OCT or Angiography Guidance for PCI in Complex Bifurcation Lesions.

BACKGROUND: Imaging-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with better clinical outcomes than angiography-guided PCI. Whether routine optical coherence tomography (OCT) guidance in PCI of lesions involving coronary-artery branch points (bifurcations) improves clinical outcomes as compared with angiographic guidance is uncertain. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, open-label trial at 38 centers in Europe. Patients with a clinical indication for PCI and a complex bifurcation lesion identified by means of coronary angiography were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to OCT-guided PCI or angiography-guided PCI. The primary end point was a composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as death from a cardiac cause, target-lesion myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven target-lesion revascularization at a median follow-up of 2 years. RESULTS: We assigned 1201 patients to OCT-guided PCI (600 patients) or angiography-guided PCI (601 patients). A total of 111 patients (18.5%) in the OCT-guided PCI group and 116 (19.3%) in the angiography-guided PCI group had a bifurcation lesion involving the left main coronary artery. At 2 years, a primary end-point event had occurred in 59 patients (10.1%) in the OCT-guided PCI group and in 83 patients (14.1%) in the angiography-guided PCI group (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.50 to 0.98; P = 0.035). Procedure-related complications occurred in 41 patients (6.8%) in the OCT-guided PCI group and 34 patients (5.7%) in the angiography-guided PCI group. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with complex coronary-artery bifurcation lesions, OCT-guided PCI was associated with a lower incidence of MACE at 2 years than angiography-guided PCI. (Funded by Abbott Vascular and others; OCTOBER ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03171311.).

Reframing Optimal Implantation of the Sapien 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve.

OBJECTIVES: To define the optimal implantation of the Sapien 3 (Edwards Lifesciences) transcatheter heart valve (THV), this study systematically analyzed the predeployment fluoroscopic THV position and correlated this to clinical outcomes. METHODS: This was an observational study of 279 patients treated with the Sapien 3 THV. Fluoroscopic imaging was used to categorize patients into low (n = 147), intermediate (n = 86), and high (n = 46) implantation zones. These zones were based on the relationship of the balloon marker and radiolucent line of the valve frame (line of lucency) to the annular plane at deployment. The primary outcome was the rate of permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) at 30 days. The secondary outcomes were the rates of new left bundle-branch block (LBBB) in-hospital and all-cause mortality at 1 year. RESULTS: In the high, intermediate, and low groups, 30-day PPI rates were 4.3%, 8.1%, and 8.8% (P=.62); in-hospital LBBB rates were 10.9%, 26.7%, and 32.0% (P=.02); and all-cause mortality rates at 1 year were 3.1%, 7.3%, and 12.5% (P=.14), respectively. No differences were observed with respect to procedural success/complications or THV performance between the groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates fewer conduction abnormalities for Sapien 3 valves positioned within a higher zone defined fluoroscopically by the line of lucency and balloon marker.

Initial Experiences of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Using a New-Generation Everolimus-Eluting Stent Platform.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes from the new Synergy Megatron drug-eluting stent (DES) platform (Boston Scientific) are not yet reported. This study sought to evaluate periprocedural outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using this technology. METHODS: This was a retrospective study across two United Kingdom centers of 139 patients undergoing PCI of 146 coronary lesions using the Synergy Megatron DES. The primary endpoint was the rate of cardiovascular death. The secondary endpoint was the rate of a composite of non-fatal myocardial infarction, target-vessel revascularization, in-stent restenosis, and probable/definite stent thrombosis. Available intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging was reviewed post hoc and evaluated according to predefined IVUS optimization criteria. RESULTS: Mean follow-up duration was 137.3 ± 38.3 days. The primary endpoint occurred in 0.7% of patients and the secondary endpoint occurred in 0.0% of patients. There were no cases of longitudinal stent deformation (LSD); in patients undergoing an IVUS-guided procedure, our criteria for successful IVUS optimization was achieved in 74.1% of left main stem (LMS) and 83.3% of right coronary artery (RCA) lesions. Mean minimal stent area (MSA) was 14.5 ± 3.4 mm² in the LMS, 10.0 ± 2.5 mm² in the left anterior descending coronary artery, 9.8 ± 3.0 mm² in the left circumflex, and 12.2 ± 4.0 mm² in the RCA. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated very low rates of short-term major adverse cardiovascular events with no cases of LSD or acute/subacute stent thrombosis. It highlights the overexpansion capabilities of the Synergy Megatron DES platform. The technology safely and effectively facilitates IVUS-optimized stent parameters for the treatment of large proximal vessels and bifurcations.

The hepatobiliary complications of malnutrition and nutritional support in adults.

Hepatobiliary complications of hypoalimentation and parenteral nutrition (PN) are widely recognised. Hypoalimentation includes conditions such as anorexia nervosa (AN), obesity malnutrition and liver disease following bariatric surgery. Treatment of the underlying condition causing hypoalimentation can result in an improvement in liver dysfunction. Liver function test abnormalities are also commonly found in patients on PN, with the three main complications being steatosis, cholestasis and biliary system sludge/stones. Patients with intestinal failure receiving PN often have multiple possible aetiologies for liver dysfunction (rather than solely caused by the PN); hence, it is now more commonly referred to as intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD). Liver enzyme abnormalities are very common with long-term PN use and do not always help with monitoring progression of IFALD. A systematic approach is required for investigating liver function abnormalities related to PN. The key management in IFALD is through prevention of sepsis, promoting intestinal health and restoring intestinal continuity where possible. A variety of imaging modalities can be used to investigate, and monitor, the liver disease. Most importantly, patients on PN for more than 28 days should be managed in a large centre with experience in managing intestinal failure to minimise the risk of such complications. Early identification of liver dysfunction is essential and, should it progress despite the above measures, early discussion with an intestinal transplant centre should be encouraged.

