Coronary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Research Articles

Procedural Outcomes With Femoral, Radial, Distal Radial, and Ulnar Access for Coronary Angiography: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Radial artery access for coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces the risk of death, bleeding, and vascular complications and is preferred over femoral artery access, leading to a class 1 indication by clinical practice guidelines. However, alternate upper extremity access such as distal radial and ulnar access are not mentioned in the guidelines despite randomized trials. We aimed to evaluate procedural outcomes with femoral, radial, distal radial, and ulnar access sites in patients undergoing coronary angiography or PCI. PubMed, EMBASE, and clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched for randomized clinical trials that compared at least 2 of the 4 access sites in patients undergoing PCI or angiography. Primary outcomes were major bleeding and access site hematoma. Intention-to-treat mixed treatment comparison meta-analysis was performed. From 47 randomized clinical trials that randomized 38 924 patients undergoing coronary angiography or PCI, when compared with femoral access, there was a lower risk of major bleeding with radial access (odds ratio [OR], 0.46 [95% CI, 0.35-0.59]) and lower risk of access site hematoma with radial (OR, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.24-0.48]), distal radial (OR, 0.33 [95% CI, 0.20-0.56]), and ulnar (OR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.31-0.83]) access. However, when compared with radial access, there was higher risk of hematoma with ulnar access (OR, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.03-2.14]). Data from randomized trials support guideline recommendation of class 1 for the preference of radial access over femoral access in patients undergoing coronary angiography or PCI. Moreover, distal radial and ulnar access can be considered as a default secondary access site before considering femoral access. URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/; Unique identifier: CRD42024512365.

Application of optical coherence tomography in cardiovascular diseases: bibliometric and meta-analysis.

Since the advent of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) two decades ago, there has been substantial advancement in our understanding of intravascular biology. Identifying culprit lesion pathology through OCT could precipitate a paradigm shift in the treatment of patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome. Given the technical prowess of OCT in the realm of cardiology, bibliometric analysis can reveal trends and research focal points in the application of OCT for cardiovascular diseases. Concurrently, meta-analyses provide a more comprehensive evidentiary base, supporting the clinical efficacy of OCT-guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). This study employs a dual approach of Bibliometric and Meta-analysis. Relevant literature from 2003 to 2023 was extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and analyzed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R for publication patterns, countries, institutions, authors, and research hotspots. The study compares OCT-guided and coronary angiography-guided PCI in treating adult coronary artery disease through randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. The study has been reported in the line with PRISMA and AMSTAR Guidelines. Adhering to inclusion and exclusion criteria, 310 publications were incorporated, demonstrating a continual rise in annual output. Chinese researchers contributed the most studies, while American research wielded greater influence. Analysis of trends indicated that research on OCT and angiography-guided PCI has become a focal topic in recent cohort studies and RCTs. In 11 RCTs (n = 5,277), OCT-guided PCI was not significantly associated with a reduction in the risk of Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE) (Odds ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.65-1.10), cardiac death (0.61, 0.36-1.02), all-cause death (0.7, 0.49-1.02), myocardial infarction (MI) (0.88, 0.69-1.13), target lesion revascularization (TLR) (0.94, 0.7-1.27), target vessel revascularization (TVR) (1.04, 0.76-1.43), or stent thrombosis (0.72, 0.38-1.38). However, in 7 observational studies (n = 4,514), OCT-guided PCI was associated with a reduced risk of MACE (0.66, 0.48-0.91) and TLR (0.39, 0.22-0.68). Our comprehensive review of OCT in cardiovascular disease literature from 2004 to 2023, encompassing country and institutional origins, authors, and publishing journals, suggests that OCT-guided PCI does not demonstrate significant clinical benefits in RCTs. Nevertheless, pooled results from observational studies indicate a reduction in MACE and TLR.

