Left Main Coronary Artery Disease Research Articles

Technological Advances Are Associated With Better Clinical Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention inPatients With Unprotected Left MainDisease.

Few large-scale studies have evaluated the effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) technological advances in the treatment of patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease (LM-CAD). We aim to identify independent factors that affect the prognosis of PCI in patients with unprotected LM-CAD and to assess the impact of PCI technological advances on long-term clinical outcomes. A total of 4512 consecutive patients who underwent unprotected LM-CAD PCI at Fuwai Hospital from 2004 to 2016 were enrolled. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify which techniques can independently affect the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs; a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization). The incidence of 3-year MACEs was 9.0% (406/4512). Four new PCI techniques were identified as the independent protective factors of MACEs, including second-generation drug-eluting stents (hazard ratio [HR], 0.61 [95% CI, 0.37-0.99]), postdilatation (HR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.59-0.94]), final kissing balloon inflation (HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.62-0.99]), and using intravascular ultrasound (HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.63-0.97]). The relative hazard of 3-year MACEs was reduced by ≈50% with use of all 4 techniques compared with no technique use (HR, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.32-0.87]). PCI technological advances including postdilatation, second-generation drug-eluting stent, final kissing balloon inflation, and intravascular ultrasound guidance were associated with improved clinical outcomes in patients who underwent unprotected LM-CAD PCI.

Leveraging machine learning to enhance postoperative risk assessment in coronary artery bypass grafting patients with unprotected left main disease - A retrospective cohort study.

Risk stratification for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) for left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease is essential for informed decision-making. This study explored the potential of machine learning (ML) methods to identify key risk factors associated with mortality in this patient group. This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 866 patients from the Gulf Left Main Registry who presented between 2015 and 2019. The study outcome was hospital all-cause mortality. Various machine learning models [logistic regression, random forest (RF), k-nearest neighbor, support vector machine, naïve Bayes, multilayer perception, boosting] were used to predict mortality, and their performance was measured using accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC). Nonsurvivors had significantly greater EuroSCORE II values (1.84 (10.08-3.67) vs. 4.75 (2.54-9.53) %, P<0.001 for survivors and nonsurvivors, respectively). The EuroSCORE II score significantly predicted hospital mortality (OR: 1.13 (95% confidence interval: 1.09-1.18), P<0.001), with an AUC of 0.736. RF achieved the best ML performance (accuracy=98, precision=100, recall=97 and F1 score=98). Explainable artificial intelligence using SHAP demonstrated the most important features as follows: preoperative lactate level, emergency surgery, chronic kidney disease (CKD), NSTEMI, nonsmoking status, and sex. QLattice identified lactate and CKD as the most important factors for predicting hospital mortality this patient group. This study demonstrates the potential of ML, particularly the Random Forest, to accurately predict hospital mortality in patients undergoing CABG for LMCA disease and its superiority over traditional methods. The key risk factors identified, including preoperative lactate levels, emergency surgery, chronic kidney disease, NSTEMI, nonsmoking status, and sex, provide valuable insights for risk stratification and informed decision-making in this high-risk patient population. Additionally, incorporating newly identified risk factors into future risk scoring systems can further improve mortality prediction accuracy.

Presentation, care, coronary intervention and outcomes of patients with NSTEMI according to age: insights from the international prospective ACVC-EAPCI EORP NSTEMI registry.

Older people less frequently receive invasive coronary angiography (ICA) for NSTEMI than younger patients. We describe care, ICA data, and in-hospital and 30-day outcomes of NSTEMI by age in a contemporary and geographically diverse cohort. Prospective cohort study including 2947 patients with NSTEMI from 287 centres in 59 countries, stratified by age (≥75years, n = 761). Quality of care was evaluated based on 12 guideline-recommended care interventions, and data collected on ICA. Outcomes included in hospital acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, repeat myocardial infarction, stroke/transient ischaemic attack, BARC Type ≥3 bleeding and death, as well as 30-day mortality. Patients aged ≥75years, compared with younger patients, at presentation had a higher prevalence of comorbidities and oral anticoagulation prescription (22.4% vs 7.6%, p< 0.001). Older patients less frequently received ICA than younger patients (78.6% vs 90.6%, p< 0.001) with the recorded reason more often being advanced age, comorbidities or frailty. Of those who underwent ICA, older patients more frequently demonstrated 3-vessel, 4-vessel and/or left main stem coronary artery disease compared to younger patients (49.7% vs 34.1%, p< 0.001) but less frequently received revascularisation (63.6% vs 76.9%, p< 0.001). Older patients experienced higher rates of in-hospital acute heart failure (15.0% vs 8.4%, p< 0.001) and bleeding (2.8% vs 1.3%, p= 0.006), as well as in-hospital and 30-day mortality (3.4% vs 1.3%, p< 0.001; 4.8% vs 1.7%, p< 0.001; respectively), than younger patients. Patients aged ≥75years with NSTEMI, compared with younger patients, less frequently received ICA and guideline-recommended care, and had worse short-term outcomes.