The prognostic impact of revascularization strategy in acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock: Insights from the British Columbia Cardiac Registry.

BACKGROUND: In patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cardiogenic shock (CS), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the culprit vessel is associated with improved outcomes. A large majority of these patients have multivessel disease (MVD). Whether or not PCI of non-culprit disease in the acute setting improves outcomes continues to be debated. We evaluated the prognostic impact of revascularization strategy for patients presenting with AMI and CS. METHODS: We compared culprit vessel intervention (CVI) versus multivessel intervention in 649 patients with AMI, CS, and MVD enrolled in the British Columbia Cardiac Registry. We evaluated mortality at 30 days and 1 year. RESULTS: CVI was associated with lower mortality at 30 days (23.7% vs. 34.5%, P = 0.004) and 1 year (32.6% vs. 44.3%, P = 0.003). CVI was an independent predictor for survival at 30 days (HR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.45-0.88, P = 0.009) and 1 year (HR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.54-0.96, P = 0.027). These findings were confirmed in propensity-matched cohorts. Subgroup analyses indicated that CVI was associated with lower mortality in patients aged <80 years; non-diabetics; and those presenting with ST-elevation MI. When analyzing non-culprit anatomy, PCI of non-culprit LAD disease was associated with higher 1-year mortality (HR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.13-2.01, P = 0.006), primarily with non-culprit proximal LAD disease (HR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.20-2.76, P = 0.005). However, PCI of non-culprit non-proximal LAD, LCx, and RCA disease was not associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AMI and CS, a strategy of CVI appears to be associated with lower mortality. These findings are consistent with recently published randomized-controlled trial data.

A retrospective study of radiation dose measurements comparing different cath lab X-ray systems in a sample population of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusions.

OBJECTIVES: A retrospective study was performed to investigate if the generation of X-ray system used was an independent factor for radiation dose in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). BACKGROUND: PCI procedures for CTOs are known to be associated with higher doses of radiation. The authors suspected progressive reductions in radiation doses for CTO PCI as newer X-ray systems were introduced into clinical practice. METHODS: Procedures performed over a five-year period by three interventional cardiologists were retrospectively reviewed. Five different X-ray systems were used across three hospital sites. These included: Axiom Artis and Coroskop HIP (both Siemens), Innova (GE), Allura Xper FD 10, and Allura Clarity FD 10 (both Philips). Procedural and demographic data including body mass index (BMI; kg/m2 ), fluoroscopy time (min), and dose area product (DAP; cGycm2 ) were collated for each procedure. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the influence each X-ray system would have on DAP values after BMI and fluoroscopy time were controlled for. RESULTS: In total, 860 procedures were analyzed. Mean fluoroscopy time was 40.00 ± 19.99 min, mean BMI was 29.90 ± 5.13 kg/m2 , mean DAP 11,980 ± 7,947 cGycm2 . Log values of DAP were used to normalize results in a general linear model. A significant statistical difference in DAP between X-ray systems was demonstrated after fluoroscopy time and BMI were controlled for (P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: There is a significant impact on DAP values resulting from the generation of X-ray system used, measured during PCI for CTOs, with the most modern systems producing the lowest radiation doses.

Hybrid Approach to Percutaneous Coronary Intervention to Treat Chronic Total Occlusions.

The hybrid approach is a systematic algorithm-led percutaneous coronary intervention strategy based on the identification of key anatomical features on coronary angiography to treat chronic total occlusions. The aims of this approach are to provide a standardised tool for physician training and programme development, avoiding futile strategies to improve safety, procedural success and reduce the contrast and radiation required to complete the case.

Advances in clinical cardiology.

Multiple, potentially practice-changing cardiology trials have been presented or published over the past year. In this paper, we summarize and place in clinical context, new data regarding management of acute coronary syndrome and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (copeptin assessment, otamixaban, cangrelor, prasugrel, sodium nitrite, inclacumab, ranolazine, preventive coronary intervention of non-culprit lesions, immediate thrombolytic therapy versus transfer for primary intervention), new coronary intervention data (thrombectomy, radial access, pressure wire fractional flow reserve, antiplatelet therapy duration and gene-guidance, permanent and biodegradable polymers, coronary bifurcation and strategies), and coronary artery bypass data (off pump vs. on pump). Latest trials in trans-aortic valve implantation, heart failure (eplerenone, aliskiren, spironolactone, sildenafil, dopamine, nesiritide, omecamtiv mecarbil, the algisyl left ventricular augmentation device, and echo-guided cardiac resynchronization), atrial fibrillation (edoxaban, dabigatran, and ablation), cardiac arrest (hypothermia, LUCAS™ mechanical chest compression), and cardiovascular prevention (vitamins, renal denervation for resistant hypertension, renal artery stenting, saxagliptin, alogliptin, and gastric banding) are also discussed.