Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Failure Research Articles

ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated at Hospitals With and Without On-Site Cardiac Surgery

Controversy continues in the United States over the performance of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at facilities without on-site cardiac surgery. After publication of the quantitative review by Keeley et al1 in 2003, the superiority of PCI over thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was widely accepted. These findings further supported primary PCI programs at hospitals without cardiac surgery in an effort to provide more rapid care for patients with STEMI in their local communities.2 This strategy was subsequently extended, with good reported results, to nonemergent and elective PCI cases in an attempt to maintain higher PCI volumes and staff expertise.3–5 However, controversy continued as the 2005 PCI Guidelines designated primary PCI a class IIb indication (may be considered) but elective PCI a class III indication (not recommended) in hospitals that did not have cardiac surgery on site.6 Article see p 519 Despite the guideline recommendations, the number of PCI facilities without on-site cardiac surgery in the United States continued to grow.7 In 2007, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions published an expert consensus document, which reviewed the topic of PCI without on-site surgery and provided recommendations to assure appropriate patient care whenever PCI was performed in this setting.8 The goal of this document was not to challenge the guideline recommendations, but rather to deal with the reality that primary and elective PCI without on-site surgery was already being performed in 28 states despite the guideline recommendations.8 To answer that question, it is reasonable to separately consider the performance of primary and elective PCI as the risk to benefit ratio is different in each setting. Fortunately, with all the improvements in PCI during the past 32 years, the need for emergency cardiac surgery for a failed PCI is now …

Percutaneous coronary intervention in the Occluded Artery Trial: Procedural success, hazard, and outcomes over 5 years

The Occluded Artery Trial (OAT) was a 2,201-patient randomized clinical trial comparing routine stent-based percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus optimal medical therapy alone in stable myocardial infarction (MI) survivors with persistent infarct-related artery occlusion identified day 3 to 28 post MI. Intent-to-treat analysis showed no difference between strategies with respect to the incidence of new class IV congestive heart failure, MI, or death. The influence of PCI failure, procedural hazard, and crossover on trial results has not been reported. Study angiograms were analyzed and adjudicated centrally. Factors associated with PCI failure were examined. Time-to-event analysis using the OAT primary outcome was performed by PCI success status. Landmark analysis (up to and beyond 30 days) partitioned early hazard versus late outcome according to treatment received. Percutaneous coronary intervention was adjudicated successful in >87%. Percutaneous coronary intervention failure rates were similar in US and non-US sites, and did not significantly influence outcome at 60 months (hazard ratio for success vs fail 0.79, 99% CI 0.45-1.40, P = .29). Partitioning of early procedural hazard revealed no late benefit for PCI (hazard ratio for PCI success vs medical therapy alone 1.06, 99% CI 0.75-1.50, P = .66). Percutaneous coronary intervention failure and complication rates in the OAT were low. Neither PCI failure nor early procedural hazard substantively influenced the primary trial results.

Trends in percutaneous coronary interventions in new South Wales, Australia.

This is the first detailed study on percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Hospital data for PCIs carried out between 1 July 1990 and 30 June 2002 are analysed. The study explores trends in PCI rates by selected socio-demographic factors, the utilisation of angioplasties vis-a-vis stents, emergency admissions, and selected coexisting conditions which determine the disease status of PCI patients. Logistic regression models are used to study the medical conditions that require both PCI and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). The PCI rate has grown rapidly at 12.1% per annum, with a particularly rapid increase for persons aged 75+. The rate of multiple stent utilisation increased at 4.6% per annum. Pacific-born and Middle-Eastern-born patients are more than twice as likely as the Australian-born to have diabetes. Factors affecting failure of PCI requiring CABG include perforation and multi-vessel disease. PCI services in public hospitals need to be increased to facilitate the availability of these procedures to all segments of the population, as do targeted community-level programmes to educate high-risk groups in the control of heart diseases.