Racial disparities in acute myocardial infarction outcomes in patients with cancer: A nationwide analysis.

e24031 Background: Cancer patients and survivors face an elevated risk of coronary artery disease due to shared risk factors. Risk is further heightened by cancer itself as well as its treatment. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is becoming a leading cause of death among this demographic, owing to significant advancements in cancer survival in recent decades. While racial disparities in outcomes and resource utilization in AMI hospitalizations are well-documented, data on patients with cancer remain limited. Methods: We extracted data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database from 2016 to 2020. We included all admissions with a principal diagnosis of AMI and a cancer diagnosis using ICD-10 codes. Patients were stratified by their race as – White, Black, Hispanic, Asian and others. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess outcomes while adjusting for hospital characteristics, patient demographics and comorbidities between the groups. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality. Results: Out of 3,190,929 admissions for AMI, 93,279 (2.9%) had co-morbid cancer. Among this subset, the majority were White patients (70.9%), followed by Black (11.0%), Hispanic (8.5%), Asian (2.7%), and others (6.9%). Asian patients, compared to White patients, had higher in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.52, 95% CI 1.12-2.07, p < 0.01). There was no difference in mortality among other racial groups. There were no differences in complications such as respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, stroke, and vascular complications between the cohorts, although Black patients had lower odds of cardiogenic shock (aOR 0.78, 95% CI 0.62-0.98, p = 0.03) compared to White patients. Compared to White patients, there were lower odds of undergoing coronary angiogram in Black (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68-0.83, p < 0.01), Hispanic (aOR 0.87, 95% CI 0.76-0.99, p = 0.43), and Asian patients (aOR 0.64, 95% CI 0.53-0.79, p < 0.01). Similarly, there were lower odds of undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Black (aOR 0.64, 95% CI 0.57-0.72, p < 0.01), Hispanic (aOR 0.79, 95% CI 0.68-0.91, p < 0.01), and Asian patients (aOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.56-0.88, p > 0.01). Likewise, there were lower odds of undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in Black (aOR 0.58, 95% CI 0.45-0.76, p < 0.01) and Hispanic patients (aOR 0.70, 95% CI 0.50-0.98, p < 0.04). Conclusions: Cancer patients presenting with AMI experience similar mortality and complications across all races, although in-hospital mortality for Asian was higher compared to White patients. However, significant racial disparities exist in interventions being performed in this patient population. Coronary angiogram, PCI and CABG was performed more often in White patients than other races. Additional research is required to identify the factors contributing to this racial disparity and provide guidance for interventions aimed at improving outcomes.

Analysis of the Weekend Effect on Mortality, Diagnostic Coronary Angiography, and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction Across Rural US Hospitals.

Rural hospitals face several unique challenges in delivering healthcare to an underserved population. Achieving time-sensitive goals in a resource-scarce facility is often a difficult task without the right team at hand. Resources are further depleted on the weekends, exposing understaffed hospitals to poorer outcomes. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) mortality depends on timely diagnosis and intervention. It is unknown to what extent resource shortages impact rural hospitals during weekends and how they affect AMI mortality. This cross-sectional study was performed on patients admitted on weekends with AMI using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2019. Patients with type II non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and missing information were excluded. The rates and timing of in-hospital diagnostic coronary angiograms, PCIs (percutaneous coronary interventions), and in-hospital mortality were studied. Regression models were used for data analyses. A total of 161,625 patients met the inclusion criteria (58,690 females (36%), 114,830 Caucasians (71%), 17,910 African American (11%), 13,920 Hispanic (8.6%); mean (SD) age, 66.5 (0.5) years), including 47,665 (29.5%) ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 113,960 (70.5%) NSTEMI. Patients admitted to rural hospitals were less likely to undergo diagnostic coronary angiogram (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.69; CI, 0.57-0.83; p<0.001) and PCI (aOR, 0.83; CI, 0.72-0.96; p 0.012). Rural hospitals had lesser odds of early diagnostic angiograms (aOR, 0.79; CI, 0.67-0.95; p<0.05) and PCI (aOR, 0.78; CI, 0.66-0.92; p<0.05) within 24 hours. The mortality difference between rural and urban hospitals was not significant (aOR, 1.08; CI, 0.85-1.4; p 0.52). Diagnostic coronary angiograms and PCI are performed at a lesser rate in rural hospitals during weekends. This trend did not affect rural AMI mortality.

