque characterization scores (PCS) (PCS for arc, area, inner perimeter and outer perimeter) were calculated using weighting factors. RESULTS: There were no interactions between potential PCS covariates and probucol main effect on changes in lumenal, EEM and wall area. There were no significant PCS covariates in the model for change in EEM as they were all removed using a backward stepwise procedure. The last potential covariate (area PCS) had a significance level of P=0.48. In contrast, probucol significantly influenced the change in EEM over time (P=0.003). CONCLUSION: Plaque composition at the dilated site does not appear to influence probucol-induced vascular remodelling after angioplasty.