Left Main Coronary Artery Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Research Articles

Antithrombotic regimens for percutaneous coronary intervention of the left main coronary artery: The EXCEL trial.

We compared the effect of bivalirudin or heparin and use or nonuse of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI) on the outcome of left main coronary artery (LMCA) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the randomized EXCEL trial. The optimal antithrombotic regimen to support PCI of the LMCA remains controversial because of low representation of this subset in clinical trials. The PCI cohort (n = 928) in EXCEL was divided according to bivalirudin versus heparin antithrombin treatment and compared for the primary composite endpoint of death, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke at 30 days and 5 years. Bivalirudin was used in 319 patients (34.4%). The composite endpoint at 30 days occurred in 7.2% versus 3.8% bivalirudin and heparin patients, respectively, p = .02; at 5 years, the composite endpoint occurred in 26.3% versus 19.9% bivalirudin and heparin patients, respectively, p = .02. Major bleeding was more frequent in bivalirudin patients (4.1% versus 1.3%, p = .008). There were no differences in stent thrombosis between the groups. Bivalirudin use was an independent predictor of the 30-day composite endpoint (OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.28-6.48, p = .01) but not of the 5-year composite endpoint (OR 1.30, 95% CI 0.84-2.02, p = .23). GPI use was infrequent (n = 67, 7.2%) and was not associated with adverse outcomes. Among patients undergoing LMCA PCI in the EXCEL trial, procedural use of bivalirudin was associated with greater rates of periprocedural MI and the 30-day composite endpoint without reducing bleeding complications. Five-year outcomes were similar. GPIs were used infrequently and were not associated with clinical outcomes.

BALLOON AORTIC VALVULOPLASTY FOLLOWED BY IMPELLA®-ASSISTED LEFT MAIN CORONARY ARTERY STENT IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE AORTIC STENOSIS AS A BRIDGE TO TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT

The use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease in the setting of severe aortic stenosis (AS) may lead to hemodynamic instability and worse outcomes. The use of Impella® to provide hemodynamic support during high risk LMCA PCI has been

The impact of coronary artery disease severity on long-term outcomes in unprotected left main coronary artery revascularization.

The optimal treatment modality for left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate long-term prognostic determinants of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for LMCA disease and the role of coronary artery disease (CAD) severity in this population. A total of 60 consecutive patients who underwent LMCA PCI were enrolled in this study. Baseline demographic and clinical variables were recorded, as well as the SYNTAX score (SS), SS II, and residual SS (rSS). The primary endpoints of the study were all-cause death, non procedural myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. The patients were then divided into 2 groups: patients without a composite endpoint (Group 1) and those with a composite endpoint (Group 2). Of the 60 patients, 15 (25%) were female and the mean age was 59.8±14.7 years. The median follow-up time was 25 months (range: 12-33 months). A primary composite endpoint was observed in 16 patients (26.7%): mortality occurred in 10 patients (16.7%), 4 (6.6%) experienced MI, and stroke was seen in 2 patients (3.3%). Target vessel revascularization was performed in 3 patients (5%). The mean SYNTAX score (Group 1: 19.9±9.8; Group 2: 26.8±12.2; p=0.029), SS II PCI (Group 1: 27.7 [range: 17.7-36.8]; Group 2: 34.2 [range: 27.9-55.2]; p=0.030) and rSS (Group 1: 0 [range: 0-5]; Group 2: 12.5 [range: 3.5-22.5]; p=0.001) were higher in patients with a composite endpoint. Additionally, creatinine (odds ratio [OR]: 13.098; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.471-116.620; p=0.021), non-postdilatation (OR: 8.340; 95% CI: 1.230-56.570; p=0.030), and rSS (OR: 1.157; 95% CI: 1.024-1.307; p=0.019) were independent predictors of a primary composite endpoint. CAD severity has prognostic value for mortality, MI, and stroke in patients who undergo unprotected LMCA PCI. An increased initial SS and post-procedural rSS were related to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The rSS was also an independent predictor of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events and mortality.