The choice of coronary revascularization method depending on comorbid pathology

Coronary heart disease plays a leading role in global mortality statistics. Despite the obvious progress in the development of new drug regimens, surgical treatment remains an important component. The high prevalence and complexity of treatment of patients with CHD and comorbid pathology, especially diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, make researchers think about proper approaches to therapy of such patients. The decision to perform revascularization is made in consultation with all Heart Team members, taking into account the results of the invasive study, the presence of complaints in the patient and his "response" to drug therapy. Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are still statistically more likely to result in restenosis and repeat revascularizations than open surgery. Hybrid myocardial revascularization is an alternative method combining the advantages of coronary artery bypass and PCI and reducing the risks of both procedures adverse complications. The choice of the optimal strategy of surgical treatment in patients with comorbid pathology requires special attention.

Coronary angiography and intervention after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI): the nationwide SWEDEHEART registry

Abstract Background Coronary access after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) can be challenging and complicate percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, pre-existing severe coronary stenosis is usually treated either before or during the TAVI procedure. However, due to the progressive nature of coronary artery disease (CAD), some patients require urgent or elective coronary angiography and intervention after their TAVI procedure. Purpose To assess the indication, the incidence, and feasibility of coronary angiography and intervention after TAVI. Methods All patients undergoing TAVI between 2008 and 2021 from the Swedish Transcatheter Cardiac Intervention Registry (SWENTRY) were included. SWENTRY was further linked to the Swedish Coronar Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR) and the National Cause of Death Registry. Results Among 8819 patients undergoing TAVI, 697 angiograms were performed in 515 patients (5.8%) after TAVI (43.1 % after balloon-expandable bioprosthesis, 49.5 % after self-expandable bioprosthesis) at a median follow up of 841 days (interquartile range: 346 to 1457 days). PCI was performed in 347 patients (49.8%) with a success rate of 92.5% with no significant differences between patients implanted with balloon-expandable and self-expandable bioprostheses (93.0% vs.91.5%; p=0.62). The most common indications for PCI after TAVI were non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) (45.8%), chronic coronary syndrome (30.3%), ST elevation myocardial infarction (6.9%) and congestive heart failure (3.5%). The cumulative incidence of angiograms with or without PCI at 30 days, 1 year, 2 years and 5 years were 6.9, 37.2, 60.2 and 90.2 percent of the total number of angiograms respectively (Figure). Conclusion Coronary angiogram and interventions after TAVI are rare, with an incidence declining over time after TAVI. The main indication for coronary angiogram and PCI was NSTE-ACS. PCIs were successfully performed after TAVI, with no apparent differences between balloon-expandable and self-expandable bioprostheses.

Right and left radial access for coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: no need to go down

Abstract Introduction Currently is estimated that at least 90% of the coronary studies are performed through the radial access. However, in patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) the femoral access continues to be widely used due to an easier and more successful graft engagement. Evidence of the efficacy and security of the radial approach use in this population is both scarce and controversial. Purpose We aimed to compare radial (right and left) versus femoral access to perform coronary angiography (CA) and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after CABG. Methods In this comparative historical cohort study conducted at a national reference center, all CA and PCI performed from January 2012 to October 2022 were eligible for review. Electronic and physical records were examined for demographic and interventional data. Groups were classified for comparison as CA plus PCI, CA only and PCI only. Results We identified 563 patients; radial access was used in 227 (40%). In CA plus PCI group, in only one case existed failure to cannulate bypass grafts by the initial chosen access (from right radial access [RRA] to the left internal mammary artery [LIMA]). The crossover rate for any cause other than graft cannulation failure was 11.3% with right radial access (p = 0.002), 4.2% with left radial access (p = 0.28) and 0% with the femoral route. Fluoroscopy time was greater in RRA compared to femoral, nevertheless left radial access (LRA) had lower fluoroscopy time and contrast volume compared to RRA and femoral access. In the CA only group, failure to cannulate bypass grafts occurred exclusively when the LIMA had to be cannulated from the RRA (8.3% p=0.001); with a crossover rate for any cause other than graft cannulation failure was greater in the radial access compared to femoral (RRA 18.1% p &amp;lt; 0.001; LRA 4.2% p = 0.002; femoral 0.5% P=0.001), LRA had greater fluoroscopy time but the femoral access had greater contrast volume use in relation with a higher number of venous bypass grafts [143.64 mL (±69.36), p = 0.01]. There were 15 cases of PCI only, were fluoroscopy time and contrast volume were greater in LRA (N= 2 none were for treatment of LIMA) and lower in RRA compared to LRA and femoral access. Vascular complications were infrequent in all groups, being minor bleeding in the femoral access the most frequent, with no statistical significance. Conclusion Right and left radial access are feasible to perform coronary angiography and PCI after CABG, compared to the femoral route are associated with less contrast volume despite a greater crossover rate. This analysis suggests that the LRA should be preferred over the RRA when angiography of the LIMA is needed.

