Intravascular ultrasound for angiographically indeterminant left main coronary artery disease

The precise diagnosis of the presence of significant left main coronary artery disease has profound prognostic and therapeutic implications. Coronary cineangiography has shown to be imprecise and inaccurate to determine the percent stenosis of the left main coronary artery. We report a case with significant left main coronary artery disease in whom coronary cineangiography was in discordance with the clinical data and intravascular ultrasonography. Based on the intravascular ultrasound findings, the patient underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Therefore, the intravascular ultrasonography may be the procedure of choice for assessing indeterminant left main coronary artery lesions by coronary angiography.     

Intravascular ultrasound-guided revascularization of a chronically occluded left main coronary artery

We describe a case of a left main coronary artery (LMCA) chronic total occlusion (CTO), which we elected to treat through percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this case report, we briefly review the prevalence of LMCA CTO, discuss the feasibility of PCI versus surgical revascularization and highlight the importance of intravascular ultrasound in the guidance of these complex procedures.     

Intravascular ultrasound evidence of angiographically undetected left main coronary artery disease and associated trauma during interventional procedures

Summary To determine the clinical significance of angiographically undetected left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease, we analyzed data from 47 patients, with a mean age of 58 years, who were examined with intravascular ultrasound (3.5Fr, 30MHz). For assessment of atherosclerosis, the lesion area was calculated from the ultrasound images by the formula, {(total vessel area — lumen area)/total vessel area} × 100(%). In 37 LMCA segments of patients with significant distal coronary stenosis (>50%), the percent intima-media area (the index) was 39 ± 11% (mean ± SD), significantly greater than that of 10 patients without distal disease (27 ± 4%,P < 0.01). Among those with significant coronary stenosis, the index was markedly greater in patients with multi-vessel coronary stenosis (46 ± 12%,n = 19) than in patients with single-vessel disease (33 ± 9%,n = 18;P < 0.01). At three LMCA sites associated with multi-vessel disease, ultrasound analysis demonstrated disruption of the intima at the site where the guiding catheter for balloon angioplasty had been positioned. These results indicate that LMCA disease is more prominent in patients with multi-vessel distal coronary disease than in those with single vessel disease, even in the absence of angiographic stenosis. We suggest that LMCA trauma can occur where the guiding catheter for angioplasty is positioned, particularly in patients with multi-vessel distal disease.This work was supported in part by grants from Takeda Medical Research Foundation (to M.Y.) and the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (to M.Y.), Suita, and from Shimadzu Scientific Research Foundation (to M.Y.), KyotoDr. Masakazu Yamagishi is the recipient of the Bayer Award from the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (Suita) for 1996     

老年女性无保护左主干病变患者经皮冠状动脉介入术的长期疗效观察

目的：探讨合并冠状动脉左主干（LMCA）病变老年女性患者经皮冠状动脉介入（PCI）术后的长期预后。方法从1997年12月～2012年10月,共有302例女性患者在我院首次行冠状动脉造影提示LMCA并行PCI,其中≥65岁的老年女性156例,年龄（72.0±4.31）岁;＜65岁非老年女性146例,年龄（55.5±7.06）岁。两组成功PCI患者随访（42.0±19.3）个月,比较两组患者的临床基本特征、冠状动脉病变特点、PCI特点及随访结果。结果老年组高血压和急性心肌梗死的比例较非老年组虽有增高的趋势,但差异无统计学意义。老年组的Syntax评分明显高于非老年组[（26.6±8.49） vs （23.5±9.10）,P＜0.01]。老年组与非老年组PCI成功率均为100%,两组所采用手术术式、植入支架平均直径及长度,以及药物洗脱支架的比例均无明显差异。与非老年组相比较,老年组在总的主要不良心血管事件发生率、支架内血栓及全因死亡的发生率均无明显增加。结论合并LMCA病变的老年女性患者接受PCI是安全的,通过强化抗血小板治疗、选择合理的手术策略可改善其长期预后。     

Predictors of early mortality in patients with angiographically documented left main coronary artery disease