Prognostic impact of final kissing balloon technique after crossover stenting for the left main coronary artery: from the AOI-LMCA registry

It is still uncertain whether the final kissing balloon technique (FKBT) is mandatory after crossover stenting for the left main coronary artery (LMCA). Assessing Optimal Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for LMCA (AOI-LMCA) registry, a 6-center retrospective registry, enrolled 1809 consecutive patients for LMCA stenting in Japan. In the present analysis, 5-year clinical outcomes were compared between non-FKBT (n = 160) and FKBT (n = 578) groups in patients treated with crossover stenting with drug-eluting stents from the LMCA to the left anterior descending artery. Propensity score-matched analysis was also performed in 160 patient pairs. In the entire study population as well as in the propensity-matched population, the cumulative 5-year incidence of the primary outcome measure (target lesion revascularization: TLR) was not significantly different between the FKBT and non-FKBT groups (10.7 versus 14.3%, P = 0.49, and 11.8 versus 14.3%, P = 0.53, respectively). In the sensitivity analysis by the multivariable Cox proportional hazard model, the effect of FKBT relative to non-FKBT for TLR remained insignificant (adjusted HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.47–1.69, P = 0.72). Regarding the TLR location, there were no significant differences in the cumulative incidences of TLR for LMCA-only, for the main branch, and for the side branch between the 2 groups (2.2 versus 1.3%, P = 0.93, 11.8 versus 9.1%, P = 0.71, and 8.2 versus 7.6%, P = 0.82, respectively). FKBT after a 1-stent strategy for LMCA crossover stenting did not affect TLR and other clinical outcomes during 5-year follow-up.Clinical Trial Registration: Assessing Optimal Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Left Main Coronary Artery Stenting Registry (AOI LMCA Stenting Registry). http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index/htm/. Unique Identifier: UMIN000014706.

TCT-829 Long-term Outcomes of Final Kissing Balloon Technique After Crossover Stenting for Left Main Coronary Artery in Patients with and without True Bifurcation: From the AOI-LMCA registry

Whether the final kissing balloon technique (FKBT) is mandatory after crossover stenting of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) in patients with or without true bifurcation remains unclear. The Assessing Optimal Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for LMCA (AOI-LMCA) registry is a retrospective

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention vs Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients With Left Main Coronary Artery Stenosis

In patients with left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been the standard therapy for several decades. However, some studies suggest that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents may be an acceptable alternative. To compare the long-term safety of PCI with drug-eluting stent vs CABG in patients with LMCA stenosis. PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge, and ScienceDirect databases were searched from December 18, 2001, to February 1, 2017. Inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trial, patients with LMCA stenosis, PCI vs CABG, exclusive use of drug-eluting stents, and clinical follow-up of 3 or more years. Trial-level hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were pooled by fixed-effect and random-effects models with inverse variance weighting. Time-to-event individual patient data for the primary end point were reconstructed. Sensitivity analyses according to drug-eluting stent generation and coronary artery disease complexity were performed. The primary end point was a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke at long-term follow-up. Secondary end points included repeat revascularization and a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or repeat revascularization at long-term follow-up. A total of 4 randomized clinical trials were pooled; 4394 patients were included in the analysis. Of these, 3371 (76.7%) were men; pooled mean age was 65.4 years. According to Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation, evidence quality with respect to the primary composite end point was high. Percutaneous coronary intervention and CABG were associated with a comparable risk of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke both by fixed-effect (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.90-1.24; P = .48) and random-effects (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.85-1.32; P = .60) analysis. Sensitivity analyses according to low to intermediate Synergy Between PCI With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score (random-effects: HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.74-1.41; P = .89) and drug-eluting stent generation (first generation: HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.68-1.20; P = .49; second generation: HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.82-1.73; P = .36) were consistent. Kaplan-Meier curve reconstruction did not show significant variations over time between the techniques, with a 5-year incidence of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke of 18.3% (319 events) in patients treated with PCI and 16.9% (292 events) in patients treated with CABG. However, repeat revascularization after PCI was increased (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.42-2.05; P < .001). Other individual secondary end points did not differ significantly between groups. Finally, pooled estimates of trials with LMCA stenosis tended overall to differ significantly from those of trials with multivessel coronary artery disease without left main LMCA stenosis. Percutaneous coronary intervention and CABG show comparable safety in patients with LMCA stenosis and low to intermediate-complexity coronary artery disease. However, repeat revascularization is more common after PCI.