Impact of acute renal failure following percutaneous coronary intervention on long-term mortality

Acute renal failure (ARF) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to be associated with a worse outcome. Whether this event should be considered as a marker of disease severity or an independent contributor to mortality is still unclear. In a multicenter, prospective cohort study we investigated the predictive variables and the impact of postprocedural ARF on 2-year all-cause mortality in 2860 consecutive patients (50% with stable angina and 50% with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes) undergoing PCI. Serum creatinine determinations were made immediately before and 24 h after PCI. ARF was defined as an increase in serum creatinine of > or =0.5 mg/dl over baseline. One hundred and six patients (3.7%) experienced ARF. At logistic regression analysis, ARF was associated with pre-existing low values of estimated glomerular filtration rate, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, hypertension, and prior coronary bypass surgery. Mortality data at 2 years were available for all patients: 119 patients (4.16%) had died, 3.9% of those without and 11.3% of those with ARF (univariate hazard ratio 3.16; 95% confidence interval 1.68-5.94; P = 0.0004). At Cox regression analysis, the significant predictors of mortality were age, ejection fraction, preprocedural estimated glomerular filtration rate, PCI failure, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, and fluoroscopy time. In this comprehensive mortality model, ARF maintained a borderline statistical significance (hazard ratio 1.83, 95% confidence interval 0.98-3.44; P = 0.06). ARF following PCI occurs almost exclusively in patients with chronic kidney disease or left ventricular dysfunction. These risk factors are also among the most powerful predictors of long-term mortality and are likely to explain most of the association between postprocedural ARF and long-term mortality. After correction for clinical determinants, however, postprocedural ARF maintains a clinically significant impact on mortality that must be taken into account for benefit vs. risk evaluation of PCI in individual patients.

Failed percutaneous coronary intervention: A decade of experience in 21,000 patients

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence, mechanisms, and in-hospital outcomes after failed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The most common causes of PCI failure are severe dissection, no-reflow, and uncrossable total occlusions. Demographic, clinical, procedural, and quality assurance data were recorded in a prospective database to determine the incidence and outcome of failed PCI. Data were analyzed according to the year of PCI: prestent era (PSE 1993-1995), first generation stent era (FGSE 1996-2000), and contemporary stent era (CSE 2000-2003). PCI (20,884) were performed over a 10-year-period from 1993 through 2003, including 4,344 (20.8%) in the PSE, 9,114 (43.6%) in the FGSE, and 7,426 (35.6%) in the CSE; 19,171 (91.8%) were successful and 1,704 (8.2%) were failures. Nearly 90% of PCI failures are due to no-reflow or uncrossable total occlusions. Among PCI failures, 7.5% were treated medically and 0.7% required emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (ECABG). PCI success was independently associated with PCI during CSE (OR 1.86, P < 0.0001). ECABG decreased sixfold from 1.2% in the PSE to 0.2% in the CSE. Contemporary PCI patients have better procedural outcomes and fewer in-hospital adverse events than patient treated before the availability of stents. However, recanalization of total occlusions and avoiding no-reflow will have the most impact on future PCI success.

EuroSCORE as predictor of in-hospital mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention

Objective:To date, no common risk stratification system is available to predict the risk of surgical or percutaneous myocardial revascularisation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Thus, we sought to...

An indeterminate occlusion duration predicts procedural failure in the recanalization of coronary chronic total occlusions

To identify the impact of occlusion duration (OD) and, in particular, an indeterminate occlusion duration (IOD) on immediate angiographic success and long-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). From May 2003 to October 2006, all patients having PCI for a CTO were consecutively registered. In addition to an assessment of procedural outcomes, patients were followed long-term for occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). 202 consecutive patients were included. Of these, 123 (60.9%) had a known OD while in the remaining 79 (39.1%), OD was indeterminate. Overall technical success was 82.7% and was lower in the IOD group (70.9% vs. 90.2%, P = 0.0004). An IOD was a predictor of procedural failure (adjusted OR 4.51, 95% CI 1.7-11.5, P = 0.002). An IOD (HR 2.59, 95%CI 1.08-6.23, P = 0.032) and procedural success (HR 0.26, 95%CI 0.11-0.60, P = 0.002) were the only independent predictors of long-term MACE. Patients with a failed PCI and an IOD had a 5-fold increased risk of MACE compared to those with known OD (37.0% vs. 7.1%, log rank P = 0.0036). In addition to the traditional predictors of procedural success and clinical outcome, this study, for the first time uncovered the importance of OD and, in particular, of an IOD. Still, in patients who are successfully recanalized, a long or IOD bears the same low rate of MACE as the general CTO population while in patients with failed PCI, an IOD carries a considerable risk of adverse prognosis.

