Coronary Bifurcation Lesions Research Articles

Assessment of fractal ratio of vessel diameters in coronary bifurcation lesions by angiography and intravascular ultrasound.

Physiological coronary branching at the bifurcation has a constant fractal ratio (FR) of the diameter of the mother vessel to the sum of daughter vessels on quantitative coronary angiography (QCA). We sought to investigate the FR of diseased coronary bifurcations using QCA and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and its impact on late lumen loss after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In multicentre prospective studies of the J-REVERSE and 3D OCT Bifurcation Registry, 402 and 109 bifurcations treated with stenting that completed QCAs and IVUS examinations, respectively were analysed. FR was investigated at the reference sites pre-PCI and the minimum lumen diameter (MLD) post-PCI. In the QCA analysis, constant FR was observed in the pre-PCI reference (0.62 ± 0.08) and in the post-PCI MLD site (0.74 ± 0.10), which was greater (p < 0.05). In the IVUS analysis, the constant FR in the post-PCI MLD site (0.67 ± 0.06) was similar to that in the pre-PCI reference (0.66 ± 0.06) and close to the physiological FR value (0.678). The fourth quintile of pre-PCI reference FR in the IVUS analysis showed numerically least late lumen loss in proximal main vessel (MV) (0.16 ± 0.22mm) and distal MV (0.13 ± 0.32mm) and significantly less in the side branch compared to higher FR quintile (-0.14 ± 0.27mm vs. 0.10 ± 0.19mm, p = 0.004), while no relationship was found in the QCA analysis. FR in the diseased coronary bifurcation was more accurately assessed on IVUS than on QCA, and the accomplishment of physiological FR might lead to less late lumen loss after bifurcation PCI.

OSDOKINA crush technique for the management of side branch ostial lesion ISTANBOL study

Abstract Background Isolated ostial bifurcation lesions (Medina type 0.0.1) represent &amp;lt;20% of coronary bifurcation lesions. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of this subset of lesions is challenging for the interventional cardiologist because of the technical difficulty and potential risk of serious complications. Purposes Recently, we devised a new technique, called the OSDOKINA crush technique, for the treatment of Medina type 0.0.1 coronary bifurcation lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility, safety and short-term and midterm procedural and clinical results achieved with OSDOKINA crush technique for Medina type 0.0.1 coronary bifurcation lesions. Materials and Methods Between September 2020 and January 2024, we included 49 patients who had Medina type 0,0,1 coronary bifurcation lesions. The vessel size had to be ≥2.5 mm by visual estimation on coronary angiography. Demographic, clinical and lesion characteristics of the cases were recorded. Quantitative coronary angiography analyses were performed using dedicated bifurcation angiographic software. Procedural success was defined as successful implantation of the stent into the target lesion, causing a final residual stenosis ≤30%. Major adverse cardiac events(MACE) were defined as cardiac death, myocard infarction and target lesion revascularisation. All patients were followed up to twelve months after the intervention. Results The lesion localisations were the ostium of diagonal branch in 19 (38.7%), ostium of the obtuse marginalis branch in 17 (34.6%), ostium of right posterior descending or right posterolateral branch in 13 (26.7%). SB RVD, SB lesion length and SB diameter stenosis by QCA were 2.65±0.35 mm, 9.4±3.9 mm, and 79.8±12.6, respectively. SB predilatation was applied in all cases. In 1 patient (2.1%), a stent had to be placed in the main branch using the double-kissing mini crush technique due to flow-limiting dissection that developed after the second kissing balloon inflation. Considering all cases, the angiographic success rate was 97.9% (n: 48). All patients had 12-month follow-up results. Acute myocardial infarction occurred in 1 patient (2.1%) due to side branch stent thrombosis. No patient had main branch revascularization. Cardiac or non-cardiac death was not observed. Cumulative MACE was 2.1%(n:1). Conclusion The OSDOKINA crush technique has excellent acute results and midterm clinical outcomes in the management of Medina type 0.0.1 coronary bifurcation lesions. Multicenter studies with large patient groups are needed.

