Guidance of percutaneous coronary interventions by multidetector row computed tomography coronary angiography.

Guidance of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides more precise information in terms of quantitative measurement and qualitative assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) than does conventional angiography. Several studies have tested the efficacy of IVUS to guide stent implantation. However, the conflicting results have left behind a continued debate as to whether IVUS-guided PCI has an impact on clinical outcome and angiographic restenosis. IVUS and computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) share the ability to evaluate the lumen along with the vessel wall, enabling characterisation of proximal and distal reference segments. Nevertheless, IVUS imaging is expensive and usually precluded in severe stenoses. In the present article, we discuss the potential application of CTCA for the guidance of PCI, particularly of complex lesions such as chronic total occlusions (CTO) and bifurcations.

Early assessment of myocardial viability by the use of delayed enhancement computed tomography after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to explore the relationship between established parameters of reperfusion and the extent of myocardial damage measured by the delayed enhancement (DE) of iodinated contrast by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) immediately after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). BACKGROUND: Early detection of myocardial viability should be valuable for risk stratification of patients with reperfused acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Consecutive patients without a history of previous AMI who underwent primary PCI for an ST-segment elevation AMI were examined by DE-MDCT without an additional contrast injection immediately after completion of PCI. No medication was administrated to lower the heart rate. Dose modulation lead to an approximate mean radiation dose of 5.5 mSv. RESULTS: Thirty patients constituted the study population. Mean age was 61.4 +/- 15.6 years, 24 (80%) were men, and 4 (13%) were diabetic. Although post-procedural Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade 3 was achieved in all patients, DE was detected in 14 (47%) patients. Age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, smoking history, serum creatinine levels, and pain duration were not associated with the presence of DE. Door-to-balloon time (DE 70.3 +/- 33.6 min vs. non-DE 98.3 +/- 70.7 min, p = 0.19) and lesion crossing time (DE 18.6 +/- 11.4 min vs. non-DE 16.4 +/- 9.6 min, p = 0.58) did not differ between groups. The TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (0 to 1 vs. 2 to 3) after stent implantation and electrocardiogram ST-segment resolution (<50% or >/=50%) were associated with the presence of DE (p = 0.001 and p = 0.02, respectively). Pre-discharge left ventricular ejection fraction was lower in DE than in non-DE patients (44.6 +/- 12.4% vs. 54.1 +/- 10.3%, respectively, p = 0.05). Hospitalization days (DE 5.6 +/- 3.8 vs. non-DE 4.8 +/- 1.0, p = 0.41) and 6-month cardiac events (DE 3 of 14 vs. non-DE 1 of 16, p = 0.22) did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection of myocardial viability immediately after primary PCI by the use of DE-MDCT is related to clinical and angiographic parameters of myocardial reperfusion.

New coating stent design for patients with high-risk coronary lesions for thrombotic events: early and long-term results of the Camouflage registry.

BACKGROUND: Semisynthetic coating of the Camouflage bare-metal stent (BMS) (Eucatech AG, Rheinfelden, Germany) mimics luminal endothelial cell glycocalix, potentially preventing the activation of the coagulation system. Purpose. We sought to determine in a clinical registry the acute and long-term clinical and angiographic outcomes of this BMS design in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) or who were unable to be on long-term clopidogrel therapy. METHODS: From March 2007 to December 2008, 150 patients undergoing coronary stent implantation at three centers in Buenos Aires, Argentina, were included in our registry. Patients with ACS, including non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and STelevation MI (STEMI), or those unable to be on long-term dual antiplatelet therapy were considered for inclusion. The primary endpoint was a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) defined as the incidence of cardiac death, MI or target lesion revascularization (TLR). The incidence of acute and late stent thrombosis (ST) was also analyzed. Angiographic late loss and the presence of late stent malapposition (LSM) was recorded at 9-month follow up. Clopidogrel was prescribed for 1 month. RESULTS: 54.7% of patients had acute MI, 36% had STEMI and 20.7% of patients were ineligible for long-term clopidogrel therapy because of previously planned non-vascular or general surgery within 30 days after percutaneous coronary intervention. During 11.5 months of clinical follow up, 2% suffered cardiac death, 4% had a MI, 8.9% underwent TLR and the overall cumulative major adverse cardiac event rate was 15.3%. No patient developed acute or late ST. There were no in-hospital complications for patients who underwent surgery. Intravascular ultrasound studies did not detect the presence of late malapposition. CONCLUSION: In this high-risk thrombotic patient population, the Camouflage coated stent design demonstrated a very good safety profile, as reflected by the low incidence of hard adverse cardiac events including ST at follow up.