To determine predictors of early death after coronary angiography In patients with significant left main coronary artery disease (≥ 60% diameter narrowing, LMCAD), we reviewed the clinical records of patients with LMCAD who died after angiography. Of 1,288 patients with LMCAD studied between January 1978 and October 1989, 21 died within 2 days after angiography (group 1). As a control group, 85 patients were randomly sampled from 1,196 patients who survived at least 30 days after angiography (group 2). The predictors of early death after angiography in patients with LMCAD were older age (P < 0.05), New York Heart Association Class III or IV (P < 0.005), shorter duration of unstable angina (P < 0.005), higher left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (P < 0.006), lower ejection fraction (P < 0.005), and significant left circumflex artery disease (P < 0.006). The use of heparin infusion after angiography did not appear to be a significant factor. It is suggested that earlier operation or more aggressive management be undertaken in patients who, at cardiac catheterization, have significant LMCAD associated with the above-listed variables.     

Benefits of obstructive sleep apnoea treatment in coronary artery disease: a long-term follow-up study.

AIM: The aim of this long-term prospective study was to evaluate the effect of treating obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) on the rate of cardiovascular events in coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively studied 54 patients (mean age 57.3 +/- 10.1 years) with both CAD (> or = 70% coronary artery stenosis) and OSA (apnoea-hypopnoea index > or = 15). In 25 patients, OSA was treated with continuous positive airway pressure (n=21) or upper airway surgery (n=4); the remaining 29 patients declined treatment for their OSA. The median follow-up was 86.5 +/- 39 months. The two groups were similar at baseline in age, body mass index, smoking history, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes mellitus, number of diseased vessels, left ventricular ejection fraction, and CAD therapy. Treatment of risk factors other than OSA was similar in the two groups. The endpoint (a composite of cardiovascular death, acute coronary syndrome, hospitalisation for heart failure, or need for coronary revascularisation) was reached in 6 (6/25, 24%) and 17 (17/29, 58%) patients with and without OSA treatment, respectively (P<0.01). OSA treatment significantly reduced the risk of occurrence of the composite endpoint (hazard ratio 0.24; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.62; p<0.01) and of each of its components. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the treatment of OSA in CAD patients is associated with a decrease in the occurrence of new cardiovascular events, and an increase in the time to such events.     

Intravascular ultrasound to assess left main stem coronary artery lesion

A man of 70 underwent coronary arteriography for the assessment of angina. The appearance of the left coronary main stem was slightly abnormal but no definite stenosis could be delineated. Intracoronary ultrasound examination with a 4·8 French intravascular ultrasound probe showed an extensive plaque in the distal left main stem and proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, with a shelf-like projection causing 60% narrowing at one point in the distal left main stem. Since coronary bypass surgery the patient has been free of angina.     

Unprotected left main coronary artery disease

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been established as a safe concept in the treatment of unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease and is considered the first-line treatment in current interdisciplinary guidelines. Regardless of the complexity of the lesion and the concomitant diseases, CABG is associated with excellent long-term results. Randomized controlled trials investigating the role of percutaneous coronary intervention in the setting of ULMCA lesions are frequently underpowered and suggest that, when restricted to less complex lesions, percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with results comparable to surgery. Thus, there is an urgent need for further randomized controlled trials RCTs with all-comers design to supply precise data under real-life conditions representative of the left main stem anatomy. Until then, an interdisciplinary approach to patients with ULMCA lesions is mandatory in view of the existing guidelines.     

Predictors of early mortality in patients with angiographically documented left main coronary artery disease.

To determine predictors of early death after coronary angiography in patients with significant left main coronary artery disease (greater than or equal to 60% diameter narrowing, LMCAD), we reviewed the clinical records of patients with LMCAD who died after angiography. Of 1,288 patients with LMCAD studied between January 1978 and October 1989, 21 died within 2 days after angiography (group 1). As a control group, 85 patients were randomly sampled from 1,196 patients who survived at least 30 days after angiography (group 2). The predictors of early death after angiography in patients with LMCAD were older age (P less than 0.05), New York Heart Association Class III or IV (P less than 0.005), shorter duration of unstable angina (P less than 0.005), higher left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (P less than 0.006), lower ejection fraction (P less than 0.005), and significant left circumflex artery disease (P less than 0.006). The use of heparin infusion after angiography did not appear to be a significant factor. It is suggested that earlier operation or more aggressive management be undertaken in patients who, at cardiac catheterization, have significant LMCAD associated with the above-listed variables.     