A Case of Right Coronary Artery Hematoma Detected by Echocardiography after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Introduction Coronary artery perforation is a rare complication during or after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and presents variably from hemodynamically stable concealed hemorrhage to potentially life-threatening cardiac tamponade. Here, we report a patient with coronary artery hematoma associated with coronary artery perforation after failed PCI for chronic total occlusion of right coronary artery, detected on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Abstract 1848: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting after Uneventful Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Objective : Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with an increase in coronary re-intervention and cardiac re-hospitalization compared to CABG. We compared mid-term survival of adults undergoing primary isolated CABG more than 14 days and within 5 years of a PCI (P-PCI) to CABG patients without prior PCI (NO-PCI). Methods : We linked clinical information from the mandatory MA Adult Cardiac Surgery Database to the MA Inpatient Acute Hospital Case Mix, Charge Database and to the MA Mortality Index Database in order to analyze outcomes of 11,352 adults undergoing primary isolated CABG between 2002 and 2004. Inpatient discharge data were used to identify any occurrence of P-PCI in the 5 years interval prior to the primary CABG. We excluded patients residing outside of MA at time of primary CABG (n = 1,043), with early PCI failure &lt; 14 days prior to CABG (n = 403), or rescue PCI for acute myocardial infarction (n = 438), leaving a final cohort of 9,468. The propensity for P-PCI was determined by logistic regression analysis and each patient with P-PCI was matched to a single NO-PCI patient. Morbidity and mortality differences were estimated by McNemar’s test and length of stay by paired t-tests. Survival was compared using Cox proportional hazards model to account for matching. Results : We identified 1,033 patients with P-PCI; the median interval between P-PCI and CABG was 234 days. P-PCI patients were more likely to be younger, female, with lower ejection fraction, hypertension, myocardial infarction &gt; 24 hrs and fewer diseased vessels. They were less likely to present with peripheral vascular disease, left main disease and to present in urgent status. Mean follow-up was 578 ± 316 days and was 100% complete. Using 1,032 matched pairs, no differences were found (P-PCI vs. NO-PCI) in 30-day mortality (1.1% vs. 1.4%; P = 0.7), hospital morbidity (35% vs. 33%; P = 0.4), median length of stay (8 days vs. 9 days; P = 0.06), and survival (HR [95% CI] for P-PCI = 0.88 [0.56, 1.38]; P = 0.6). Conclusions : Although CABG patients with P-PCI presented with more comorbidities, mid-term outcomes were similar to a matched NO-PCI CABG population. These results help to refine the indications and trade-offs for the available successful alternatives in coronary revascularization.

CT Coronary Angiography Predicts the Outcome of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Chronic Total Occlusion

