Comparative treatment outcomes of a single long stent vs. overlapped short stents in acute myocardial infarction.

Objectives: There is no consensus regarding the optimal choice between single long stent (SLS) and overlapped double short stents (DSS) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Therefore, we aimed to compare treatment outcomes among patients with AMI treated with these two different stenting methods. Methods: In total, 537 patients with AMI from a single tertiary center were categorized into two groups: (1) those who received an SLS (stent length ≥38 mm) (n = 254; 47.3%) and (2) those who received overlapped DSS (individual stent lengths <38 mm) (n = 283; 52.7%). The primary outcome was the incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) within 1 year. Results: The mean age of participants was 65.4 years, and 75.0% were male. Patients receiving an SLS had a higher rate of serum creatinine level ≥1.5 mg/dl (16.3% vs. 8.9%, p = 0.009) but a lower rate of hypertension (46.8% vs. 55.8%, p = 0.038), lesser total stent length (38.26 ± 1.31 vs. 45.20 ± 9.25 mm, p < 0.001), total procedure time (41.40 ± 15.74 vs. 53.31 ± 21.75 min, p < 0.001) and total contrast volume (134.13 ± 30.72 vs. 160.57 ± 39.77 ml, p < 0.001) than in those receiving DSS. One-year MACCEs were comparable between the two groups before [hazard ratio (HR), 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.80-2.24] and after adjusting for covariates (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.67-2.19). Conclusions: Stenting with an SLS demonstrated similar outcomes compared to those achieved when using stenting with overlapped DSS in patients with AMI. Therefore, if the deliverability is acceptable, stenting with an SLS appears to be a safe and effective strategy for AMI treatment.

Feasibility of Coronary Angiography and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention via Left Snuffbox Approach.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Feasibility of coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via left snuffbox approach is still concerned. We aimed to investigate efficacy and safety of the left snuffbox approach for CAG and PCI. METHODS: Left snuffbox approach was tried in 150 patients who planned to perform CAG or PCI for suspected myocardial ischemia between 1 November 2017 and 31 March 2018. RESULTS: Success rate of radial artery (RA) cannulation via snuffbox approach was 88.0% (n=132). Among 132 individuals, 58 (43.9%) acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients were included. The diameter of snuffbox RA was significantly smaller than conventional RA (2.57 mm vs. 2.72 mm, p<0.001) from quantitative computed angiography of 101 patients. However, CAG via snuffbox approach by 6 French sheath was successfully performed in all 132 patients. In addition, there was significant correlation between the snuffbox and conventional RA diameter (r=0.856, p<0.001). In 42 PCI cases, including 25 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the success rate of PCI via snuffbox approach was 97.6% (n=41). Intravascular imaging-guided PCI was performed in 8 (19.5%) patients and multi-vessel PCI in 4 (9.8%) cases. Regarding vascular complication, forearm swelling with bruising, not requiring surgery or transfusion, occurred in 2 (4.9%) PCI cases. CONCLUSIONS: Left snuffbox approach is suitable for CAG and PCI compared with the conventional radial approach.

The association of socioeconomic status with three-year clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the clinical outcomes were associated with socioeconomic status (SES) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The author analyzed 2,358 patients (64.9 ± 12.3 yr old, 71.5% male) hospitalized with AMI between November 2005 and June 2010. SES was measured by the self-reported education (years of schooling), the residential address (social deprivation index), and the national health insurance status (medical aid beneficiaries). Sequential multivariable modeling assessed the relationship of SES factors with 3-yr major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and mortality after the adjustment for demographic and clinical factors. During the 3-yr follow-up, 630 (26.7%) MACEs and 322 (13.7%) all-cause deaths occurred in 2,358 patients. In multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression modeling, the only lower education of SES variables was associated with MACEs (hazard ratio [HR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.91) and mortality (HR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.16-3.20) in the patients with AMI who underwent PCI. The study results indicate that the lower education is a significant associated factor to increased poor clinical outcomes in patients with AMI who underwent PCI.

Predictors of long-term survival in acute coronary syndrome patients with left ventricular dysfunction after percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Predictive factors of mortality in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with left ventricular dysfunction were analyzed during 5-year clinical follow-up after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 329 ACS consecutive patients (64.6±11.3 years, 227 males) who underwent PCI from January 2001 to March 2006 were followed for 5 years. All patients had lower than 40% of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Patients were divided into Group I (survived longer than 5-years: n=130, 101 males) and Group II (survived shorter than 5 years: n=199, 126 males). RESULTS: The cumulative survival rate was 88.0% at 1 month, 78.0% at 6 months, 75.0% at 1 year, 67.0% at 2 years, 62.0% at 3 years, 57.0% at 4 years and 40% at 5-years. Group II was older (61.6±11.2 years vs. 66.4±11.4 years, p<0.001), and showed higher prevalence of female gender (28.4% vs. 36.7%, p=0.006) and lower LVEF (35.3±5.2 vs. 33.6±5.6) than Group I. The independent predictors for mortality were LVEF <30% {odds ratio (OR)=1.793, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.234-2.452, p=0.002}, serum creatinine >3.0 mg/dL (OR=2.455, 95% CI: 1.306-4.614, p=0.005), older than 65 years (OR=1.594, 95% CI: 1.152-2.206, p=0.005), and female gender (OR=1.524, 95% CI: 1.090-2.130, p=0.014). CONCLUSION: Five-year survival rate was 40% in ACS patients with left ventricular dysfunction, and the predictors for mortality were low LVEF, high serum creatinine, old age, and female gender.