Outcomes of Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients With Previous Coronary Bypass Surgery

ObjectivesThis study sought to determine the contemporary clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and previous coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), including those with a saphenous vein graft culprit lesion.BackgroundThe outcome of STEMI patients with previous CABG is reported to be inferior to those without previous CABG, but limited data is available from the primary percutaneous coronary intervention era.MethodsData was extracted from a large, regional STEMI system’s prospective database, which contained 3,542 unique STEMI episodes from March 4, 2003 through April 22, 2012.ResultsPrevious CABG was present in 249 patients (7%). Despite higher comorbidity, patients with versus those without previous CABG had similar in-hospital (4.8% vs. 5.2%; p = 0.82) and 1-year (10.8% vs. 9.1%; p = 0.36) mortality, but 5-year (24.9% vs. 14.2%; p < 0.001) mortality was higher. Patients with previous CABG have similar door-to-balloon times. The culprit vessel was the saphenous vein graft in 84 patients (34%), a native vessel in 104 (42%), with no clear culprit in 59 (24%). The left internal mammary artery graft was not a culprit in any patient. Mortality at 30 days (8.3% vs. 3.9% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.19) and 1 year (14.3% vs. 9.0% vs. 6.8%; p = 0.35) was higher (but not statistically) with a saphenous vein graft culprit and was equivalent at 5 years (25.0% vs. 26.0% vs. 20.3%; p = 0.71).ConclusionsPatients with previous CABG treated in a regional STEMI system have similar outcomes as patients without previous CABG, although 5-year mortality is higher. The most common culprit location was a native vessel (42%). Outcomes have improved significantly compared with historical reports.     

Hybrid Revascularization for Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (MVCAD) referred for standard coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).BackgroundConventional CABG is still the treatment of choice in patients with MVCAD. However, the limitations of standard CABG and the unsatisfactory long-term patency of saphenous grafts are commonly known.MethodsA total of 200 patients with MVCAD involving the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and a critical (>70%) lesion in at least 1 major epicardial vessel (except the LAD) amenable to both PCI and CABG and referred for conventional surgical revascularization were randomly assigned to undergo HCR or CABG (in a 1:1 ratio). The primary endpoint was the evaluation of the safety of HCR. The feasibility was defined by the percent of patients with a complete HCR procedure and the percent of patients with conversions to standard CABG. The occurrence of major adverse cardiac events such as death, myocardial infarction, stroke, repeated revascularization, and major bleeding within the 12-month period after randomization was also assessed.ResultsMost of the pre-procedural characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. Of the patients in the hybrid group, 93.9% had complete HCR and 6.1% patients were converted to standard CABG. At 12 months, the rates of death (2.0% vs. 2.9 %, p = NS), myocardial infarction (6.1% vs. 3.9%, p = NS), major bleeding (2% vs. 2%, p = NS), and repeat revascularization (2% vs. 0%, p = NS) were similar in the 2 groups. In both groups, no cerebrovascular incidents were observed.ConclusionsHCR is feasible in select patients with MVCAD referred for conventional CABG. (Safety and Efficacy Study of Hybrid Revascularization in Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease [POL-MIDES]; NCT01035567).     

Percutaneous Circulatory Assist Devices for High-Risk Coronary Intervention

A unifying definition of what constitutes high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention remains elusive. This reflects the existence of several recognized patient, anatomic, and procedural characteristics that, when combined, can contribute to elevating risk. The relative inability to withstand the adverse hemodynamic sequelae of dysrhythmia, transient episodes of ischemia-reperfusion injury, or distal embolization of atherogenic material associated with coronary intervention serve as a common thread to tie this patient cohort together. This enhanced susceptibility to catastrophic hemodynamic collapse has triggered the development of percutaneous cardiac assist devices such as the intra-aortic balloon pump, Impella (Abiomed Inc., Danvers, Massachusetts), TandemHeart (CardiacAssist, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), and extracorporeal membranous oxygenation to provide adjunctive mechanical circulatory support. In this state-of-the-art review, we discuss the physiology underpinning their application. Thereafter, we examine the results of several randomized multicenter trials investigating their use in high-risk coronary intervention to determine which patients would benefit most from their implantation and whether there is a signal to delineate whether they should be used in an elective pre-procedure, standby, rescue, or routine post-procedure fashion.     