COMPARING OUTCOMES OF PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION OF NATIVE ARTERY VERSUS BYPASS GRAFT IN PATIENTS WITH PRIOR CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING : A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is common in patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), however the data on the association between the PCI target-vessel and clinical outcomes are not clear. We aimed to investigate long-term clinical outcomes of patients with prior CABG who underwent PCI of either bypass graft or native artery. We performed a systematic review of observational studies comparing PCI of either bypass graft or native artery in patients with prior CABG. Methods: By comparing itself to the standards set by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020, this study was able to show that it met all of the requirements. So, the experts were able to make sure that the study was as up-to-date as it was possible to be. For this search approach, publications that came out between 2013 and 2023 were taken into account. Several different online reference sources, like Pubmed and SagePub, were used to do this. It was decided not to take into account review pieces, works that had already been published, or works that were only half done. Result: In the PubMed database, the results of our search brought up 23 articles, whereas the results of our search on SagePub brought up 19 articles. The results of the search conducted for the last year of 2013 yielded a total 9 articles for PubMed and 5 articles for SagePub. In the end, we compiled a total of 5 papers, 4 of which came from PubMed and 1 of which came from SagePub. We included five research that met the criteria. Conclusion: Most PCIs performed in prior CABG patients are done in native coronary artery lesions. Compared with native coronary PCI, bypass graft PCI is independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality.

Impact of percutaneous coronary intervention on renal function in patients with coronary heart disease

The relationship between cardiac and renal function is complicated. The impact of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on renal function in patients with coronary artery disease is still unclear. The current study sought to assess renal function change, including the time course of renal function, after elective PCI in patients with improved renal function and to identify renal function predictors of major adverse cardiovascular events. We examined data from 1572 CHD patients who had coronary angiography (CAG) or PCI in this retrospective cohort study. Patients receiving elective PCI (n=1240) and CAG (n=332) between January 2013 and December 2018 were included. Pre-PCI and procedural variables associated with post-PCI eGFR, change in renal function after post-PCI follow-up, and post-PCI eGFR association with major adverse cardiovascular events were investigated. Following the procedure, 88.7 percent of PCI group patients had unchanged or improved renal function. The treatment of PCI was found to independently correlate with IRF following coronary angiography in an analysis of patients undergoing PCI [OR 4.561 (95% CI:2 .556-8.139); p&lt;0.001]. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is 0.763 (model with the treatment of PCI). Improved renal function (IRF) and stable renal function were both associated with a lower risk of a major cardiovascular event.

Factors determining the frequency of optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound use in patients treated with percutaneous coronary interventions in recent years: Analysis based on a large national registry.

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) have demonstrated improvement in the clinical outcome of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). To examine the frequency of implementing OCT and IVUS during coronary angiography (CA) and PCI in every day practice in Poland. Factors related to the more common choice of these techniques for imaging were determined. Data from the national registry of percutaneous coronary interventions (ORPKI) were procured for analysis. Between January 2014 and December 2021, 1 452 135 CAs, 11 710 using IVUS (0.8%) and 1471 with OCT (0.1%) were extracted, 838297 comprised PCIs, 15 436 with IVUS (1.8%), while 1680 were OCT (0.2%). The determining factors for applying IVUS and OCT via multiple regression logistics models were assessed. The occurrence of applying IVUS during CAs and PCIs experienced a significant increase between the years 2014 and 2021. In 2021, its level achieved 1.54% for CAs and 4.42% for PCIs, while for OCT, there was a rise regarding the CA group - reaching 0.13% in 2021 and in the PCI group, 0.43%. Age was among a number of factors significantly associated with the frequency of using IVUS/OCT during CA/PCI confirmed by multivariate analysis (Odds ratio: 0.981 for IVUS and 0.973 for OCT use with PCI). The frequency at which IVUS and OCT were used has undergone a significant increase in previous years. This increase can be largely attributed to present reimbursement policies. Further improvement is required for it to be at a satisfactory level.