Provisional stenting : drug-coated versus uncoated balloon for side branch in coronary bifurcation lesions: randomized study

Abstract Introduction The rePOT technique is a novel and easily applied approach for coronary bifurcations. Drug-Coated Balloon (DCB) angioplasty is increasingly being utilized in management of small vessels and coronary bifurcation lesions. Herein, we propose a new approach for treating coronary bifurcation lesions with the application of DCB to treat the side-branch in addition to the rePOT technique: the POT-sideDCB-POT technique. Materiel and Method: We described for the first time the POT-sideDCB-POT method for true bifurcation lesions (including the side-branch ostium), which is in line with the recommended management algorithm of the European Bifurcation Club8 consisting of a sequential approach to bifurcation stenting using the provisional strategy. The POT-sideDCB-POT is easy to perform and respects the geometry of all the three bifurcation segments. Results Overall, 100 patients with CBLs treated with provisional stenting using DES were included from our studie,50 with DCB side branche and 50 with UCB With a follow-up duration of 12 months, SB protection with DCB was associated with a lower degree of postoperative diameter stenosis (mean difference (MD): −10.35%, 95% confidence interval (CI): −13.17 to−8.53, p &amp;lt; 0.001; I2 = 0%) and less late lumen loss (MD: −0.18 mm, 95% CI:−0.28 to−0.10, p &amp;lt; 0.001; I2 = 69%) of SB compared to those with UCB. Moreover, SB protection with DCB was associated with reduced risks of target lesion revascularization (risk ratio [RR]: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.27 to 0.88, p = 0.02; I2 = 0%) and major adverse cardiovascular events (RR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.27 to 0.66, p &amp;lt; 0.01; I2 = 0%). Subgroup analysis according to the study design showed similar results. Conclusions For patients with CBL treated with provisional stenting using DES, SB protection with DCB was associated with better angiographic and clinical outcomes than those with UCB.

Comparison of clinical outcomes in diabetic and non-diabetic patients undergoing coronary bifurcation stenting

Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery diseases (CAD). Due to poor post-intervention outcomes, bypass surgery is often recommended in preference to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in DM patients with complex scenarios, such as bifurcation lesions. Methods In this retrospective, multicentre, observational, real-world registry of 2,648 patients with coronary bifurcation lesions undergoing PCI with 2nd-generation drug-eluting stents (DES), the effect of DM on cardiovascular outcomes was analysed. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and stroke, at 5 years. The adjusted outcomes were compared using 1:1 propensity score (PS) matching. Results Overall, DM patients were more likely to be older, female, and have hypertension or chronic kidney disease. In the PS-matched cohort, the cumulative incidence of the primary outcome was numerically higher in the DM group, but without statistical significance (7.9% vs. 5.5%, log-rank p=0.276). Secondary outcomes including all-cause mortality (5.5% vs. 3.9%, log-rank p=0.090) and cardiac mortality (3.2% vs. 1.8%, log-rank p=0.060) were also comparable between the two groups. Conclusion For patients with coronary bifurcation lesions undergoing contemporary PCI, the outcomes were comparable for DM and non-DM patients. Bifurcation PCI can thus be successfully performed in diabetic patients with 2nd-generation DES.

Clinical Outcomes of Double-Kissing Crush or Double-Kissing Culotte in Nonleft Main Bifurcation Lesions: The ROUTE Trial.