The success rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusions (CTO) is relatively low. Further evaluation of CTO lesion with CT coronary angiography (CT-CA) may help to better select patients that would benefit from percutaneous revascularization. We aimed to test the possible association between failed PCI and transluminal calcification of CTO as assessed by CT-CA. Patients with CTO awaiting PCI were scanned with a 16-slice CT. A cardiologist and a radiologist assessed transluminal calcification of CTO lesions on CT images while an interventional cardiologist at a core laboratory assessed conventional variables of invasive fluoroscopic coronary angiography (FCA) associated with failed PCI of CTO. The significance of CT and FCA variables in association with failed PCI were analyzed. In a cohort of 39 patients with 43 CTO lesions, 24 lesions were successfully revascularized. Transluminal calcification > or =50% as assessed on CT-CA was strongly associated with failed PCI (odds ratio [OR] of PCI success = 0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02-0.47, P = 0.003). Blunt stump as seen on FCA was also associated with failed PCI (OR of PCI success = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07-0.86, P = 0.029). There was no significant evidence to support that the duration of CTO, presence of side branch and bridging collaterals, and the absence of microchannels as assessed with FCA were associated with failed PCI. On multivariate analysis, transluminal calcification > or =50% on CT-CA was the only significant predictor of failed PCI. Heavy transluminal calcification as assessed with CT-CA is an independent predictor of failed PCI of CTO. CT-CA may have a role in the work-up of CTO patients prior to PCI.

Predictors and Outcomes of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction has undergone great evolution since introduction of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The purpose was therefore to assess the outcome of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing surgical revascularization with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). A total of 138 consecutive patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction underwent CABG therapy between January 2000 and January 2007 at our institution. Prospectively recorded preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were retrospectively screened for in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). The delay between the onset of ST-elevation myocardial infarction symptoms and CABG procedures was within 6 hours in 37 patients, 7 to 24 hours in 21, 1 to 3 days in 15, 4 to 7 days in 24, and 8 to 14 days in 41 patients. Cardiogenic shock (Killip class > or = III) was present in 38 patients (28%), and 37 patients (27%) were referred for CABG after failed PCI. Overall in-hospital mortality was 8.7%, but mortality varied between 10.8% (< or = 6 hours), 23.8% (7 to 24 hours), 6.7% (1 to 3 days), 4.2% (4 to 7 days), and 2.4% (8 to 14 days), depending on time interval from symptom onset to operation. Overall, more nonsurvivors were women (58% versus 23%; p < 0.01), had higher preoperative cardiac troponin I levels (13.2 +/- 9.8 versus 4.5 +/- 4.2 ng/ml; p < 0.0001), and were more frequently in cardiogenic shock (83% versus 22%; p < 0.0001). Unadjusted univariable and risk-adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed age, female sex, preoperative cardiac troponin I levels, and cardiogenic shock to be the most potent predictors of in-hospital death and MACE. CABG in ST-elevation myocardial infarction can be performed with acceptable risk by incorporating adequate management strategies. However, female sex, preoperative cardiac troponin I level, preoperative cardiogenic shock, and time to operation are major variables of mortality and morbidity results.

Emergency cardiac surgery after a failed percutaneous coronary intervention in an interventional centre without on-site cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND.: Based on experience from other countries, the Medical Centre Alkmaar was granted permission to start the first Dutch PCI programme without on-site cardiac surgery. The cardiology group of the Medical Centre Alkmaar started an off-site PCI programme in 2002 with only primary PCI in the first year and a full PCI programme from November 2003 onwards. We report the first Dutch experience with acute cardiac surgery following a failed PCI procedure in an off-site clinic. PATIENTS.: From October 2002 until February 2007, 2500 patients were treated by PCI in the Medical Centre Alkmaar. These patients were treated for an acute myocardial infarction (33%), acute coronary syndromes (37%) or progressive angina (30%). In this first series of off-site PCI in the Netherlands, the incidence of emergency cardiac surgery following failed PCI was 0.2% All five patients who needed emergency surgery underwent elective PCI for progressive stable coronary artery disease. No emergency surgery was needed for primary PCIs in patients with an acute myocardial infarction. All patients survived emergency surgery following failed PCI. CONCLUSION.: Adherence to the Dutch guidelines of interventional cardiology with protocols describing a close collaboration with cardiac surgeons and an immediate availability of rapid ground transportation are mandatory when performing off-site PCI. This series extends the current expertise of emergency surgery after failed PCI to off-site clinics. With appropriate settings, off-site PCI may not be associated with an increase in the risk of adverse events. (Neth Heart J 2007;15:173-7.).