Long-Term Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) to an Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery (LMCA) in Cardiogenic Shock: Observations From the Melbourne Interventional Group (MIG) Registry

Background: Recent trials support the use of PCI with drug eluting stents as an alternative to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in selected stable patients. In cardiogenic shock, urgent revascularisation is optimal. We review the MIG experience on unprotected LMCA PCI in cardiogenic shock. Method: Excluding patients with previous bypass surgery, consecutive patients presenting with cardiogenic shock undergoing PCI from the MIG registry between 2005-2016 were analysed, comparing those with LMCA PCI to non-LMCA PCI. Results: A total of 601 patients (3.2% of all PCI patients without previous CABG) presented in cardiogenic shock. 45 (7.5%) patients had unprotected LMCA PCI. Patients undergoing unprotected LMCA PCI were older (70.1years vs 65.8years, p = 0.01) with the same rate of male predominance (77.8% vs 72.1%, p = 0.75), hypertension (70.5% vs 56.8%, p = 0.08), diabetes (22.7% vs 24.6%, p = 0.78) and hypercholesterolaemia (52.3% vs 47.1%, p = 0.51). In cardiogenic shock, the in hospital mortality with unprotected LMCA PCI is 64.4% compared to 36.5% with non LMCA PCI, with long-term mortality linked to the national death index (NDI) in the LMCA PCI group being 80.0%. Unprotected LMCA PCI in the setting of cardiogenic shock is an independent predictor of long-term mortality (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.003-2.527, p = 0.048). Conclusion: Outcomes after PCI to unprotected LMCA in cardiogenic shock are poor, with the excess in mortality occurring early. It may be beneficial for on table discussions regarding urgent coronary bypass grafting in this setting.

Use of Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention to Treat Left Main Coronary Artery Disease.

Due to its potential prognostic implications and technical complexity, revascularisation of left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease requires careful consideration. Since publication of the results of the SYNTAX study, and more recently the EXCEL and NOBLE trials, there has been particular interest in percutaneous revascularisation of the LMCA. It is becoming clear that percutaneous revascularisation of LMCA disease requires appropriate lesion preparation and carefully optimised stenting in order to offer patients a treatment option as effective as coronary artery bypass grafting. For this reason intravascular imaging, and especially intravascular ultrasound, is becoming a key procedural step in LMCA percutaneous coronary intervention. In the current review paper we analyse the role of intravascular imaging with intravascular ultrasound in LMCA percutaneous coronary intervention, focusing on the main applications in this context from lesion assessment to stent sizing and optimisation.

Impact of Operator Experience andVolume on Outcomes After LeftMainCoronary Artery PercutaneousCoronary Intervention.

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of operator experience on prognosis after left main coronary artery (LM) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). LM PCI can be technically challenging and potentially risky considering the amount of supplied myocardium. Consecutive patients who underwent unprotected LM PCI at a single institution were included and compared according to whether the primary operator was an experienced, high-volume LM operator (defined as an operator who performed at least 15 LM PCIs per year for at least 3 consecutive years) or not. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models are presented. From January 2004 to December 2011, a total of 1,948 patients underwent unprotected LM PCI by 25 operators. Of these, 7 operators (28%) were considered experienced, and 18 (72%) were considered less experienced, with an overall mean experience of 12.0 ± 11.5 LM PCIs per year. LM PCI was performed in 1,422 patients (73%) by experienced operators and in 526 patients (27%) by less experienced operators. Patients treated by experienced operators had more complex and extensive coronary artery disease. Unadjusted and adjusted risks for cardiac death were lower for patients who were treated by experienced operators, both at 30-day (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.09 to 0.60; p= 0.003; adjusted HR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.59; p= 0.003) and 3-year (unadjusted HR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.32 to 0.89, p=0.02; adjusted HR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.84; p= 0.009) follow-up. Discrimination improved when operator experience was added to Cox proportional hazards models containing the SYNTAX (Synergy Between PCI With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) score (integrated discriminatory index= 0.004, p=0.03) or SYNTAX score II (integrated discriminatory index= 0.007, p= 0.02). No significant interaction was detected between operator experience and distal bifurcation LM lesion, 2-stent bifurcation stenting, and intravascular ultrasound use (p > 0.10 forall). Patients who underwent LM PCI by high-volume and experienced operators had better short- andlong-term prognoses. Operator experience is an important factor in a complex intervention such as LM PCI.

Unprotected left main coronary stenting as alternative therapy to coronary bypass surgery in high surgical risk acute coronary syndrome patients

Acute coronary syndrome has a high mortality rate that dramatically increases in the presence of left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease. Over the past decades, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery has been commonly accepted as the standard of care for patients with LMCA stenosis and is still considered the first-line treatment in current practice guidelines. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of protected and unprotected LMCA has gained popularity and is increasingly utilized with comparable outcomes to CABG in randomized controlled trials. In-stent restenosis and the need for revascularization provide the main obstacle to LMCA revascularization. The advent of better PCI equipment, stents, ablative devices, intravascular ultrasound, hemodynamic support devices and antithrombotic agents have ignited a renewed interest in the practice of LMCA PCI, especially for high surgical risk patients who are neither candidates nor agreeable to CABG surgery. Herein, we review the studies comparing unprotected LMCA stenting with CABG surgery in regard to 3 main endpoints: mortality, major adverse events and the incidence of repeat revascularization.