Double-kissing (DK) crush and DK culotte are the recommended 2-stent strategies in true coronary bifurcation lesions. However, it is a matter of curiosity about which of the DK crush and DK culotte stenting techniques will have superior results. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of DK crush and DK culotte stenting in nonleft main coronary artery bifurcation. Consecutive patients who received DK crush or DK culotte technique for de novo true nonleft main coronary artery bifurcation lesion were categorized according to which treatment they received. The primary end point of the study was target lesion failure as a composite end point of target lesion revascularization, target vessel myocardial infarction, and cardiac death. Secondary end points were all-cause death and definite stent thrombosis. A total of 202 patients were categorized as DK crush (101 patients) or DK culotte (101 patients) techniques. The target lesion failure had occurred frequently in the DK crush (10.9%) compared with the DK culotte (3.0%; P=0.028) that was mainly driven by increased target lesion revascularization (9.9% in the DK crush versus 3.0% in the DK culotte; P=0.045). The number of patients with target vessel myocardial infarction (3.0% in the DK crush versus 2.0% in the DK culotte; P=0.651) and cardiac death (1.0% in the DK crush versus 0.0% in the DK culotte; P=0.315) was higher in the DK crush. There were no differences in terms of definite stent thrombosis and all-cause death between groups. In the present analysis, DK culotte was associated with lower 1-year target lesion failure rates compared with DK crush in true nonleft main coronary artery bifurcations. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04789161.

Carina: A major determinant in the pathophysiology and treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions.

Over the last decade, several in vivo and computational investigations have significantly advanced our understanding of the pathophysiology of coronary bifurcations, contributing to the enhancement of their percutaneous revascularization. The carina of the coronary bifurcations plays a substantial role in generating their main hemodynamic features, including distinctive flow patterns with secondary flows and specific shear stress patterns. These factors play a pivotal role in determining the susceptibility, development, and progression of atherosclerosis. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of atherosclerosis in coronary bifurcations are complex and multifactorial. Understanding these mechanisms is fundamental to comprehending lesions at the bifurcation level and informing future treatment strategies. This review aims to present the currently available data regarding the pathophysiological and prognostic role of the carina in coronary bifurcations, offering an interpretation of these findings from the perspective of interventional cardiologists, providing valuable insights for their clinical practice.

TCT-558 Repeat Proximal Optimization Technique Following Kissing Balloon Inflation in Percutaneous Coronary Interventions for Left Main Coronary Bifurcation Lesions: Insights From Intravascular Ultrasound

TCT-558 Repeat Proximal Optimization Technique Following Kissing Balloon Inflation in Percutaneous Coronary Interventions for Left Main Coronary Bifurcation Lesions: Insights From Intravascular Ultrasound

Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty of the Side Branch During Provisional Stenting: TheMulticenter Randomized DCB-BIF Trial.

Side branch stenting is often required during provisional stenting, leading to suboptimal results. Drug-coated balloons (DCB) for the compromised side branch have emerged as an attractive strategy. However, the benefit of DCB for coronary bifurcations remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether DCB, compared with a noncompliant balloon (NCB), for the pinched side branch improves the outcomes of provisional stenting in patients with simple, true coronary bifurcations. In this multicenter, randomized controlled trial, patients with true coronary bifurcations who had side branch diameter stenosis of≥70% after main vessel stenting at 22 centers in China, Indonesia, Italy, and Korea were randomly assigned to either DCB or NCB intervention. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events, a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically driven target-lesion revascularization at the 1-year follow-up. Between September 8, 2020, and June 2, 2023, 784 patients with true coronary bifurcation lesions undergoing main vessel stenting and having a severely compromised side branch were randomly assigned to the DCB (n=391) or NCB (n=393) group. One-year follow-up was completed in all patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 28 patients in the DCB group and 49 patients in the NCB group (Kaplan-Meier rate: 7.2% vs 12.5%; HR: 0.56; 95%CI: 0.35-0.88; P=0.013), driven by a reduction in myocardial infarction. There were no significant differences between groups in procedural success, crossover to a 2-stent approach, all-cause death, revascularization, or stent thrombosis. In patients with simple and true coronary bifurcation lesions undergoing provisional stenting, main vessel stenting with a DCB for the compromised side branch resulted in a lower 1-year rate of the composite outcome compared with an NCB intervention for the side branch. The high rates of periprocedural myocardial infarction, which occurred early and did not lead to revascularization, are of unclear clinical significance.