Predictive model for left main coronary artery or triple vessel disease in patients with chronic coronary syndromes.

Data about prediction of left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD)/three-vessel disease (TVD) in patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) are lacking. This study aimed to develop a model for predicting patients at risk of LMCAD/TVD. This study used retrospective data from patients with CCS scheduled for invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and who were retrospectively recruited between January 2018 and December 2020. Predictors were obtained and analyzed by using logistic regression analysis, and generated the prediction score. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. The cut-off value and area under the curve (AUC) were analyzed by using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. We recruited 162 patients with CCS. There were 75 patients in the non-LMCAD/TVD and 87 patients in the LMCAD/TVD groups. After the multivariate analysis, new onset of heart failure (HF) or left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and suspected CAD, ST elevation (STE) in aVR, STE in V1 and lateral ST depression (STD) were associated with increased risk of LMCAD/TVD. Based on these 4 predictors, the prediction score was created. The cut-off value of the prediction score by using ROC curve analysis was 3.0. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 71.26%, 86.67%, 86.11%, and 72.22%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.855. The CCS patients with new onset of HF or LVSD and suspected CAD, STE in aVR, and STE in V1 and lateral STD were associated with increased risk of LMCAD/TVD. The novel prediction score could predict LMCAD/TVD in those patients with acceptable sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV.

State-of-the-art percutaneous coronary intervention for left main coronary artery disease in Japan.

Percutaneous coronary intervention for left main coronary artery disease (LM-PCI) represents a high-risk yet life-saving procedure that has evolved significantly over the years. This review outlines the current state-of-the-art practices for LM-PCI in Japan in detail, emphasizing the integration of coronary physiology and intracoronary imaging alongside with evidence-based standardized technique using latest drug-eluting stents. These advancements enable precise lesion assessment, stent sizing, and optimal deployment, thereby enhancing procedural safety and efficacy. Despite discrepancies between current guidelines favoring coronary artery bypass grafting and real-world practice trends towards increased LM-PCI adoption, particularly in elderly populations with multiple comorbidities, careful patient selection and procedural planning are critical. Future perspectives include further refining LM-PCI through conducting randomized controlled trials integrating advanced techniques and addressing the issue of ostial left circumflex lesions and nationwide standardization of medical care for LM disease.

Predicting cardiovascular events in out-of-hospital patients presenting with atypical chest pain and complete left bundle branch block: role of CTA and echocardiographic Global Longitudinal Strain.

Out-of-hospital patients presenting with atypical chest pain and complete left bundle branch block (LBBB) have to be stratified for the presence of coronary artery disease and the risk of developing heart failure (HF). We investigated the prognostic role of coronary CT-angiography (CTA) and echocardiographic global longitudinal strain (GLS) in those patients in a mid-term follow-up. Out-of-hospital patients with LBBB underwent echocardiography and a 64-slice CT angiography were evaluated retrospectively. Development of HF or a cardiovascular death were the events scheduled. Seventy-eight patients (32 female; mean age: 66.0 ± 10.4 years were enrolled. During a follow-up of 33 months (IQR: 17-77), one patient (1.5%) experienced a cardiovascular death, 14 patients (17.9%) required urgent outpatient visits due to acute decompensated HF (12 hospitalizations). Echocardiography showed a slightly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (50.0% ± 9.8%) and GLS within the normal range (-16.2% ± 4.1%). CTA analysis showed coronary stenosis > 50% in 28 patients (35.9%). A high Agatston score (> 100) was observed in 29.5%. Notably, 25 patients (32.1%) were diagnosed with left main coronary artery disease and 15 patients (16.7%) underwent revascularization during the follow up. Significant associations were observed between events and LVEF (P = 0.001), diastolic dysfunction grade ≥ 2 (P = 0.02), GLS (P < 0.001), multiple coronary stenosis (P = 0.04) and Agatston score (P = 0.05). Multivariate analysis confirmed the relationships with LVEF (R2 = 0.89, P < 0.001), diastolic dysfunction (R2 = 3.30, P = 0.04), GLS (R2 = 1.43, P < 0.001), and Agatston score (R2 = 1.01, P = 0.05). In patients with complete LBBB, CTA and GLS identified those at a high risk of development HF.