Usefulness of the logistic clinical SYNTAX score for predicting 1‐year mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention of the left main coronary artery

To externally validate the logistic clinical SYNTAX in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the left main coronary artery (LMCA). A novel version of the clinical SYNTAX score (CSS) has been recently introduced to overcome the limitations of categorical risk scores for PCI by the incorporation of clinical variables and the SYNTAX score (SXscore) into a logistic formula for predicting 1-year mortality. Core and extended models of the logistic CSS (logCSS(core) and logCSS(ext)) were applied to 400 patients undergoing LMCA PCI, and their performance was compared with those of the standard CSS, SXscore, and age, creatinine, and ejection fraction (ACEF) score by different measures of discrimination and calibration. A significant gradient in the distribution of 1-year mortality was noted with all the models (P < 0.001), with the SYNTAX and ACEF scores showing the lowest (0.64) and the highest (0.75) c-statistic, respectively. Based on Somers' D(xy) rank correlation, discrimination of both the logCSS(core) and the logCSS(ext) was numerically lower than that of the ACEF score. The logCSS(core) was miscalibrated toward underpredicting all-cause mortality in low-predicted probabilities, while the logCSS(ext) tended to underpredict in low-predicted probabilities and overpredict in high-predicted probabilities. Slope and intercept values reflected a better calibration ability of the logCSS(core) compared with the logCSS(ext). The global accuracy of the logCSS(core) was superior to that of the logCSS(ext) (Brier score 0.087 vs. 0.095). A personalized approach to risk stratification of LMCA PCI with the logistic CSS is feasible and of potential clinical utility. However, in this study, the logistic CSS did not achieve superior discrimination compared with other categorical models, and suffered from mild to moderate miscalibration.

Prognostic impact of significant non-infarct-related left main coronary artery disease in patients with acute myocardial infarction who receive a culprit-lesion percutaneous coronary intervention

Infarct-related left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) is associated with an increased cardiac mortality in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the prevalence and prognostic impact of significant (≥50% stenosis) non-infarct-related LMCAD in patients with AMI have not yet been elucidated. We prospectively analyzed 7655 AMI patients who had undergone a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry from November 2005 to January 2008. We compared major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in AMI patients with non-infarct-related LMCAD and those without LMCAD. Of 99 (1.3%) non-infarct-related LMCAD patients, 40 patients had undergone PCI due to their lesions on the left main coronary artery. The incidences of all-cause death, cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction, and composite of MACE except repeat revascularization were higher in patients with non-infarct-related LMCAD at 12 months. In Cox proportional hazard analysis for the prediction of MACE at 12 months, the hazard ratio of LMCAD was 2.189 (95% confidence interval 1.230-3.896, P=0.008). In subgroup analysis, there was no significant cumulative difference between patients who had undergone non-infarct-related left main coronary artery PCI and those who did not undergo PCI at 1 and 12 months. The significant, non-infarct-related LMCAD in patients with AMI remains a major adverse prognostic indicator even after receiving optimal culprit-lesion PCI.

Comparison of Outcomes of Unprotected Left Main Versus Multivessel Coronary Artery Interventions

Left main coronary artery (LMCA) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has emerged as an appealing alternative to bypass surgery for significant LMCA disease, especially in high-risk candidates. PCI for unprotected LMCA stenosis is currently designated a class IIb indication. Direct comparisons between unprotected LMCA PCI and multivessel PCI are lacking. We aimed to determine the incremental risk associated with unprotected LMCA PCI compared to multivessel PCI. We queried the Cleveland Clinic PCI database to identify patients who underwent unprotected LMCA PCI from 2003 through 2009 and compared these to patients undergoing multivessel PCI in the same period. Patients undergoing PCI for acute myocardial infarction were excluded. Mortality was derived using the Social Security Death Index. Short-term (≤30-day) mortality rates in the LMCA PCI group (n = 468, 1.9%) were similar to the death rate in the multivessel PCI group (n = 1,973, 1.3%, p = 0.3). There was no significant difference in adjusted mortality between the 2 study groups. Stratifying LMCA PCI by the number of concomitant vessel territories treated, there was no significant difference in mortality in any LMCA PCI category (LMCA only, LMCA + 1-vessel PCI, LMCA + multivessel PCI) compared to multivessel PCI. In conclusion, there was comparable short-term and long-term mortality in the LMCA PCI and multivessel PCI groups. LMCA stenting did not appear to incur incremental risk compared to multivessel PCI.

