Acute coronary syndrome may occur with in-stent restenosis and is associated with adverse outcomes (the PRESTO trial).

Patients with de novo acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) have a higher rate of adverse cardiac events and recurrent revascularization after percutaneous coronary interventions compared with patients who have stable angina. However, it is not known if an ACS presentation in patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR) is associated with a worse prognosis. Using the large PRESTO database of patients with ISR, we compared outcomes after successful percutaneous coronary intervention in 824 patients who presented with ACS with 617 patients who had stable angina. In-hospital and 9-month follow-up for myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, death, and a combined outcome of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were obtained. Follow-up angiographic results were also compared in those patients included in the angiographic substudy (140 patients with ACS and 99 with stable angina). Patients with ISR who presented with ACS were older and less often men, with higher incidences of diabetes, hypertension, tobacco use, previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and congestive heart failure. In-hospital complications were rare and similar in the 2 groups. At follow-up, patients with ACS had higher incidences of target vessel revascularization (33% vs 21%, p <0.001), MACEs (35% vs 22%, p <0.001), and angiographic restenosis (> or =50% narrowing, 56% vs 42%, p = 0.043). In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for baseline differences, an ACS presentation was associated with a higher incidence of long-term MACEs (odds ratio 1.66, 95% confidence interval 1.27 to 2.18, p <0.001). In conclusion, an ACS presentation in patients with ISR is associated with a higher incidence of recurrent adverse cardiovascular events and angiographic restenosis.

Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale guided by intracardiac echocardiography and performed through the transfemoral approach in the presence of previously placed inferior vena cava filters: a case series.

We present three patients with cryptogenic stroke who underwent transcatheter closure of a patent foramen ovale. All patients have had history of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism with placement of inferior vena caval filters. The patients were not initially considered suitable candidates for the procedure because of risk of dislodgment of previously implanted inferior vena cava filter.

Comparison of intracoronary vs. intravenous administration of abciximab in coronary stenting.

There have been animal and human studies looking at intracoronary (IC) use of abciximab with good short-term clinical outcomes. There exists no data comparing intracoronary with intravenous (IV) administration of abciximab beyond 30 days. We compared the clinical outcomes between the IC (n = 101) and IV (n = 72) group of patients. Patients who had coronary stenting and received abciximab were included in the study. All the patients received the standard systemic bolus dose of abciximab 0.25 mg/kg either via the IC or IV route, followed by a 12-hr IV infusion at 0.125 microg/kg/min. The 6-month composite endpoint of death or myocardial infarction was slightly higher in the IV (13.9%) than in the IC group (5.9%; P = 0.04). The frequency of bleeding complications was similar in both groups. The IC bolus route of abciximab may be superior to the intravenous route. Prospective randomized trials are warranted to validate these findings.

The dilemma of success: percutaneous coronary interventions in patients > or = 75 years of age-successful but associated with higher vascular complications and cardiac mortality.

Elderly patients are increasingly referred to percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). Recent reports suggest complications rates are declining in the elderly. We sought to determine whether procedural and in-hospital outcomes are different in patients aged > or = 75 years undergoing nonemergent PCI as compared to patients age < 75 years. The outcome of 266 consecutive patients age > or = 75 years undergoing nonemergent PCI was compared to that of 1,681 consecutive patients age < 75 years. Compared with younger patients, greater proportions of elderly patients were women and had a history of hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebral vascular events. Elderly patients had more extensive coronary involvement. Procedural success was similar in both groups (94%). The in-hospital cardiac death rate was significantly higher in the elderly patients (2.3% vs. 0.7%; P = 0.03). Aged patients also had a significantly higher incidence of vascular and bleeding complications. Blood transfusion was required more often in the elderly group (4.5% vs. 2.6%; P = 0.07). The hospitalization length was significantly higher in the elderly group (4.1 +/- 6.0 vs. 2.5 +/- 4.3 day; P = 0.0004). By multivariate logistic regression (adjusted for baseline clinical and angiographic variables), age > or = 75 years was found to be an independent predictor of in-hospital cardiac death (odds ratio = 3.9; 95% CI = 1.3-11.5; P = 0.015). Although PCI is technically successful in patients aged > or = 75 years; it is associated with more acute cardiac and vascular complications and higher in-hospital cardiac mortality.

Outcome of access site in patients treated with platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in the era of closure devices.