TCT-568 Drug-Coated Balloon vs Noncompliant Balloon Angioplasties for Side Branch After Main Vessel Stenting for True Coronary Bifurcation Lesions: The Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized, Blinded DCB-BIF Trial

TCT-568 Drug-Coated Balloon vs Noncompliant Balloon Angioplasties for Side Branch After Main Vessel Stenting for True Coronary Bifurcation Lesions: The Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized, Blinded DCB-BIF Trial

Current Challenges in Coronary Bifurcation Interventions.

Coronary bifurcation lesions account for a significant proportion of all percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). Interventional treatment of coronary bifurcations is related to significant technical challenges, high complication rates, and worse angiographic and long-term clinical outcomes. This review covers the specific features and structure of coronary bifurcation and explores the main challenges in the interventional treatment of these lesions. This review evaluates various methodologies designed to address these lesions, considering factors such as plaque distribution and bifurcation geometry. It also emphasizes the limitations associated with current techniques. A novel combined optimization approach applied in the interventional treatment of coronary bifurcation may offer superior procedural and long-term outcomes. This combined technique could potentially address the drawbacks of each method, providing a more effective solution for optimizing stent placement in bifurcation lesions. Refining and evaluating these combined techniques is essential for improving clinical outcomes in patients with bifurcation lesions.

Real-world evidence of BioMime sirolimus-eluting stent in obstructive coronary artery disease: the meriT-2 trial.

The efficacy and safety of the ultrathin BioMime sirolimus-eluting coronary stent (SES) system in treating single or multiple de novo native coronary lesions, in-stent restenosis, and bifurcation lesions have been evidenced at 1 year. We sought to investigate the long-term safety and efficacy of the BioMime SES in a real-world population with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). The prospective, single-arm, multicentre meriT-2 trial enrolled 250 patients from 11 sites across India. The safety endpoint was the cumulative frequency of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 5 years, defined as a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), emergent coronary artery bypass grafting or clinically indicated target lesion revascularisation (CI-TLR). Stent thrombosis (ST) was evaluated according to the Academic Research Consortium definitions. A total of 214 (85.6%) subjects completed the 5-year follow-up. The mean age of patients was 57.44±10.75 years, and 82.71% were males. A total of 308 lesions were treated with BioMime SES. Most of the lesions were localised in the left anterior descending artery (45.46%) and were type B2 lesions (44.81%). The cumulative MACE rate at 5 years was 8.9% (n=19), including 0.9% cardiac deaths, 1.9% MI and 6.1% CI-TLR. The rate of ST was only 0.5%. The Kaplan-Meier survivor analysis revealed actuarial survivorship of 95.6% for the intention-to-treat population (n=250) over 5 years. The long-term clinical outcomes of the meriT-2 trial established the safety and efficacy of the ultrathin-strut biodegradable-polymer-based BioMime SES with satisfactory clinical outcomes at 5 years.

Challenges of Endovascular Treatment in Patients With “False” Left Main Coronary Bifurcation Lesions

We discuss main challenges of much-debated endovascular treatment in patients with “false” bifurcation stenoses of the left main coronary artery. There are no convincing literature data on the rationale of planning complete bifurcation stenting using 2 stents and clear indications for this procedure. We highlight the importance of studying the effectiveness and safety of the complex routine use of various intravascular imaging during the left main coronary artery percutaneous coronary intervention. We analyzed observations in which a “false” bifurcation lesion can only be considered an ostial stenosis, which will affect the stenting strategy. We focus on the development of universal algorithms for performing endovascular interventions, including those using intravascular imaging which role at each stage of surgery should be additionally studied.

