Routine Intravascular Ultrasound Research Articles

Intravascular Ultrasound May Not Impact Graft Sizing in Endovascular Repair of Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is the preferred treatment for severe blunt thoracic aortic injuries (BTAI). Successful outcomes rely on accurate endograft sizing, but initial imaging may underestimate aortic diameters. This study examines the impact of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) on endograft sizing and clinical outcomes in BTAI patients. A prospectively collected multi-institutional dataset from the Aortic Trauma Foundation was analyzed. Patients with BTAI undergoing TEVAR with IVUS were compared to patients who underwent TEVAR alone. Demographics and operative variables were compared, focusing on IVUS effects on endograft sizing by examining maximal proximal and distal aortic diameter on initial CT imaging compared to the graft diameters used during TEVAR. 293 patients underwent TEVAR for BTAI with IVUS utilized in 124 cases (42.3%). The average graft size in the IVUS and non-IVUS groups were similar proximally (26.91 ± 4.3mm IVUS vs 27.77 ± 4.7mm non-IVUS, P = 0.116) and distally (25.96 ± 4.7mm IVUS vs 26.51 ± 4.7mm non-IVUS). IVUS did not impact the difference between graft size and initial CT measurements proximally (4.32 ± 4.8mm IVUS vs 4.23 ± 3.9mm non-IVUS, P = 0.859) or distally (4.17 ± 5.9mm IVUS vs 4.50 ± 4.3mm non-IVUS, P = 0.606). Although delayed hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke occurred less frequently in IVUS patients (0.8% IVUS vs 7.1% non- IVUS, P = 0.024), in-hospital mortality was similar between groups (5.6% IVUS vs 7.7% non-IVUS, P = 0.581). IVUS is not associated with significant changes in endograft sizing compared to sizing based on CT scan alone in BTAI patients. IVUS was not associated with differences in mortality but was associated with a decrease in delayed hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. Routine IVUS in BTAI patients may not be necessary for accurate sizing, but there may be a relationship between IVUS and stroke.

Clinical and Procedural Outcomes of IVUS-Guided vs. Angiography-Guided CTO-PCI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Chronic total occlusions (CTO) in coronary angiographies present a significant challenge nowadays. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a valuable tool during CTO-PCI, aiding in planning and achieving procedural success. However, the impact of IVUS on clinical and procedural outcomes in CTO-PCI remains uncertain. This meta-analysis aimed to compare IVUS-guided and angiography-guided approaches in CTO-PCI. The study included five studies and 2320 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and CTO. The primary outcome of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) did not significantly differ between the groups (p = 0.40). Stent thrombosis was the only secondary clinical outcome that showed a significant difference, favoring the IVUS-guided approach (p = 0.01). Procedural outcomes revealed that IVUS-guided procedures had longer stents, larger diameters, and longer procedure and fluoroscopy times (p = 0.007, p < 0.001, p = 0.03, p = 0.002, respectively). Stent number and contrast volume did not significantly differ between the approaches (p = 0.88 and p = 0.33, respectively). In summary, routine IVUS use did not significantly improve clinical outcomes, except for reducing stent thrombosis. Decisions in CTO-PCI should be individualized based on patient characteristics and supported by a multi-parametric approach.

Impact of intravascular ultrasound on Outcomes following PErcutaneous coronary interventioN for In-stent Restenosis (iOPEN-ISR study)

BackgroundPercutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains common. Intravascular imaging allows for the determination of the mechanism of ISR, potentially guiding appropriate therapy. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided stent implantation is associated with a reduction in adverse events after PCI, but its impact on treatment of ISR is not clear. MethodsAll patients with 1-year follow-up after ISR treatment from 2003 through 2016 were included and stratified by IVUS use. The primary endpoint was the rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 1 year, defined as the composite of all-cause mortality, Q-wave myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization (TVR). ResultsThe final analysis included 1522 ISR patients, 65.9% of whom were treated with IVUS guidance. The primary endpoint occurred in 18.0% of patients treated with IVUS guidance vs. 24.5% of patients treated with angiography guidance (p = 0.0014). Post-dilatation was used more often with IVUS (18.6% vs. 14.1%, p < 0.001), with a larger diameter of new stents (3.04 ± 0.35 mm vs. 2.94 ± 0.47 mm, p = 0.001). At 1 year, TVR occurred in 14.5% with IVUS guidance and 19.2% with angiography guidance (p = 0.021). ConclusionsThe use of IVUS is associated with decreased MACE at 1 year following PCI for ISR. These results support routine IVUS for the treatment of ISR lesions.

The Prognostic Value of a Validated and Automated Intravascular Ultrasound-Derived Calcium Score

BackgroundCoronary calcification has been linked to cardiovascular events. We developed and validated an algorithm to automatically quantify coronary calcifications on intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). We aimed to assess the prognostic value of an IVUS-calcium score (ICS) on patient-oriented composite endpoint (POCE).MethodsWe included patients that underwent coronary angiography plus pre-procedural IVUS imaging. The ICS was calculated per patient. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, and revascularization (POCE).ResultsIn a cohort of 408 patients, median ICS was 85. Both an ICS ≥ 85 and a 100 unit increase in ICS increased the risk of POCE at 6-year follow-up (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.51, 95%CI 1.05–2.17, p value = 0.026, and aHR 1.21, 95%CI 1.04–1.41, p value = 0.014, respectively).ConclusionsThe ICS, calculated by a validated automated algorithm derived from routine IVUS pullbacks, was strongly associated with the long-term risk of POCE.Graphical abstract

Initial Intravascular Ultrasound Without a Routine Early Baseline Study in the Evaluation of Cardiac Transplant Vasculopathy has Prognostic Valve.