Accurate Prediction of Retrograde Collateral Channel Crossing in Coronary Artery Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention

Successful collateral channel (CC) crossing is an essential step in retrograde chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). We previously developed a dedicated CC score based on CC size and tortuosity to facilitate target CC selection. Validation and comparison to other scoring systems were lacking. Thus, the aims of this study were to 1) validate the CC score in a larger independent cohort, and 2) compare its accuracy and clinical usefulness with the J-channel score. All coronary CTO PCIs attempted by experienced high-volume operators from January, 2017 to December, 2021 were enrolled. The CC and J-channel scores were calculated for all attempted CCs with bi-plane high-resolution cine angiography images. CC crossing success was defined as guidewire reaching the distal true lumen retrogradely. In total, 502 patients who received CTO PCI were included. The retrograde approach was utilized in 244 target CTOs, and a total of 329 CCs were attempted. The overall CC crossing rate was 67.8% (223/329) and final technical success rate 92.2% (225/244). The average CC score was 2.0 and average J-channel score was 0.71. The sensitivity and specificity of successful CC crossing with the CC score ≥2 were 81.2%, and 84.0%, respectively. Comparison between the CC score (area under the curve [AUC] 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83-0.90) and the J-channel score (AUC 0.61; 95% CI 0.55-0.67) demonstrated superior predictive performance of the CC score (p <0.001). The CC score was an easy-to-use and accurate tool for the prediction of successful CC crossing in retrograde CTO PCI. The CC score can help operators select the ideal target CC, thereby facilitating final procedural success.

The France PCI registry: Design, methodology and key findings

Obstructive coronary artery disease is the main cause of death worldwide. By tracking events and gaining feedback on patient management, the most relevant information is provided to public health services to further improve prognosis. To create an inclusive and accurate registry of all percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures performed in France, to assess and improve the quality of care and create research incentives. Also, to describe the methodology of this French national registry of interventional cardiology, and present early key findings. The France PCI registry is a multicentre observational registry that includes consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography and/or PCI. The registry was set up to provide online data analysis and structured reports of PCI activity, including process of care measures and assessment of risk-adjusted outcomes in all French PCI centres that are willing to participate. More than 150 baseline data items, describing demographic status, PCI indications and techniques, and in-hospital and 1-year outcomes, are captured into local reporting software by medical doctors and local research technicians, with subsequent encryption and internet transfer to central data servers. Annual activity reports and scoring tools available on the France PCI website enable users to benchmark and improve clinical practices. External validation and consistency assessments are performed, with feedback of data completeness to centres. Between 01 January 2014 and 31 December 2022, participating centres increased from six to 47, and collected 364,770 invasive coronary angiograms and 176,030 PCIs, including 54,049 non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction cases and 31,631 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction cases. Fifteen studies stemming from the France PCI registry have already been published. This fully electronic, daily updated, high-quality, low-cost, national registry is sustainable, and is now expanding. Merging with medicoeconomic databases and nested randomized scientific studies are ongoing steps to expand its scientific potential.

Implications of bleeding on subsequent cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation after acute coronary syndrome or PCI

IntroductionThe association between bleeding and subsequent major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) remains poorly characterized. We aimed to evaluate the impact of hemorrhagic events in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Materials and methodsA total of 1877 consecutive patients with AF and ACS or undergoing PCI were prospectively recruited. The primary endpoint was MACCE, including all-cause death, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, systemic embolism or ischemia-driven revascularization during follow-up. Post-discharge bleeding was graded according to TIMI criteria. Associations between bleeding and subsequent MACCE were examined using time-dependent multivariate Cox regression after adjusting for baseline covariates and the time from bleeding. ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 34.2 months, 341 (18.2 %) had TIMI major or minor bleeding events, of whom 86 (25.2 %) also experienced MACCE. The risk of MACCE was significantly higher in patients with bleeding than those without (8.85 % versus 6.99 % per patient-year; HR, 1.568, 95 % CI, 1.232–1.994). In patients who had both bleeding and MACCE, 65.1 % (56 of 86) bleeding events occurred first. Temporal gradients in MACCE risk after major bleeding was highest within 30 days (HRadj, 23.877; 95 % CI, 12.810–44.506) and remained significant beyond 1 year (HRadj, 3.640; 95 % CI, 1.278–10.366). Minor bleeding was associated with increased risk of MACCE within 1 year. ConclusionsIn patients with AF and ACS or PCI, major and minor bleeding were associated with subsequent MACCE with time-dependency. Our findings may aid in better defining net clinical benefit of optimal antithrombotic therapy.