Pivotal Decision for Acute Coronary Syndrome Patient with Left Main Coronary Artery Disease, When to Choose PCI over CABG

Background: Surgery is acceptable as a standard treatment of Left Main Coronary Artery (LMCA) Disease in a stable angina condition. But, in Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) setting, LMCA intervention is a still clinical challenge in many cardiac centers. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has emerged as a suitable alternative to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for high-risk complex coronary artery disease (CAD) scenario. This study aimed to outline the management of NSTEMI patient include LMCA disease. Case presentation: A 72-year-old male presented with persistent chest pain, with a confirmed NSTEMI. A coronary angiography was done and revealed Three Vessel Disease (TVD) and Left Main (LM) CAD with highly calcified stenosis in the distal LM and Left Anterior Descending (LAD). An early invasive procedure was successfully performed for severely calcified LAD artery and distal LM lesions, using proper selection of several bail-out pre-dilatation difficult attempts such as scoring ballon and rotational atherectomy (RA). We observed the aftercare period, which showed no subsequent ACS events. Conclusion: Managing ACS patients requires careful consideration and risk assessment before deciding on revascularization procedures, especially in high-risk case such as LMCA disease. PCI can be an effective treatment strategy for this population but require good consideration of patient’s anatomical factors, comorbidities, the availability of appropriate skill and equipment. Keyword: Acute Coronary Syndrome, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery, Left Main Coronary Artery, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Successful Emergency Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Challenging Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Disease Patient: How to Prepare and Optimize

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) due to unprotected left main coronary artery disease (ULMCAD) is a relatively uncommon presentation. It represents as the anatomical subset of coronary artery disease (CAD) with the highest risk of atherosclerotic obstructive CAD. In the setting of acute MI, the treatment options are limited in this particular condition. Major advances in the field of PCI have made PCI as a viable option for patients with ULMCAD who are equally suited for CABG or PCI. This study aimed to describe the contemporary evidence PCI for ULMCAD. Case Illustration: A man was admitted to our hospital with crescendo angina accompanied with dyspnea. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed biphasic t wave on V2-V5 leads. He continued to experience symptoms of ischemia and had increased serial cardiac enzymes. Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) support was implemented before performing the PCI. After eight days of hospitalization, he was discharged with stable hemodynamics. Conclusion: PCI has risks and advantages when performed on patients with complex CAD, including ULMCAD. The prognosis for this high-risk patient group can be improved with thorough preparation and effective treatment strategies. Keyword: Coronary Artery Disease, Myocardial Infarction, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Pivotal Decision for Acute Coronary Syndrome Patient with Left Main Coronary Artery Disease, When to Choose PCI over CABG

Pivotal Decision for Acute Coronary Syndrome Patient with Left Main Coronary Artery Disease, When to Choose PCI over CABG

Successful Emergency Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Challenging Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Disease Patient: How to Prepare and Optimize

Successful Emergency Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Challenging Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Disease Patient: How to Prepare and Optimize

The Current State of Coronary Revascularization: Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Versus Percutaneous Coronary Interventions.