无保护左主干病变支架介入治疗后冠状动脉造影随访结果分析

目的观察无保护左主干病变,应用药物洗脱支架介入治疗后冠状动脉造影随访结果,并分析其影响因素。方法选择无保护左主干病变患者150例,其中48例在平均(10.0±7.5)个月进行了冠状动脉造影复查,根据冠状动脉造影显示有无狭窄分为:再狭窄组12例和无再狭窄组36例。结果与无再狭窄组比较,再狭窄组患者随访时最小管腔直径明显减小[(2.7±1.0)mm vs (3.5±0.4)mm,P=0.0001]、直径狭窄率明显升高[(31.4±26.4)% vs (8.3±5.3)%,P=0.0000]、晚期管腔丢失明显升高[(0.8±0.7)mm vs (0.2±0.3)mm,P=0.0000];双支架置入术的再狭窄率明显高于单支架置入术[(75.0% vs 13.9%),P=0.0011]。结论左主干远端分叉病变双支架置入术的疗效较差,冠状动脉旁路移植术应作为首选。     

无保护左主干病变介入治疗后冠状动脉造影随访结果分析

目的探讨左主干病变裸支架治疗后再狭窄的可能原因。方法回顾性分析自1997年到2004年间行无保护左主干病变介入治疗并进行冠状动脉造影随访的18例患者的病变情况及其远期疗效。结果(1)9例双支架置入患者中,药物支架V型支架术的6例患者中有4例发生了再狭窄,再狭窄均发生在前降支和回旋支血管开口处;裸支架T支架术的2例患者发生了再狭窄,其中1例弥漫性再狭窄,另外1例发生了回旋支开口的再狭窄。(2)9例置入单个支架的患者中,5例患者支架跨过了回旋支开口,即采取了Cross-over技术,复查时只有1例左主干支架发生了再狭窄;3例左主干体部支架的患者中1例发生了弥漫性再狭窄。(3)对两例V支架的患者进行了血管内超声检查,发现在开口处没有完全膨胀,亦没有完全贴壁。结论(1)左主干病变介入治疗(特别是双支架置入方法)的再狭窄率很高。(2)在左主干分叉病变治疗中,支架跨过回旋支患者的远期预后良好,即支架可以安全地跨过回旋支。     

Effectiveness of sirolimus-eluting stent for treatment of left main coronary artery disease

The present study reports on the clinical outcome of 31 consecutive patients with left main coronary artery disease treated with a sirolimus-eluting stent. The implantation of this stent was associated with abolition of post-discharge fatal events and percutaneous reintervention.     

Immediate and long-term outcomes of stent implantation for unprotected left main coronary artery disease

Left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease is now uniformly treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, some patients with LMCA disease do not receive CABG because of high operative risks. The advent of stent implantation has permitted a non-operative improvement in myocardial blood flow in many patients with single- and multi-vessel coronary artery disease. However, the outcomes of stent implantation for unprotected LMCA disease are still unclear. Stent implantation was performed for unprotected LMCA disease in 13 patients; eight patients had high operative risk and five patients had refused CABG. The primary success rate was 100% (13/13 patients). One patient (8%) developed a non-Q-wave myocardial infarction after LMCA stenting. Repeat angiography was obtained in five patients (38%) with recurrent angina, and three patients (23%) received repeated percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for LMCA restenosis. In the follow-up period of 18±3 months, 12 patients (92%) remained in satisfactory condition with no further need for surgical intervention. One patient (8%) ultimately required CABG, and she died after CABG at 3 months after LMCA stenting. In conclusion, although CABG remains the standard treatment for LMCA disease, the present study demonstrates that stent implantation is a safe and clinically beneficial revascularization procedure for unprotected LMCA disease in patients who have high operative risk as well as those who refuse CABG.     

Intravascular ultrasound to assess left main stem coronary artery lesion.

A man of 70 underwent coronary arteriography for the assessment of angina. The appearance of the left coronary main stem was slightly abnormal but no definite stenosis could be delineated. Intracoronary ultrasound examination with a 4.8 French intravascular ultrasound probe showed an extensive plaque in the distal left main stem and proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, with a shelf-like projection causing 60% narrowing at one point in the distal left main stem. Since coronary bypass surgery the patient has been free of angina.