European practice patterns for antiplatelet management in NSTE-ACS patients: Results from the REal-world ADoption survey focus on Acute antiPlatelet Treatment (READAPT) survey

BackgroundThe 2020 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of patients with non-ST elevation-acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) recommend early invasive coronary angiography in high-risk patients and no routine pre-treatment with oral P2Y12 receptor inhibitor in NSTE-ACS patients prior to defining coronary anatomy. ObjectiveTo assess the implementation of this recommendation in the real-life setting. MethodsA web-survey in 17 European countries collected physician profiles and their perceptions of the diagnosis, medical and invasive management of NSTE-ACS patients at their hospital. A sample size of at least 1100 responders permitted the estimation of proportions with a precision of at least ±3.0%. ResultsAmong the 3024 targeted participants, 1154 provided valid feedback defined as a 50% response rate of answers to the survey questions. Overall, >60% of the participants declared full implementation of the guidelines at their institution. The time delay from admission to coronary angiography and PCI was reported to be <24 h in over 75% of the hospitals while pre-treatment was intended in >50% of NSTE-ACS patients. Ad-hoc percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed in >70% of the cases while intravenous platelet inhibition was rarely used (<10%). Between countries differences in practice patterns for antiplatelet management for NSTE-ACS were observed, suggesting heterogeneous implementation of the guidelines. ConclusionsThis survey indicates that the implementation of 2020 NSTE-ACS guidelines on early invasive management and pre-treatment is heterogeneous, potentially due by local logistical constraints.

De-escalation in intensity or duration of dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with coronary artery disease: More than alternative treatment options

Antithrombotic therapy represents the mainstay of pharmacological treatments in patients with acute or chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) [ [1] De Servi S. Landi A. Savonitto S. et al. Tailoring oral antiplatelet therapy in acute coronary syndromes: from guidelines to clinical practice. J Cardiovasc Med. 2023; 24 Crossref Scopus (1) Google Scholar ]. Since the CURE study [ [2] Mehta S.R. Yusuf S. Peters R.J.G. et al. Effects of pretreatment with clopidogrel and aspirin followed by long-term therapy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: the PCI-CURE study. Lancet. 2001; 358: 527-533 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (3042) Google Scholar ], dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) consisting of aspirin and an oral P2Y12 inhibitor has represented the standard of care for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or PCI patients due to the greater ischemic protection compared with aspirin alone. Current guidelines recommend 6 or 12 months as default DAPT durations in patients with CCS or ACS undergoing PCI, respectively [ [3] Valgimigli M. Bueno H. Byrne R.A. et al. 2017 ESC focused update on dual antiplatelet therapy in coronary artery disease developed in collaboration with EACTS. Eur Heart J. 2018; 39: 213-260 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1840) Google Scholar , [4] Collet J.-.P. Thiele H. Barbato E. et al. 2020 ESC Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation. Eur Heart J. 2021; 42: 1289-1367 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1705) Google Scholar ]. Yet, there is mounting evidence suggesting that prolonging DAPT is unavoidably associated with higher risks of major bleeding which carry similar or even worse impact on mortality than a recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) [ [5] Valgimigli M. Landi A. Ischemic and bleeding risk in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing complex percutaneous coronary intervention: is it time to REACT?. Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care. 2021; 10: 1125-1128 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar ].

Contrast induced nephropathy in older Vietnamese patients undergoing coronary angiography and intervention