Double Kissing Mini-Culotte Stenting in Unprotected Distal Left Main Bifurcation Under Optical Coherence Tomography Guidance: Immediate and Short-Term Outcomes

IntroductionCulotte stenting is an effective strategy for left main coronary bifurcation lesions. Increased side branch ostial restenosis is the main drawback of Culotte stenting. This is due to a napkin ring or potential gap produced at the ostium of the side branch. A bench study by Toth et al. has shown that additional sequential kissing balloon dilation before main vessel stenting can prevent this deformity. AimWe report immediate and short-term results of Double Kissing (DK) mini-Culotte stenting with a one-year angiographic follow-up. MethodsForty-five patients of distal left main (LM) disease underwent DK mini-Culotte stenting at our center between March 2020 and December 2022 under Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) guidance. ResultsOut of 45 patients [male:35(77.77%); mean age:63.67±4.94years], chronic coronary syndrome was present in 26(57.8%) and unstable angina in rest. All lesions were Medina (1,1,1), (0,1,1), or (1,0,1) with a median Syntax score of 28 (IQR=23-29). All procedures were technically successful with no adverse clinical events (death, myocardial infarction, or stent thrombosis). Under OCT guidance, adequate minimal stent area (MSA) of 13.28 ± 0.77mm2, 8.25 ± 0.29 mm2, and 7.54 ± 0.45mm2 was achieved in LM, left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCx) respectively. Adequate stent expansion of >80% was achieved in all cases. At the end of 1 year, the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was 2.2%. Further, one (2.2%) patient developed restenosis of the side branch which was managed conservatively. ConclusionDK mini-Culotte stenting in the distal left main bifurcation has shown promising results and is effective in preventing side branch stent deformation and its sequelae of in-stent restenosis.

Impact of the Type of Anticoagulation Therapy on Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Coronary Bifurcation Lesion and Atrial Fibrillation-Insights from the Bulgarian Bifurcation Registry.

Background and Objectives: Patients with atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease represent a group with a greater risk of mortality. To evaluate patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and a significant coronary bifurcation lesion and compare the clinical outcomes between the patients on anticoagulant treatment with Vitamin K antagonist (VKA) and those on direct anticoagulant (DOAC). Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study of patients with AF and stable coronary artery disease, who had evidence of a significant coronary bifurcation lesion. A log-rank test was used to assess the difference in mortality between patients taking VKA and those on DOAC. The primary endpoint was the incidence of all-cause and cardiovascular death at mid-term. Results: A total of 226 patients with AF and a significant bifurcation lesion were included. The mean age was 70.9 ± 9.2, and 70% were males. Of the patients, 123 (54.7%) were on VKA treatment, and 103 (45.3%) were taking DOAC. For a median follow-up time of 55 (39-96) months, overall mortality was 40%, whereas CV mortality was 31%. Both all-cause (28.2% versus 50.4%, p = 0.020) and CV death (12.7% versus 24.9%, p = 0.032) were significantly lower in patients taking DOAC versus those on VKA. In patients treated with PCI, CV mortality was significantly lower in patients taking DOAC (21.4% versus 40.5%, p = 0.032). VKA therapy was an independent predictor of cardiovascular death (HR 1.88; 95% CI 1.11-3.18; p = 0.01), together with chronic kidney disease (HR 1.81; 95% CI 1.13-2.92; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Treatment with DOAC in patients with atrial fibrillation and coronary bifurcation lesion was associated with significantly lower mortality independently of the treatment approach. VKA was an independent predictor of CV mortality.

Percutaneous coronary intervention for bifurcation coronary lesions using optimised angiographic guidance: the 18th consensus document from the European Bifurcation Club.