Outcomes After Emergency Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Unprotected Left Main Stem Occlusion: The BCIS National Audit of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention 6-Year Experience

ObjectivesThis study sought to evaluate in-hospital outcomes and 3-year mortality of patients presenting with unprotected left main stem occlusion (ULMSO) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).BackgroundLimited data exists about management and outcome following presentation with ULMSO.MethodsFrom January 1, 2007 to December 21, 2012, 446,257 PCI cases were recorded in the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society database of all PCI cases in England and Wales. Of those, 568 were patients having emergency PCI for ST-segment elevation infarction (0.6% of all PPCI) who presented with ULMSO (TIMI [Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction] flow grade 0/1 and stenosis >75%), and they were compared with 1,045 emergency patients treated with nonocclusive LMS disease. Follow-up was obtained through linkage with the Office of National Statistics.ResultsPresentation with ULMSO, compared with nonocclusive LMS disease, was associated with a doubling in the likelihood of periprocedural shock (57.9% vs. 27.9%; p < 0.001) and/or intra-aortic balloon pump support (52.5% vs. 27.2%; p < 0.001). In-hospital (43.3% vs. 20.6%; p < 0.001), 1-year (52.8% vs. 32.4%; p < 0.001), and 3-year mortality (73.9% vs 52.3%, p < 0.001) rates were higher in patients with ULMSO, compared with patients presenting with a patent LMS, and were significantly influenced by the presence of cardiogenic shock. ULMSO and cardiogenic shock were independent predictors of 30-day (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.61 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07 to 2.41], p = 0.02, and HR: 5.43 [95% CI: 3.23 to 9.12], p<0.001, respectively) and 3-year all-cause mortality (HR: 1.52 [95% CI: 1.06 to 2.17], p = 0.02, and HR: 2.98 [95% CI: 1.99 to 4.49], p < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsIn patients undergoing PPCI for ULMSO, acute outcomes are poor and additional therapies are required to improve outcome. However, long-term outcomes for survivors of ULMSO are encouraging.     

Noninvasive Discrimination of Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion and Subtotal Occlusion by Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate whether noninvasive discrimination of chronic total occlusion (CTO), a complete interruption of coronary artery flow, and subtotal occlusion (STO), a functional total occlusion, is feasible using coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA).BackgroundCTO and STO may be different in pathophysiology and clinical treatment strategy.MethodsWe included 486 consecutive patients (median age 63 years, 82% male) who showed a total of 553 completely occluded coronary arteries in coronary CTA. The length of occlusion, side branches, shape of proximal stump, and collateral vessels were measured as anatomical findings. Transluminal attenuation gradient, which reflects intraluminal contrast kinetics and functional extent of collateral flow, was measured as a physiological surrogate. All patients were followed by invasive coronary angiography.ResultsCoronary arteries with CTO showed longer occlusion length (cutoff ≥15 mm), higher distal transluminal attenuation gradient (cutoff ≥−0.9 Hounsfield units [HU]/10 mm), more frequent side branches, blunted stump, cross-sectional calcification ≥50%, and collateral vessels compared with arteries with STO (p < 0.001, all). The combination of these findings could distinguish CTO from STO (c-statistics = 0.88 [95% confidence interval: 0.94 to 0.90], sensitivity 83%, specificity 77%, positive predictive value 55%, negative predictive value 93%; p < 0.001). Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was attempted in 342 arteries and was successful in 279 arteries (82%). The computed tomography findings could predict the unsuccessful PCI (c-statistics = 0.70 [95% confidence interval: 0.65 to 0.75], sensitivity 63%, specificity 73%, positive predictive value 91%, negative predictive value 31%; p < 0.001).ConclusionsNoninvasive coronary CTA could discern CTO from STO, and also could predict the success of attempted PCI.