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background The prevalence of coronary heart disease increases with age and older people accounted for a large proportion of patients presenting with coronary heart disease. Advancement in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has contributed to reduced mortality in patients with coronary artery disease. However, coronary angiography and percutaneous intervention have also increased the risk of developing contrast induced nephropathy (CIN), especially in older patients. More than ten risk assessment tools have been developed to predict CIN. Among these, the Mehran risk score has been the most commonly used in Vietnam. In recent years, new simple risk prediction models have been proposed, including the contrast volume-to-glomerular filtration rate ratio (CV/GFR ratio). The CV/GFR ratio is calculated as the ratio of contrast medium quantity to glomerular filtration rate. Purpose The aim of this study was to (1) examine the incidence of CIN in a cohort of older patients undergoing coronary angiography and/or PCI at a tertiary hospital in Vietnam, (2) compare the validity of the CV/GFR ratio and the Mehran score in predicting CIN, and (3) to identify optimal cut-off points of these scales by which can help identify older patients with high risk of developing CIN in this population. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted in patients aged ≥ 60 years at a tertiary hospital in Vietnam from September 2019 to May 2020. CIN was defined as 25% increase in serum creatinine from baseline or 0.5mg/dL absolute increase in serum creatinine occurring within 48 hours post IV contrast administration. The CV/GFR ratio and the Mehran score were applied for predicting risk of CIN. Previous studies suggest Mehran score &amp;gt;5 or CV/GFR ratio &amp;gt;3.7 as a predictor of an early abnormal increase in serum creatinine after PCI. Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) was applied to evaluate area under the curve (AUC) of the CV/GFR ratio and Mehran score in predicting CIN, and the sensitivity, specificity for common cut-off points that were suggested in previous studies. Results A total of 170 participants were included in this study. They had a mean age of 70 years, 33.1% were women. The incidence of CIN was 9.4%. Participants with CIN had higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease, heart failure and anaemia at admission. The AUC of the CV/GFR ratio against CIN was 0.79 (95%CI 0.65-0.92), and of the Mehran score against CIN was 0.65 (95%CI 0.51-0.82) (Figure 1). The sensitivity and specificity for common cut-off points of the CV/GFR ratio and Mehran score are presented in Figure 2. Conclusions Our study found that CIN was common in older patients after PCI. Both CV/GFR ratio and Mehran score had good diagnostic value for predicting CIN in the study participants.

The relationship between homocysteine and cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with acute coronary syndrome after percutaneous coronary intervention

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between homocysteine (Hcy) levels and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We also explored the relationship between Hcy levels and cardiac ultrasonography.MethodsThis study comprised 261 patients with ACS who underwent coronary angiography and PCI at Yulin First Hospital from January 2020 to June 2021. All subjects completed basic data collection, laboratory examination, CPET and cardiac ultrasonography. The CPET includes the peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2), anaerobic threshold (AT), metabolic equivalents (METs), exercise load (load), oxygen pulse (O2 pulse), end-tidal CO2 partial pressure (PETCO2), ventilatory equivalents for carbon dioxide (VE/VCO2) and Oxygen uptake efficiency (OUES). Cardiac ultrasonography was used to evaluate the left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), interventricular septal thickness (IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). A serum Hcy level ≥ 15 µmol/L was defined as hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). The patients were divided into the Hcy < 15 µmol/L group (n = 189) and the Hcy ≥ 15 µmol/L group (n = 72).ResultsThe average age of the participating patients was 58.9 ± 10.1 years. The majority of participants were male (86.6%). The CPET indices of METs, load, VO2/kg, and PETCO2 were significantly decreased in the Hcy ≥ 15 µmol/L group compared with the Hcy < 15 µmol/L group. Additionally, the CPET index of the VE/VCO2 slope and the cardiac ultrasonography indices of IVST and LVPWT were significantly increased in the Hcy ≥ 15 µmol/L group compared with the Hcy < 15 µmol/L group. These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that Hcy levels were negatively correlated with METs, VO2/kg and PETCO2 and positively correlated with the VE/VCO2 slope (P < 0.05). Partial correlation analysis showed that Hcy levels were negatively correlated with METs and VO2/kg in the AT state. The correlation coefficients were − 0.172 and − 0.172, respectively (P < 0.05). Hcy levels were negatively correlated with METs, VO2/kg and PETCO2 in the peak state. The correlation coefficients were − 0.177, -0.153 and − 0.129, respectively (P < 0.05). After further adjustment for confounders, multiple linear regression analysis showed that Hcy levels were negatively correlated with METs and VO2/kg in the AT state and peak state. The standardized regression coefficients were − 0.035, -0.122, -0.048 and − 0.128, respectively (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that Hcy levels were positively correlated with the IVST and LVPWT (P < 0.05), but after adjusting for confounding factors, partial correlation analysis showed that there was no correlation between them.ConclusionA high Hcy level is associated with lower METs and VO2/kg and worse cardiopulmonary function in patients with ACS after PCI.