The 2023 European Bifurcation Club (EBC) meeting took place in Warsaw in October, and the latest evidence for the use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to optimise percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) on coronary bifurcation lesions (CBLs) was a major focus. The topic generated deep discussions and general appraisal on the potential benefits of IVUS and OCT in PCI procedures. Nevertheless, despite an increasing recognition of IVUS and OCT capabilities and their recognised central role for guidance in complex CBL and left main PCI, it is expected that angiography will continue to be the primary guidance modality for CBL PCI, principally due to educational and economic barriers. Mindful of the restricted access/adoption of intracoronary imaging for CBL PCI, the EBC board decided to review and describe a series of tips and tricks which can help to optimise angiography-guided PCI for CBLs. The identified key points for achieving an optimal angiography-guided PCI include a thorough analysis of pre-PCI images (computed tomography angiography, multiple angiographic views, quantitative coronary angiography vessel estimation), a systematic application of the technical steps suggested for a given selected technique, an intraprocedural or post-PCI use of stent enhancement and a low threshold for bailout use of intravascular imaging.

Jailed Balloon Technique Versus Jailed Wire Technique for Side Branch Ostium Protection in Bifurcation Lesions: Evidence from Three-dimensional Optical Coherence Tomography Analysis.

There is controversy regarding the effectiveness the of jailed wire technique (JWT) and jailed balloon technique (JBT) in preserving the side branch (SB) during treatment. This study compares the protective effect of JBT versus JWT on the SB ostium area in coronary bifurcation lesions using three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT). We obtained data from coronary heart disease patients who received OCT-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for bifurcation lesions. The SB protection strategies were divided into JWT and JBT, with the latter further subdivided into active JBT (A-JBT) and conventional JBT (C-JBT). The primary endpoint was the SB ostium area difference measured by 3D-OCT before and after PCI. Partial correlation analysis and propensity score matching (PSM) was used to mitigate confounding biases. A total of 207 bifurcation lesions from 191 patients were analyzed, including 136 lesions treated with JWT and 71 lesions treated with JBT. The SB ostium area was significantly greater in the JBT group compared to the JWT group (0.41 1.22 mm2 vs. -0.25 1.40 mm2, p = 0.001). Following 1:1 PSM to adjust for 60 pairs, the difference between groups was not statistically significant (0.28 1.06 mm2 vs. -0.02 1.29 mm2, p = 0.165). Subgroup analysis revealed that A-JBT provided superior protection in both true (0.47 1.22 mm2 vs. -0.10 1.10 mm2, p = 0.011) and non-true bifurcation lesions (0.56 1.43 mm2 vs. -0.38 1.62 mm2, p = 0.030) over JWT, while C-JBT provided protection similar to JWT. A positive partial correlation was observed between the diameter of the jailed balloon and the increase in SB ostium area (r = 0.296, p = 0.013). Overall, A-JBT, but not C-JBT, provided better protection in bifurcation lesions compared to JWT. The larger diameter of the jailed balloon, rather than the application of higher pressure, enhanced the SB protection.

Coronary bifurcation lesion treatment with the BioMime™ Branch sirolimus-eluting coronary side-branch stent system: A single-center experience

BackgroundCoronary bifurcation lesions (CBL) comprise 15 %–20 % of percutaneous coronary procedures and remain a challenge despite advances in stent and interventional techniques. The BioMime™ Branch sirolimus-eluting coronary side-branch stent (BBSES) is specifically designed for CBL treatment in conjunction with a standard drug-eluting stent (DES). We report the first single-center experience of treating complex CBL with the novel BBSES. MethodsThis is a retrospective, single-center study involving consecutive prospectively identified patients who underwent treatment of true CBL with the BBSES. The protocol included BBSES+DES implantation in the CBL and simultaneous final kissing balloon inflation. ResultsFifty-eight CBL were treated in 58 consecutive patients (89.6 % men, mean age 69.0 ± 9.5 years) presenting primarily with stable angina (84.4 %) and true (Medina 1,1,1,) CBL. Procedural success was 100 % without major adverse cardiac events (MACE). At a median follow-up of 18 months, one sudden death was reported that was accounted as possible late stent thrombosis. One patient had spontaneous myocardial infarction due to subacute thrombosis of a DES implanted in the main vessel proximally to the BBSES before the index procedure. Another patient was hospitalized for atrial fibrillation. ConclusionsThis is the first clinical experience to date of true CBL treatment with the BBSES demonstrating high procedural success, no in-hospital MACE and sustained clinical results at a median follow-up of 18 months.