PCI without on‐site surgical backup

PCI without on‐site surgical backup

Recent Trends in the Percutaneous Treatment of Chronic Total Coronary Occlusions

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTOs) has a lower success rate than PCI for non-CTO lesions. We sought to determine trends in the treatment of CTOs within the current interventional era. Using 4 sequential recruitment waves of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Dynamic Registry, we assessed the relative prevalence and success rates in treating CTO (n=371) versus non-CTO (n=4,802) lesions over a 7-year period (1997 to 2004). Characteristics of attempted lesions and factors associated with PCI outcome were evaluated. CTO lesion attempts decreased by 41% over time, from 9.6% (1997 to 1998) to 5.7% (2004, p<0.0001 for trend). More contemporary CTO lesions were longer (22.4 vs 17.0 mm, p=0.006 for trend), had thrombus less often (21.3% vs 35.4%, p=0.03 for trend), and were more often treated with stents (69.8% vs 45.4% p=0.02). The rate of successful intervention for CTO lesions decreased nonsignificantly during this time, from 79.7% to 71.4% (p=0.18). Using multivariable analysis, female gender (adjusted odds ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.20 to 0.88, p=0.02), and thrombus (adjusted odds ratio 0.31, 95% confidence interval 0.15 to 0.61, p=0.0008) were associated with higher success rates, whereas the presence of severe noncardiac disease (adjusted odds ratio 1.91, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 3.45, p=0.03) was associated with a higher risk for PCI failure. Recruitment wave and patient age were not independently related to lesion success. In conclusion, during the PCI period of 1997 to 2004, CTO lesions were attempted less frequently and success rates did not increase, indicating a need for new operator techniques or device technologies to treat this important lesion subset by a percutaneous approach.

Safety of elective—including “high risk”—percutaneous coronary interventions without on-site cardiac surgery

Background Current guidelines (American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) limit the performance of elective cases to hospitals with the capability for cardiac surgery. The number of hospitals in the United States with this capability is limited, which restricts availability of this proven technology. Objective To determine the safety of performing elective, nonselected PCI in hospitals without cardiac surgery capability. Design, setting, and patients A single-center retrospective analysis of the first 1000 patients undergoing elective, including “high-risk,” PCI in the county hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Main outcome measures A database (Access Microsoft Windows) was established to follow patient characteristics, indications for the procedure, technical aspects of the procedure, outcomes and complications. The Quality Improvement Committee followed each case closely to independently assess the adequacy of indications and patient management, with a monthly case review of every patient who had a periprocedural or postprocedural complication. Results Failure to complete target vessel revascularization occurred in 68 of the total 1756 vessels (3.8%). Seven patients (0.7%), required elective referral for coronary artery bypass graft surgery after failed PCI. Coronary perforations occurred in 9 patients (0.9%); all resolved with percutaneous techniques. Postprocedure myocardial infarction was diagnosed in 21 patients (2.1%). Two patients (0.2%) developed a stroke. Periprocedural death (within 48 hours of the procedure) occurred in 2 patients (0.2%). Out of the 1000 interventions performed, none required emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Conclusions Technical advances in interventional cardiology allow for safe performance of PCI in hospitals without on-site cardiac surgery facilities if proposed conditions are met. Our results together with the vast experience in other countries supports a paradigm change that would increase the number of hospitals that can offer interventional cardiology procedures with a corresponding increase in the number of patients that would benefit.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Segment and Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction at Hospitals With and Without On-site Cardiac Surgical Capability