The optimal revascularization strategy for coronary artery disease depends on various factors, such as disease complexity, patient characteristics, and preferences. Including a heart team in complex cases is crucial to ensure optimal outcomes. Decision-making between percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting must consider each patient's clinical profile and coronary anatomy. While current practice guidelines offer some insight into the optimal revascularization approach for the various phenotypes of coronary artery disease, the evidence to support either strategy continues to evolve and grow. Given the large amount of contemporary data on revascularization, this review aims to comprehensively summarize the literature on coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous coronary intervention in patients across the spectrum of coronary artery disease phenotypes. Contemporary evidence suggests that for patients with triple vessel disease, coronary artery bypass grafting is preferred over percutaneous coronary intervention due to better long-term outcomes, including lower rates of death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization. Similarly, for patients with left main coronary artery disease, both percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting can be considered, as they have shown similar efficacy in terms of major adverse cardiac events, but there may be a slightly higher risk of death with percutaneous coronary intervention. For proximal left anterior descending artery disease, both percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting are viable options, but coronary artery bypass grafting has shown lower rates of repeat revascularization and better relief from angina. The Synergy Between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery score can help in decision-making by predicting the risk of adverse events and guiding the choice between percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting. European and American guidelines both agree with including a heart team that can develop and lay out individualized, optimal treatment options with respect for patient preferences. The debate between coronary artery bypass grafting versus percutaneous coronary intervention in multiple different scenarios will continue to develop as technology and techniques improve for both procedures. Risk factors, pre, peri, and post-procedural complications involved in both revascularization strategies will continue to be mitigated to optimize outcomes for those patients for which coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary intervention provide ultimate benefit. Methods to avoid unnecessary revascularization continue to develop as well as percutaneous technology that may allow patients to avoid surgical intervention when possible. With such changes, revascularization guidelines for specific patient populations may change in the coming years, which can serve as a limitation of this time-dated review.

Long-term outcomes of IVUS-guided and angiography-guided drug-eluting stent implantation for left main coronary artery disease: a retrospective consort study

BackgroundIn patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease (ULMCAD), this study compared the long-term prognosis of drug-eluting stent insertion guided by intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) vs. angiography.Patients and methodsThis retrospective consort investigation was performed in December 2021. This analysis included 199 patients who underwent IVUS-guided (IVUS group, n = 81) or angiography-guided (angiography group, n = 118) drug-eluting stent implantation at the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University between September 2013 and September 2018. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as cardiovascular death, sudden cardiac death, myocardial infarction.ResultsThe IVUS group had considerably lower proportions of MACE within 1 year postoperatively (P = 0.002) and cardiac mortality within 3 years postoperatively (P = 0.018) compared to the angiography group. However, after adjusting for confounding variables, the hazard ratio for 3-year cardiac mortality was similar between the two groups (P = 0.28). In the IVUS group, there was considerably greater minimum lumen diameter (MLD) (P = 0.046), and reduced frequencies of target vessel restenosis (P < 0.050) and myocardial infarction (MI) (P = 0.024) compared to the angiography group. Cox regression analysis for 3-year cardiac mortality found that MSD was independently associated with low cardiac mortality (HR = 0.1, 95% CI: 0.01–14.92, P = 0.030).ConclusionIVUS-guided drug-eluting stent implantation may lead to better long-term prognosis in patients with ULMCAD, and MSD may be a predictor for lower cardiac mortality.

Correlation of Vitamin C with Risk Factors of Coronary Artery Disease to Measure the Disease Prognosis to Prepare a Diagnostic Strategy