Evolução clínica de pacientes de alto risco cirúrgico submetidos a intervenção coronária percutânea em tronco da coronária esquerda não-protegido

INTRODUÇÃO: Recentemente, a intervenção coronária percutânea (ICP) em tronco da coronária esquerda (TCE) nãoprotegido tem se mostrado uma alternativa real à cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica. Os resultados clínicos tardios da ICP nesses pacientes são escassos na literatura, especialmente em nosso meio. MÉTODO: Registro de um centro terciário de atenção em cardiologia, que avaliou o seguimento clínico de pacientes com contraindicação à revascularização miocárdica cirúrgica submetidos a ICP em TCE, no período de 2002 a 2009. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar a mortalidade ao final de um ano. RESULTADOS: No total, foram incluídos 77 indivíduos nesta análise, com média de idade de 65,4 ± 13,7 anos, dos quais 59,2% eram do sexo masculino, 25% eram diabéticos e 3,9% eram portadores de insuficiência renal crônica dialítica. Com relação às características angiográficas, 79,6% das lesões eram do tipo B2/C, com envolvimento do óstio em 47,4% e da bifurcação distal em 62,3%. Na maioria dos casos, a indicação de ICP foi emergencial (85,5%) e os stents farmacológicos foram utilizados em 17,5% dos pacientes. Suporte hemodinâmico por meio de balão intra-aórtico foi utilizado em 28,2% da população. Ao final de um ano a probabilidade de sobrevivência global foi de 69,7% e a quase totalidade dos óbitos ocorreu no primeiro mês de seguimento. CONCLUSÃO: Nesta população com lesão de TCE não-protegido, compreendendo pacientes de alto risco cirúrgico em situações clínicas de emergência e com grande complexidade angiográfica, a ICP é factível, com sobrevivência aceitável ao final de um ano.

Long-term outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main coronary artery disease

Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate the in-hospital, 30 day and long-term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main coronary artery disease. Backgrounds Left main coronary artery (LMCA) diseases stenosis is a strong indication for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). With improved device technology, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent (DES) stents had been recently advocated as an alternative procedure for the unprotected LMCA disease. Methods Between January 2003 and February 2007, all unprotected LMCA PCI procedures were retrospectively collected. Outcomes were obtained by chart record review and telephone interview. Results Fifty five consecutive patients with > 50% diameter stenosis of LMCA undergoing PCI were analyzed. Indications for a percutaneous strategy were prohibitive surgical risks, or patient/physician preference. The procedural success rate was 98%. 41 patients (75%) received DES implantation. The majority of cases ( n = 33) were treated with a double-stent strategy. There were no in-hospital deaths. The clinical follow-up time was 867 ± 410 days (range 20–1715). 18 (29%) patients experienced major adverse cardiac events, including 3 (5%) deaths, 4 (7%) myocardial infarctions, and 12 (21.8%) target lesion revascularizations (TLR) during follow-up. Multivariate analysis revealed hyperlipidemia (Hazard ratio, HR = 6.2, p = 0.024) and bifurcation involvement (HR = 4.4, p = 0.008) were independent predictors for MACE. Conclusions Our results showed that PCI with stenting was an acceptable treatment option for patients with LMCA stenosis. Involvement of the LMCA bifurcation remains a predictor for unfavorable outcome.

Percutaneous left ventricular assist device: “TandemHeart” for high-risk coronary intervention

Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with severely compromised left ventricular systolic function and complex coronary lesions, including multivessel disease, left main disease, or bypass graft disease, are at higher risk of adverse outcomes from hemodynamic collapse. The TandemHeart percutaneous ventricular assist device may provide circulatory support during high-risk PCI. We implanted the TandemHeart device in eight patients who underwent high-risk PCI. The patients were considered to be at exceptionally high risk for decompensation due to procedural complexity combined with underlying LV dysfunction. The mean ejection fraction was 30% +/- 9% and five patients were turned down for surgical revascularization. Seven patients underwent multivessel PCI, including three patients who underwent unprotected left main coronary artery PCI. There was 100% procedural success. The TandemHeart was removed immediately post-PCI with no groin complications. Six patients are event- and symptom-free at 189 +/- 130 days; one patient died 10 days post-PCI after lower extremity bypass surgery and another developed acute renal failure postprocedure, requiring hemodialysis. Our initial clinical experience with the TandemHeart ventricular assist device demonstrates that hemodynamic support can be rapidly achieved percutaneously during high-risk PCI, with excellent procedural success in highly complex and critically ill patients.