To compare the safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction performed at a hospital without cardiac surgical capability with PCI performed for acute myocardial infarction at a center with on-site surgery. We included patients with acute myocardial infarction in whom PCI was performed from March 1, 2000, through May 31, 2002, at a community hospital (Immanuel St Joseph's) without on-site surgery. The procedural success, in-hospital adverse cardiac events, and 6-month follow-up were compared with those of PCI performed for acute myocardial infarction in matched controls from January 1, 2000, through February 28, 2002, at a center with cardiac surgery (Saint Marys Hospital). One hundred sixty patients (and 160 matched controls) underwent PCI for acute myocardial infarction. The procedural success rate was high and similar for the 2 groups (96% vs 95%; P=.79). In-hospital mortality, Q-wave myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization were low and similar for the 2 groups. No patient was referred for emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery for failed PCI. Six-month survival from all-cause mortality was 96% for the Immanuel St Joseph's group and 94% for the Saint Marys Hospital group (P=.92). Subgroup analysis of patients with primary PCI for ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction revealed high procedural success and low and similar rates of major cardiac adverse events in the 2 groups. This study shows that PCI for acute myocardial infarction can be performed safely and effectively in a community hospital without on-site cardiac surgery.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Segment and Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction at Hospitals With and Without On-site Cardiac Surgical Capability

Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction performed at a hospital without cardiac surgical capability with PCI performed for acute myocardial infarction at a center with on-site surgery. Patients and Methods We included patients with acute myocardial infarction in whom PCI was performed from March 1, 2000, through May 31, 2002, at a community hospital (Immanuel St Joseph's) without on-site surgery. The procedural success, in-hospital adverse cardiac events, and 6-month follow-up were compared with those of PCI performed for acute myocardial infarction in matched controls from January 1, 2000, through February 28, 2002, at a center with cardiac surgery (Saint Marys Hospital). Results One hundred sixty patients (and 160 matched controls) underwent PCI for acute myocardial infarction. The procedural success rate was high and similar for the 2 groups (96% vs 95%; P=.79). In-hospital mortality, Q-wave myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization were low and similar for the 2 groups. No patient was referred for emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery for failed PCI. Six-month survival from all-cause mortality was 96% for the Immanuel St Joseph's group and 94% for the Saint Marys Hospital group (P=.92). Subgroup analysis of patients with primary PCI for ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction revealed high procedural success and low and similar rates of major cardiac adverse events in the 2 groups. Conclusion This study shows that PCI for acute myocardial infarction can be performed safely and effectively in a community hospital without on-site cardiac surgery. To compare the safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction performed at a hospital without cardiac surgical capability with PCI performed for acute myocardial infarction at a center with on-site surgery. We included patients with acute myocardial infarction in whom PCI was performed from March 1, 2000, through May 31, 2002, at a community hospital (Immanuel St Joseph's) without on-site surgery. The procedural success, in-hospital adverse cardiac events, and 6-month follow-up were compared with those of PCI performed for acute myocardial infarction in matched controls from January 1, 2000, through February 28, 2002, at a center with cardiac surgery (Saint Marys Hospital). One hundred sixty patients (and 160 matched controls) underwent PCI for acute myocardial infarction. The procedural success rate was high and similar for the 2 groups (96% vs 95%; P=.79). In-hospital mortality, Q-wave myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization were low and similar for the 2 groups. No patient was referred for emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery for failed PCI. Six-month survival from all-cause mortality was 96% for the Immanuel St Joseph's group and 94% for the Saint Marys Hospital group (P=.92). Subgroup analysis of patients with primary PCI for ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction revealed high procedural success and low and similar rates of major cardiac adverse events in the 2 groups. This study shows that PCI for acute myocardial infarction can be performed safely and effectively in a community hospital without on-site cardiac surgery.