Abnormal minimal intimal thickening (MIT) on intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) defined as difference of ≥0.5 mm between baseline and one-year post-transplantation has been shown to have prognostic value. The goal of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate whether abnormal MIT found on routine IVUS studies in cardiac transplant patients after 6 months without an early baseline study (modified MIT or MMIT), has any prognostic value. Furthermore, we evaluated the prognostic effect of serial IVUS performed beyond one year. A cohort of 149 cardiac transplant patients who underwent IVUS examination > 6 months post-transplant were evaluated retrospectively. Of these 149 patients, 109 patients underwent a subsequent IVUS study approximately 1 year following the initial study. MMIT values of ≥0.5 mm without an early baseline study were correlated with major adverse cardiac event (MACE). The all-cause mortality was 4.7% (5/107) in patients with MMIT of <0.5 mm vs. 14.6% (6/41) in patients with MMIT of ≥0.5 mm [hazards ratio (HR): 3.2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.002-12.17; p = 0.039]. The overall MACE rate was 8.4% (9/107) in patients with MMIT of <0.5 mm vs. 24.4% (10/41) in patients with MMIT of ≥0.5 mm [HR: 6.7; 95% CI: 1.30-9.42; p = 0.009]. After adjusting for age, abnormal MMIT remained a significant independent predictor of MACE (HR: 3.93; CI 1.21-12.81; p = 0.023). The presence of abnormal MMIT noted on IVUS performed after 6 months post-transplantation without a routine baseline IVUS carries important prognostic value.

Comparison of Immediate and Intermediate - Term Outcomes of Intravascular Ultrasound - Guided versus Angiography - Guided Intervention for Type C Coronary Lesions

Background: the intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is an invasive access technique that allows analysis of characteristics (qualitative and quantitative) of coronary atherosclerosis. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of complex lesions (i.e., American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association class type C) remains challenging and the outcome may be compromised. The use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to guide PCI was suggested to improve outcome. The Objectives: aim of this study wasto compare intravascular ultrasound-guided and angiography-guided Intervention for Type C coronary lesions regarding major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Patients and Methods: Our study was conducted on patients undergoing elective PCI for type C coronary lesions in Cardiology Department in Ain Shams University hospitals. The study included 50 patients who underwent IVUS guidance PCI for Type C lesions and 50 patients who underwent only angiographic guidance PCI for Type C lesions. We evaluated the impact of IVUS guidance on clinical outcomes of patients undergoing PCI for complex lesions defined as ACC/AHA type C. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite end-point of all-cause mortality, Q-wave myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization, were compared between the 2 groups. Mean follow-up duration was 12 months. Results:baseline clinical characteristics were similar in both patient groups. Adding IVUS to the procedure lengthened the procedure time. On the other hand, lower amount of radiographic contrast was required in the IVUS guided group during the procedure. Regarding the target coronary vessel in our study was similar in both groups with no significant difference. In addition, the number of ostial, proximal, mid and distal lesions was similar between the two studied groups. Patients with IVUS-guided PCI underwent more direct stenting, more postdilatation, larger maximal stent diameter and greater number of implanted stents. Consequently, the final diameter stenosis was significantly better in IVUS guided group. A strategy of routine IVUS for drug-eluting stent implantation in complex coronary lesions did not improve the 1-year MACE rates. Conclusion: use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is associated with lower amount of radiographic contrast used during the procedure, more procedural time, more post dilatation and less postintervention final diameter stenosis. In addition, use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in complex lesions allows proper assessment of minimal lumen area, optimizing PCI procedures and confirming stent well apposition.

A new methodology for accurate 3-dimensional coronary artery reconstruction using routine intravascular ultrasound and angiographic data: implications for widespread assessment of endothelial shear stress in humans

To develop and validate a new methodology that allows accurate 3-dimensional (3-D) coronary artery reconstruction using standard, simple angiographic and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) data acquired during routine catheterisation enabling reliable assessment of the endothelial shear stress (ESS) distribution. Twenty-two patients (22 arteries: 7 LAD; 7 LCx; 8 RCA) who underwent angiography and IVUS examination were included. The acquired data were used for 3-D reconstruction using a conventional method and a new methodology that utilised the luminal 3-D centreline to place the detected IVUS borders and anatomical landmarks to estimate their orientation. The local ESS distribution was assessed by computational fluid dynamics. In corresponding consecutive 3 mm segments, lumen, plaque and ESS measurements in the 3-D models derived by the centreline approach were highly correlated to those derived from the conventional method (r>0.98 for all). The centreline methodology had a 99.5% diagnostic accuracy for identifying segments exposed to low ESS and provided similar estimations to the conventional method for the association between the change in plaque burden and ESS (centreline method: slope= -1.65%/Pa, p=0.078; conventional method: slope= -1.64%/Pa, p=0.084; p =0.69 for difference between the two methodologies). The centreline methodology provides geometrically correct models and permits reliable ESS computation. The ability to utilise data acquired during routine coronary angiography and IVUS examination will facilitate clinical investigation of the role of local ESS patterns in the natural history of coronary atherosclerosis.