Precisión diagnóstica de la angiografía coronaria por tomografía computarizada multislice aplicada al "mundo real" / Diagnostic accuracy of coronary angiography with multislice computed tomography

Objetivo: Evaluar la precisión diagnóstica de la angiografía coronaria por tomografía computarizada multislice (ACTCM) para la detección de estenosis significativas en arterias coronarias. Material y métodos: Se estudiaron pacientes con indicación de cinecoronariografía diagnóstica sin antecedentes de alergia al contraste, insuficiencia renal ni arritmias. Para la adquisición de imágenes se utilizó un tomógrafo multislice (multicorte) (Brilliance 40, Philips, The Netherlands) gatillado electrocardiográficamente. Se administraron 90-125 ml de contraste yodado por vía endovenosa. La obesidad, la diabetes, los segmentos difusamente calcificados, con diámetro < 2,0 mm, y aquellos tratados con stents no constituyeron criterios de exclusión. Las lesiones se definieron significativas cuando presentaron una reducción luminal ≥ 50 por ciento por ACTCM y angiografía cuantitativa coronaria (QCA). Resultados: Previo a la intervención se escanearon 38 pacientes. De ellos, uno (3 por ciento) fue excluido debido a calidad de imagen insuficiente. Los 37 restantes (444 segmentos), con calidad de scan satisfactoria, se incluyeron en el estudio (81 por ciento hombres, edad media 62,43 ± 12,5 años, 13,5 por ciento diabéticos). El tiempo medio de scan fue de 15,12 ± 2,6 segundos. Se analizaron 444 segmentos por ambas técnicas. Se encontraron 88 (17 por ciento) y 93 (18 por ciento) lesiones significativas por CCG y ACTCM, respectivamente. La sensibilidad, la especificidad, el valor predictivo positivo y el valor predictivo negativo de la ACTCM para detectar estenosis significativas fueron del 82 por ciento, 93 por ciento, 72 por ciento y 96 por ciento, respectivamente. Conclusión: En pacientes seleccionados para cinecoronariografía, la angiografía coronaria por tomografía computarizada multislice presenta un alto valor predictivo negativo para la detección de enfermedad obstructiva coronaria.

Precisión diagnóstica de la angiografía coronaria por tomografía computarizada multislice aplicada al "mundo real" / Diagnostic accuracy of coronary angiography with multislice computed tomography

Objetivo: Evaluar la precisión diagnóstica de la angiografía coronaria por tomografía computarizada multislice (ACTCM) para la detección de estenosis significativas en arterias coronarias. Material y métodos: Se estudiaron pacientes con indicación de cinecoronariografía diagnóstica sin antecedentes de alergia al contraste, insuficiencia renal ni arritmias. Para la adquisición de imágenes se utilizó un tomógrafo multislice (multicorte) (Brilliance 40, Philips, The Netherlands) gatillado electrocardiográficamente. Se administraron 90-125 ml de contraste yodado por vía endovenosa. La obesidad, la diabetes, los segmentos difusamente calcificados, con diámetro < 2,0 mm, y aquellos tratados con stents no constituyeron criterios de exclusión. Las lesiones se definieron significativas cuando presentaron una reducción luminal ≥ 50 por ciento por ACTCM y angiografía cuantitativa coronaria (QCA). Resultados: Previo a la intervención se escanearon 38 pacientes. De ellos, uno (3 por ciento) fue excluido debido a calidad de imagen insuficiente. Los 37 restantes (444 segmentos), con calidad de scan satisfactoria, se incluyeron en el estudio (81 por ciento hombres, edad media 62,43 ± 12,5 años, 13,5 por ciento diabéticos). El tiempo medio de scan fue de 15,12 ± 2,6 segundos. Se analizaron 444 segmentos por ambas técnicas. Se encontraron 88 (17 por ciento) y 93 (18 por ciento) lesiones significativas por CCG y ACTCM, respectivamente. La sensibilidad, la especificidad, el valor predictivo positivo y el valor predictivo negativo de la ACTCM para detectar estenosis significativas fueron del 82 por ciento, 93 por ciento, 72 por ciento y 96 por ciento, respectivamente. Conclusión: En pacientes seleccionados para cinecoronariografía, la angiografía coronaria por tomografía computarizada multislice presenta un alto valor predictivo negativo para la detección de enfermedad obstructiva coronaria.(AU)

Pilot study of oral rapamycin to prevent restenosis in patients undergoing coronary stent therapy: Argentina Single-Center Study (ORAR Trial).

Rapamycin-coated stents are associated with low restenosis rates, but the ability of oral rapamycin to prevent restenosis is unknown. From December 2001 through February 2002, thirty-four patients with 49 lesions were treated with oral rapamycin for 1 month following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with bare stents. Patients received a loading dose of 6 mg rapamycin followed by a daily dose of 2 mg. Rapamycin blood levels were measured in all patients during the third week of treatment. Cholesterol and triglycerides were evaluated before and 1 month after treatment. A 6-month follow-up angiogram was performed in all patients. Angiographic binary restenosis (> 50%), target lesion revascularization (TLR), late loss, treatment compliance and major adverse cardiac events were analyzed independent of rapamycin levels. Baseline characteristics included a history of diabetes in 35% of patients and the presence of in-stent restenosis in 24.5% of lesions (12/49). The rapamycin was well tolerated and only 1 patient discontinued the therapy due to mild side effects. Angiographic restenosis and TLR at 6 months was present in 26.5% of lesions (13/49). Restenosis in de novo lesions was 18.9% (7/37) compared to 50% of in-stent restenotic lesions (6/12; p = 0.08). Restenosis in de novo lesions in patients with rapamycin levels > 8 ng/ml was 0% (0/12), whereas it was 24% (6/25) when the rapamycin levels were < 8 ng/ml (p = 0.07). Late loss was significantly lower when rapamycin levels were > 8 ng/ml (0.3 mm versus 0.9 mm, respectively; p = 0.04). Thus, in this observational study, oral rapamycin administered for 1 month after PCI with bare stenting was safe and well tolerated. Higher therapeutic rapamycin blood levels were associated with a lower late loss and a trend toward a lower restenosis rate in de novo lesions.