Impact of delays to cardiac surgery after failed angioplasty and stenting

ObjectivesThis study was designed to determine the likelihood of harm in patients having additional delays before urgent coronary artery bypass graft (UCABG) surgery after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). BackgroundPatients who have PCI at hospitals without cardiac surgery have additional delays to surgery when UCABG is indicated. MethodsDetailed chart review was performed on all patients who had a failed PCI leading to UCABG at a large tertiary care hospital. A prespecified set of criteria (hemodynamic instability, coronary perforation with significant effusion or tamponade, or severe ischemia) was used to identify patients who would have an increased likelihood of harm with additional delays to surgery. ResultsFrom 1996 to 2000, 6,582 PCIs were performed. There were 45 patients (0.7%) identified to have UCABG. The demographic characteristics of the UCABG patients were similar to the rest of the patients in the PCI database, except for significantly more type C lesions (45.3% vs. 25.0%, p < 0.001) and more urgent cases (66.6% vs. 49.8%, p = 0.03) in patients with UCABG. Myocardial infarction occurred in eight patients (17.0%) after UCABG, with a mean peak creatine kinase of 2,445 ± 1,212 IU/l. Death during the index hospital admission occurred in two patients. Eleven of the 45 patients (24.4%) were identified by the prespecified criteria to be at high likelihood of harm with additional delays to surgery. The absolute risk of harm is approximately one to two patients per 1,000 PCIs. ConclusionsApproximately one in four patients referred for UCABG would be placed at increased risk of harm if delays to surgery were encountered.

Immediate results and one-year clinical outcome after percutaneous coronary interventions in chronic total occlusions: data from a multicenter, prospective, observational study (TOAST-GISE)

ObjectivesWe sought to investigate the success rate and the acute and 12-month clinical outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) in the contemporary era. BackgroundThe technique of PCI involving CTO has improved over time. However, limited data on acute and follow-up results in patients treated with PCI on CTO in recent years are available. MethodsFour hundred nineteen consecutive patients scheduled for PCI of CTO of ≥30 days of duration were enrolled in 29 centers; 390 CTOs were confirmed in 376 patients in an independent core laboratory. The end points were technical and procedural success, in-hospital and 12-month major adverse cardiac events (MACE) occurrence, and 12-month symptomatic status. ResultsTechnical and procedural success was obtained in 77.2% and 73.3% of lesions, respectively. In-hospital major adverse cardiac events occurred in 5.1% of patients. Multivariate analysis identified CTO length >15 mm or not measurable, moderate to severe calcifications, duration ≥180 days, and multivessel disease as significant predictors of PCI failure. At 12 months, patients with a successful procedure experienced a lower incidence of cardiac deaths or myocardial infarction (1.05% vs. 7.23%, p = 0.005), a reduced need for coronary artery bypass surgery (2.45% vs. 15.7%, p < 0.0001), and were more frequently free of angina (88.7% vs. 75.0%, p = 0.008) compared with patients who had an unsuccessful procedure. ConclusionsSuccessful PCI was achieved in a high percentage of CTOs with a low incidence of complications. At one-year follow-up, patients with successful PCI of a CTO had a significantly better clinical outcome than those whose PCI was unsuccessful.

Outcomes of repeat revascularization in diabetic patients with prior coronary surgery

ObjectivesThis study evaluated both short- and long-term outcomes of diabetic patients who underwent repeat coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after initial CABG. BackgroundAlthough diabetic patients who have multivessel coronary disease and require initial revascularization may benefit from CABG as compared with PCI, the uncertainty concerning the choice of revascularization may be greater for diabetic patients who have had previous CABG. MethodsData were obtained over 15 years for diabetic patients undergoing PCI procedures or repeat CABG after previous coronary surgery. Baseline characteristics were compared between groups, and in-hospital, 5-year, and 10-year mortality rates were calculated. Multivariate correlates of in-hospital and long-term mortality were determined. ResultsBoth PCI (n = 1,123) and CABG (n = 598) patients were similar in age, gender, years of diabetes, and insulin dependence, but they varied in presence of hypertension, prior myocardial infarction, angina severity, heart failure, ejection fraction, and left main disease. In-hospital mortality was greater for CABG, but differences in long-term mortality were not significant (10 year mortality, 68% PCI vs. 74% CABG, p = 0.14). Multivariate correlates of long-term mortality were older age, hypertension, low ejection fraction, and an interaction between heart failure and choice of PCI. The PCI itself did not correlate with mortality. ConclusionsThe increased initial risk of redo CABG in diabetic patients and the comparable high long-term mortality regardless of type of intervention suggest that, except for patients with severe heart failure, PCI be strongly considered in all patients for whom there is a percutaneous alternative.