Abstract BACKGROUND: Reports depicted insufficient plasma Vitamin C levels and significant associations to both acute and chronic inflammation. Recently, use of intravenous Vitamin C has gained visibility for its effectiveness in coronavirus-19 treatment. There were no studies available currently to detect the clinical correlation between plasma Vitamin C with risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD). The present aim of the study is to estimate the Vitamin C levels in CAD patients as well as to correlate with clinical and laboratory variables to assess the severity of CAD and also to formulate a diagnostic strategy. METHODS: A prospective comparative study was conducted in 100 diagnosed cases of CAD and estimate plasma Vitamin C levels and compared with healthy individuals. Spearman correlation analysis was performed between Vitamin C levels and risk factors of CAD. RESULTS: Maximum CAD cases were in the age group of 60–70 years. The mean age was 58.54 ± 11.60 years in the CAD patients. Among risk factors, 54% of patients had hypertension, 54% of patients had diabetes mellitus, and 27% of patients had dyslipidemia. There significant association noted between diabetes and type of CAD (P = 0.015). Among CAD cases, 70% of patients had ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 11% of patients had a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), 17% of patients had unstable angina (USA), and only 2% of patients had central sleep apnoea (CSA). Angiogram diagnosis shows that 34% of patients had single-vessel disease (SVD), 28% of patients had double-vessel disease (DVD), 8% of patients had triple-vessel disease (TVD), 2% of patients had left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease, 13% patients had mild CAD, and 15% patients had normal epicardial coronaries. The range of plasma Vitamin C concentrations level was from 33.25 to 92.5 μmol/L in CAD patients. The mean plasma Vitamin C concentration levels in CAD patients were lower than in healthy individuals (66.96 ± 13.6 vs. 71.33 ± 10.8 μmol/L). There was no statistically significant difference between CAD and non-CAD for plasma Vitamin C concentration levels (P = 0.085). The mean Vitamin C level was higher in DVD (70.6 ± 10.9) than the TVD, LM (71.6 ± 5.82), SVD (68.49 ± 12.4), mild CAD (65.55 ± 13.1), and TVD (62.92 ± 8.9). There was no statistically significant difference in plasma Vitamin C levels in the coronary angiogram (CAG) diagnosis for CAD cases (P = 0.103). The mean plasma Vitamin C levels were higher in NSTEMI (72.98 ± 10.8) than the STEMI (69.5 ± 12.5), USA (63.6 ± 15.2), and CSA (58.45 ± 3.5) μmol/L. There was no statistically significant difference in plasma Vitamin C levels in the type of CAD (P = 0.135). A negative correlation is noted between Vitamin C and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (r = −0.32, P = 0.02). Similarly, there is a negative correlation between Vitamin C and TGL (r = −0.28, P = 0.0067), whereas there is a positive correlation between Vitamin C and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (r = 0.27, P = 0.0025). CONCLUSION: The mean of Vitamin C concentration levels was lower in CAD patients than in healthy individuals. There is a significant negative correlation between Vitamin C and LDL and between Vitamin-C and TGL. A positive correlation was observed between Vitamin-C and HDL. Vitamin C along with HDL was markedly decreased in CAD and may be the cause. Hence, the combination of Vitamin C, LDL, and HDL can be considered prognostic detectors to know the CAD at its early stages.

Computed tomography coronary angiography assessment of left main coronary artery stenosis severity

BackgroundAngiographic assessment of left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis severity can be unreliable. In cases of ambiguity, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) can be utilised with a minimal lumen area (MLA) of ≥6 ​mm2 an accepted threshold for safe deferral of revascularization. We sought to assess whether quantitative computer tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) measures could assist clinicians making LMCA revascularization decisions when compared with IVUS as gold standard. MethodsConsecutive patients undergoing IVUS assessment of angiographically intermediate LMCA stenosis were included. All patients had undergone 320-slice CTCA <90 days prior to IVUS imaging. Offline quantitative assessment of IVUS- and CT-derived measures were undertaken with the cohort divided into those with significant (s-LMCA) versus non-significant (ns-LMCA) disease using the accepted IVUS threshold. ResultsFifty-eight patients were included, with no difference in mean age (61.5 ​± ​12.2 vs. 59.7 ​± ​11.9 years, p ​= ​0.57), diabetic status (24.2% vs 16.0%, p ​= ​0.44) or other baseline demographics between groups. Patients with ns-LMCA had larger CT luminal area (8.64 ​± ​3.91 vs. 5.41 ​± ​1.54 ​mm2, p ​< ​0.001), larger minimal lumen diameter (MLD) (3.25 ​± ​0.74 vs. 2.56 ​± ​0.38 ​mm, p ​< ​0.001) and lower area stenosis (45.74 ​± ​18.10 vs. 60.93 ​± ​14.68%, p ​= ​0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between CTCA and IVUS MLA (r ​= ​0.68, p ​< ​0.001) and MLD (r ​= ​0.67, p ​< ​0.001). ROC analysis demonstrated CTCA MLA cut-off <8.29 ​mm2 provides the greatest negative predictive value and sensitivity in predicting the presence of significant LMCA disease. ConclusionCTCA derived MLA and MLD have a strong correlation with IVUS. A CTCA derived MLA cut-off <8.29 ​mm2 showed greatest clinical utility for predicting the need for further assessment, based on IVUS gold standard.