The most consistent procedural predictor of vascular access site complications thus far has been the intensity and duration of anticoagulant therapy during and after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Several devices have been developed to aid in the closure of the femoral arteriotomy. This report describes the clinical outcome of unsuccessful deployment of femoral closure devices in a cohort of 285 consecutive patients who underwent PCI and were treated with platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors. Manual femoral artery compression was used in 123 patients, Perclose in 123 patients, and AngioSeal in 39 patients. Successful homeostasis was achieved in 98.4% of patients who received manual compression, in 91.9% of the Perclose-sealed arteriotomy, and in 84.6% of patients who received the AngioSeal closure device (P = 0.004). The incidence of vascular complications after successful deployment was 9%. Patients not achieving hemostasis with closure device or 1 degrees manual compression developed complications in the majority of cases (> 80%; P < 0.05). By multivariate analysis (with adjustment for baseline differences), the use of AngioSeal closure device was found to be an independent risk factors leading to primary deployment failure and all access site complications (OR 2.97; 95% CI 1.5-6.0; P = 0.006). In summary, failed hemostasis by artery closure devices in patients undergoing PCI who are treated with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors is associated with significant vascular complications. AngioSeal may be associated with a higher failure rate, while manual compression and Perclose seem to be more effective with a lower complication rate.

Combined cutting balloon angioplasty and intracoronary beta radiation for treatment of in-stent restenosis: clinical outcomes and effect of pullback radiation for long lesions.

Intracoronary beta (beta) radiation decreases the incidence of target lesion revascularization after percutaneous intervention (PCI) for in-stent restenosis (ISR). Cutting balloon (CB) angioplasty may also be superior to other percutaneous techniques for the treatment of ISR. We sought to study the outcomes of patients with ISR who underwent both CB angioplasty and intracoronay beta radiation and compare them to patients with ISR who underwent other PCI techniques without concomitant radiation. We also sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pullback intracoronary beta radiation for the treatment of long ISR lesions. Between January 2001 and November 2001, 102 patients (mean age = 55 +/- 13 years) with ISR underwent both CB angioplasty and intracoronay beta radiation. beta radiation was delivered using the Beta Cath (Novoste) 30 mm system, and pullback radiation was performed in 41 patients. A comparison group included a total of 393 patients with ISR who underwent other PCI techniques without concomitant intracoronary radiation therapy. Follow-up was obtained in 99 patients (97%) in the CB angioplasty with intracoronary radiation group and 377 patients (96%) in the comparison group. At follow-up, both target vessel revascularization (TVR) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) occurred significantly less in the CB angioplasty with intracoronary radiation group than in the comparison group (7% vs. 18% for TVR, and 14% vs. 24% for MACE; P < 0.05 for both). In the pullback radiation group, TVR was performed in five patients (12%), and MACE occurred in eight patients (20%). A combination of CB angioplasty and intracoronay beta radiation for ISR seems to yield low rates of subsequent target vessel revascularization and adverse cardiac events. In addition, pullback beta radiation using the Beta Cath (Novoste) 30 mm system is safe and can be used to treat long ISR lesions effectively. Further randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Abciximab administration and clinical outcomes after percutaneous intervention for in-stent restenosis.

Abciximab therapy improves clinical outcomes after percutaneous interventions for de novo coronary artery disease. We sought to determine whether clinical outcomes after percutaneous intervention for in-stent restenosis are affected by abciximab administration. Between January 1996 and July 1999, 322 consecutive patients underwent percutaneous intervention for in-stent restenosis; 157 patients received abciximab and 165 patients were treated without abciximab based on operator discretion. Baseline clinical and angiographic variables and type of percutaneous intervention were recorded. Follow-up information was obtained and clinical endpoints were recorded. A multivariate analysis was performed to determine the independent variables associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Baseline clinical and angiographic variables were similar in both groups. Patients who received abciximab were more likely to be treated with rotational atherectomy and less likely to have only balloon angioplasty or repeat stenting. Mean follow-up duration was 19 +/- 12 months. There were no significant differences in the incidence of angina/myocardial infarction (29% vs. 30%; P = 0.9), target vessel revascularization (18% vs. 21%; P = 0.5), death (8% vs. 7%; P = 0.4), or major adverse cardiovascular events (38% vs. 39%; P = 0.9) in both groups. Abciximab administration was not an independent variable associated with adverse outcomes. In this observational study, clinical outcomes after percutaneous intervention for in-stent restenosis did not seem to be affected by abciximab administration. Randomized trials are needed to identify the role of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in the management of in-stent restenosis.