Operator-patient sex discordance and periprocedural outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (from the ORPKI Polish National Registry).

A recent study suggested that sex discordance between surgeons and patients negatively affects the outcomes of patients undergoing common surgical procedures. We sought to assess whether such an impact exists for periprocedural outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). From 2014 to 2020, data on 581,744 patients undergoing single-stage coronary angiography and PCI from 154 centers were collected. Patients were divided into four groups based on the patient and operator sex. Operator-patient sex discordance was defined as the procedure done by a male operator on a female patient or by a female operator on a male patient. Of 581,744 patients treated by 34 female and 782 male operators, 194,691 patients were sex discordant with their operator (female operator with male patient 12,479; male operator with female patient 182,212) while 387,053 were sex concordant (female operator with female patient 6,068; male operator with male patient 380,985). Among female patients, no difference in the risk of periprocedural complications, including death (0.65% vs. 0.82%; p = 0.10), between patients discordant versus concordant with operators was observed. Among male patients the risk of death (0.55% vs. 0.43%; p = 0.037) and bleeding at the puncture site (0.13% vs. 0.08%; p = 0.046) was higher in patients discordant with operators. However, the differences were no longer significant after adjustment for covariates. No detrimental effect of operator-patient sex discordance on periprocedural outcomes was confirmed in all-comer patients undergoing PCI. Some of the observed differences in outcomes were primarily related to the differences in baseline risk profile.

Variations in Post-Operative Electrolyte in Coronary Artery Intervention.

Low volume change and minimal trauma observed during angiography are the reason why physicians often overlook any changes affecting pre-operative electrolytes levels after coronary intervention. However, few studies have addressed the issue of electrolyte changes after the coronary intervention. Therefore, our study investigates coronary angiography's effect on electrolytes and provides the quick identification of groups more prone to electrolyte changes. From the department of cardiology of the second affiliated hospital of Shandong's first medical university, 374 patients undergoing coronary angiography were selected. Pre-intervention and post-intervention serums, sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), magnesium (Mg2+) and renal function were analyzed. The correlation between influential factors was also assessed. The association of hypokalemia with short-major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and arrhythmia was evaluated. Among the 374 subjects including 264 patients who had a simple angiography and 110 patients who received coronary artery interventional therapy. A decrease in potassium levels was found in 81.8% of the patients, and post-interventional hypokalemia was observed in 15.0%. After the intervention, the hypokalemia among males was 2.18 times than that of females, and the pre-operative serum potassium level was3.5mmol/L≤K+<4.0mmol/L and was 2.09 times than that of K+≥4.0 mmol/L, but was not associated with age and either simple coronary angiography or PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention). Hypernatremia was also prevalent in males under 60 years and with pre-operative hypernatremia. Significant variations were found between hypokalemia and influential factors like hypertension, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disease. We also found that there was no obvious correlation between hypokalemia and recurrent angina, heart failure and death, but significantly increased the risk of some arrhythmias. Male patients are more likely to suffer from electrolyte disturbance after coronary intervention. There is a need to emphasize monitoring and managing electrolyte changes to prevent severe complications in the peri-operative period.

Escalation and De-Escalation of Antiplatelet Therapy after Acute Coronary Syndrome or PCI: Available Evidence and Implications for Practice.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is the gold standard for the antithrombotic management of patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Implementation of intensified or prolonged DAPT regimens has proven to lower the risk of ischemic events but at the expense of increased bleeding. Importantly, bleeding is a predictor of poor prognosis. Risk stratification and selection of tailored antiplatelet strategies to maximize the net clinical benefit in individual patients with ACS or undergoing PCI is therefore potentially beneficial. Recently, novel approaches including DAPT de-escalation or escalation have been proposed as possible alternatives to standard DAPT. These strategies, which are generally based on patient's risk profile, genetics, and/or platelet function have been proposed to offer more tailored treatments in patients with ACS or PCI, with the ultimate goal of providing adequate ischemic protection while mitigating the risk of bleeding. This review summarizes the available evidence on DAPT de-escalation or escalation (both guided and unguided) and discusses the practical implications of these strategies in the contemporary management of patients with ACS and/or undergoing PCI.