Comparison between provisional Stenting and Two Stents Technique (DK-crush or Nano-crush) in Bifurcation Coronary Artery Lesions

Comparison between provisional Stenting and Two Stents Technique (DK-crush or Nano-crush) in Bifurcation Coronary Artery Lesions

Early effect of different bifurcation techniques on left ventricular mechanics in elective percutaneous coronary intervention

BackgroundBifurcation lesions are prevalent amongst patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease subjected to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Recent consensus commends a conservative (provisional) approach when managing the side branch. Here, the aim was to explore the immediate impact of different bifurcation techniques (one stent and two stent strategies) on left ventricular LV) myocardial functions using speckle tracking echocardiography in patients subjected to elective PCI. Sixty two consecutive patients diagnosed with coronary bifurcation lesion (CBL) were enrolled. Patients were categorized into: one-stent strategy (Provisional group, n = 44) and a two-stent strategy (TAP, DK crush, or Culotte technique, n = 18), based on the coronary bifurcation site, angle, side branch diameter and Medina classification. LVEF%, regional and global longitudinal strain (GLS), and E/E' were measured before and within 24 h post PCI.ResultsIn both provisional and 2- stent technique, the mitral inflow velocities and mitral annular velocities showed improvement with significant reduction in E/e' (P < 0.03 and P < 0.001) respectively while LVEF% did not change. There were no significant changes in any other echo parameters post PCI. In provisional group, there were significant improvements in LAD (P < 0.001), RCA (P < 0.01) territories and GLS (P < 0.01). Δ LAD was expressively higher (34.5%) compared with Δ LCX (9.6%) and ΔRCA (25.4%), P < 0.001, P < 0.01 respectively. In the 2-stent technique group, there were significant improvements in peak longitudinal strain of LAD territory (P < 0.01), RCA territory (P < 0.01) and GLS (P < 0.01) respectively. Δ LAD territory was significantly higher in provisional group in comparison with the 2- stent technique group. Δ GLS was correlated inversely to Gensini score in provisional group and to the number of vessel diseased in 2-stent technique group.ConclusionPCI of the bifurcation lesion positively impact myocardial function. Both bifurcation techniques improve LV mechanical properties using 2D strain imaging while LV EF% remains unchanged.

Validation of the Cut-Plane Method for Accurate Measurement of Side-Branch Ostium Area in Coronary Bifurcation Lesions: A 3D-OCT Analysis.

This study aimed to validate the effectiveness, accuracy, and feasibility of the cut-plane method for measuring the side branch (SB) ostium area in three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT) pullbacks performed in the main branch (MB). A total of 109 sets of OCT pullbacks from the MB and SB of coronary artery bifurcation lesions were analyzed using Vivolight OCT software. Measurements of the SB ostium area from the MB and SB pullbacks were analyzed. Measurements of the SB ostium area from the actual SB pullback were used as a reference. 3D cut-plane analysis was used to estimate the correlations and mean errors with the reference measurements. Thirty-four sets of OCT images from the C7XR system and 75 sets from the CornarisTM system were analyzed using Vivolight software. There was a strong correlation between the reference measurements of the SB ostium area and the measurements obtained through 3D cut-plane analysis in the overall dataset (r = 0.925). This correlation was observed consistently with both the C7XR system (r = 0.955) and CornarisTM system (r = 0.900). Similar results were found in subset analyses of true and nontrue bifurcations (r = 0.936; r = 0.898, respectively) and in left main (LM) or non-LM bifurcation subsets (r = 0.932; r = 0.873, respectively). There were strong correlations between measurements of the SB ostium area by 3D-OCT and the reference measurements, and thus may be a reliable and accurate alternative to direct OCT pullback examinations of the SB.