Impact of preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump on outcomes in coronary artery bypass grafting for unprotected left-main coronary artery disease.

Preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) before coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) could improve operative outcomes by augmenting the diastolic coronary blood flow. Data on preoperative IABP use in patients with left-main coronary artery (LMCA) disease are limited. This study aimed to characterize patients who received preoperative IABP before CABG for LMCA and evaluate its effect on postoperative outcomes. This multicenter retrospective cohort study that included consecutive 914 patients who underwent CABG for unprotected LMCA disease from January 2015 to December 2019 in 14 tertiary referral centers. Patients were grouped according to the preoperative IABP insertion into patients with IABP (n=101) and without IABP (n=813). Propensity score matching adjusting for preoperative variables, with 1:1 match and a caliber of 0.03 identified 80 matched pairs. The primary outcomes used in propensity score matching were cardiac mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). IABP was commonly inserted in patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI), chronic kidney disease, peripheral arterial disease, and congestive heart failure. IABP patients had higher EuroSCORE [ES >8%: 95 (11.86%) vs. 40 (39.60%), P<0.001] and SYNTAX {29 [interquartile range (IQR) 25-35] vs. 33 (IQR 26-36); P=0.02} scores. Preoperative cardiogenic shock and arrhythmia were more prevalent in patients with IABP, while acute coronary syndrome was more prevalent in patients without IABP. After matching, there was no difference in vasoactive inotropic score between groups [3.5 (IQR 1-7.5) vs. 6 (IQR 1-13.5), P=0.06], and lactate levels were nonsignificantly higher in patients with IABP [2.4 (IQR 1.4-4.5) vs. 3.1 (IQR 1.05-7.75), P=0.05]. There were no differences between groups in acute kidney injury [20 (25%) vs. 26 (32.5%), P=0.34], cerebrovascular accidents [3 (3.75%) vs. 4 (5%), P>0.99], heart failure [5 (6.25%) vs. 7 (8.75%), P=0.75], MI [7 (8.75%) vs. 8 (10%), P>0.99], major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events [10 (12.5%) vs. 17 (21.25%), P=0.21], and cardiac mortality [6 (7.50%) vs. 14 (17.50%), P=0.09]. Patients who received IABP had longer ventilation times [8.5 (IQR 6-23) vs. 15.5 (IQR 5-50.5) h, P=0.03] and intensive care unit (ICU) stays [3 (IQR 2-5) vs. 4 (IQR 2-7.5) days, P=0.01]. Preoperative IABP in patients with LMCA might not be associated with reduced cardiac mortality or hospital complications. IABP could increase the duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay, and its use should be individualized for each patient.

A Case of Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury

Approximately 2 million patients undergo cardiac surgery annually with 20% to 30% developing the cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury. Patient who has undergone cardiac surgery in the past week and meets the criteria for acute kidney injury can be classified as a cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury. The cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury may be caused by various factors during perioperative period. Preoperative risk factors include advanced age, female gender, pre-existing renal insufficiency, heart failure, left main coronary artery disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral vascular disease, liver disease, low cardiac output and hypotension. Intraoperative risk factors include the type of surgery (valve surgery, combined valve and coronary artery surgery, emergency and reoperations), low-flow cardiopulmonary bypass, hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, cardiopulmonary bypass duration &amp;gt;100-120 minutes, hemodilution, hemolysis and hemoglobinuria due to prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass duration. We present the case of a 53-year-old female with severe valvular heart disease complicated by infecting human immunodeficiency virus. She experienced an acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery. The rationale for this case report is to learn about the risk factors of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury and take measures to prevent it.

Intravascular ultrasound-guided versus angiography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and propensity score-matched studies

Intravascular ultrasound-guided versus angiography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and propensity score-matched studies

Impact of Polyvascular Disease in Patients Undergoing Unprotected Left Main Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has demonstrated its safety and efficacy in treating left main coronary artery disease (LM-CAD) in select patients. Polyvascular disease (PolyVD) is associated with adverse events in all-comers with CAD. However, there is little data examining the interplay between PolyVD and LM-PCI, which we sought to investigate in a retrospective single-center study. We included patients undergoing unprotected LM-PCI at a tertiary center from 2012-2019. The patient population was stratified based on the presence or absence of PolyVD (i.e. medical history of cerebrovascular and/or peripheral artery disease in addition to LM-CAD). The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) combining all-cause mortality and spontaneous myocardial infarction within one year after index PCI. Overall, 869 patients were included, and 23.8% of the population had PolyVD. Individuals with PolyVD were older and had a greater burden of comorbidities. After 1 year follow-up individuals with PolyVD exhibited significantly higher rates of both MACE (22.8% vs. 9.4%; p<0.001) and bleeding events compared to those without PolyVD. MACE was primarily driven by an increase in all-cause mortality (18.3% vs. 7.1%; p<0.001). Results persisted after adjusting for confounders. In conclusion, among patients undergoing LM-PCI, the presence of PolyVD is linked to an increased risk of MACE and bleeding after 1 year of follow-up, which highlights the vulnerability of this patient population.

A rare case of isolated left main coronary artery disease in a young patient

ABSTRACT Isolated stenosis of the left coronary artery is extremely rare. Studies have shown a 2%–10% incidence of acute myocardial infarction in patients aged 45 years or younger. Stable angina and multivessel disease are uncommon in the young. It is more commonly reported in postmenopausal women. Here, we describe a 30-year-old female who presented to the emergency department with angina. Coronary angiography (CAG) was suggestive of isolated left main coronary artery (LMCA) ostial disease with rest of the coronaries normal. Computed tomography CAG performed with a calcium score of 0 revealed isolated osteoproximal stenosis of the LMCA. The patient was extensively evaluated for all risk factors but was devoid of any. Coronary artery bypass grafting was performed without complications.

Real-World Experience and Outcomes With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Protected Versus Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Disease: Insights from the Veteran Affairs Clinical Assessment Reporting and Tracking Program

Practice patterns and outcomes of protected left main (PLM) and unprotected left main (ULM) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are not well defined in contemporary US clinical practice. Data collected from all Veteran Affairs (VA) catheterization laboratories participating in the Clinical Assessment Reporting and Tracking Program between 2009 and 2019. The analysis included 4,351 patients undergoing left main PCI, of which 1,306 pairs of PLM and ULM PCI were included in a propensity matched cohort. Selected temporal trends were also assessed. The primary outcome was MACE outcomes at 1-year, which was defined as a composite of all-cause mortality, rehospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI), rehospitalization for stroke or urgent revascularization. ULM PCI patients in comparison to PLM PCI were older (71.5 vs 69.2; P < 0.001), more clinically complex and more likely to present with ACS. In the propensity matched cohort, radial access was used more often for ULM PCI (21% [273] vs. 14% [185], P < 0.001), and ULM PCI was more likely to involve the LM bifurcation (22% vs 14%; P = 0.003) and require mechanical circulatory support (10% [134] vs 1% [17]; P <0.001). One-year MACE occurred more frequently with ULM PCI compared to PLM PCI (22% [289] vs. 16% [215]; P = < 0.001) and all-cause mortality was also higher (16% [213] vs. 10% [125]; P = < 0.001). In the matched cohort there was a low incidence of rehospitalization for MI (4% [48] ULM vs. 4% [48] PLM; P = 1.000) or revascularization (7% [94] ULM vs. 6% [84] PLM; P = 0.485). In this real-world experience patients undergoing PLM PCI had better one-year outcomes than those undergoing ULM PCI, but in both groups there was a high rate of mortality and MACE at one-year despite a relatively low rate of MI or revascularization.•What is known?○In contemporary practice, the use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for left main coronary artery disease has increased.○Clinical trials have demonstrated that left main PCI can be performed safely, but observational studies have shown that patients who undergo left main PCI are older and with more co-morbid conditions than trial populations.•What the study adds?○In a large multi-center sample from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, there has been increasing use of left main PCI in patients who have not undergone prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).○Compared to patients with prior CABG who underwent left main PCI, those who underwent left main PCI without prior CABG had a higher rate of major adverse cardiovascular events and all cause death at 12 months.○While there was an overall low rate of rehospitalization for myocardial infarction or revascularization, there was a higher 12-month incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events in this real-world population compared to clinical trial populations.