Usefulness of Intravascular Ultrasound to Predict Outcomes in Short-Length Lesions Treated With Drug-Eluting Stents

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) offers tomographic images of the coronary artery, helping physicians to refine drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in angiographically complex lesions. However, controversy exists regarding whether the routine use of IVUS in short-length lesions leads to improved clinical outcomes after DES implantation. Therefore, we evaluated the usefulness of IVUS in predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization, at 1 year after DES implantation in short-length lesions. The present study was a subanalysis of the REal Safety and Efficacy of a 3-month dual antiplatelet Therapy following Endeavor zotarolimus-eluting stent implantation (RESET) study with different clinical outcome parameters. The study population consisted of 662 patients with IVUS guidance and 912 patients with angiography guidance who underwent DES implantation (stent length ≤24 mm). In the IVUS-guided group, adjuvant postdilation was more frequently performed (43.0% vs 34.6%, p <0.001), and the postintervention minimal lumen diameters were greater (2.88 ± 0.44 mm vs 2.72 ± 0.43 mm, p <0.001). MACE occurred in 15 IVUS-guided (2.3%) and 19 angiographically guided (2.1%) patients (p = 0.872). In a subset of patients with diabetes mellitus (n = 292), the MACE rate was 3.4% (n = 4) and 1.7% (n = 3) in the IVUS- and angiographically guided patients, respectively (p = 0.384). The MACE rate in the IVUS- and angiographically guided patients with acute coronary syndrome (n = 601) was 1.1% (n = 3) and 2.7% (n = 9), respectively (p = 0.194). The clinical benefits of IVUS-guided DES implantation compared with angiographically guided DES implantation in short-length lesions could not be confirmed even in patients with clinically high-risk presentations (acute coronary syndrome and diabetes mellitus). In conclusion, routine IVUS guidance does not provide clinical benefits when performing short-length DES implantation.

Randomized Comparison of Clinical Outcomes Between Intravascular Ultrasound and Angiography-Guided Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation for Long Coronary Artery Stenoses

This study sought to assess the impact of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance on clinical outcomes following drug-eluting stent implantation when treating long lesions. The role of IVUS guidance when treating long lesions has been tested during bare-metal stent, but not during drug-eluting stent, implantation. A total of 543 patients treated with stents ≥ 28 mm in length were randomly assigned to IVUS guidance (n = 269) versus angiography guidance (n = 274). The primary endpoint was a composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, or stent thrombosis at 1 year following intervention. In the intention-to-treat analysis, total stent length was 32.4 mm in the IVUS-guided arm versus 32.3 mm in angiography-guided arm (p = 0.84). Adjunct post-dilation was more frequently performed in the IVUS-guided arm (54.6% vs. 44.5%, p = 0.03); post-intervention minimal lumen diameters were similar (2.55 vs. 2.55 mm, respectively, p = 0.50); and MACE occurred in 12 (4.5%) patients in IVUS-guided arm and in 20 (7.3%) patients in the angiography-guided arm (p = 0.16). However, among the 269 patients assigned to IVUS guidance, IVUS was not used in 13 patients (4.8%); conversely, in 274 patients assigned to angiography alone, 41 patients (15.0%) were treated with IVUS guidance. Therefore, in a per-protocol analysis according to actual IVUS usage, minimum lumen diameter was larger (2.58 vs. 2.51 mm, p = 0.04), and MACE rates were lower: 4.0% in the IVUS-guided arm versus 8.1% in the angiography-guided arm (p = 0.048). A strategy of routine IVUS for drug-eluting stent implantation in long lesions did not improve the 1-year MACE rates. The IVUS use per operator decision was associated with improved results. (A New Strategy Regarding Discontinuation of Dual Antiplatelet; NCT01145079).

Comparison of Two Different Strategies of Intravascular Ultrasound Guidance during Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Routine versus Selective

Background and ObjectivesIntravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is helpful during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), because it can be used to confirm good apposition or optimal expansion of stents. In this study, we compared angiographic result as well as clinical outcomes between two different strategies of IVUS-guidance, the selective vs. the routine.Subjects and MethodsThe study population consisted of 279 patients undergoing electric and emergency intracoronary implatation of TAXUS stent from August 2003 through September 2006. For this study, we divided physicians into two groups; doctors to perform PCI under 'routine' IVUS-guidance vs. PCI under 'selective' IVUS-guidance. Among a total of 279 patients (384 lesions) who underwent PCI with TAXUS stent, 87 patients underwent the procedure under the strategy of 'routine' IVUS-guidance, whereas 192 patients under 'selective' IVUS-guidance.ResultsThe baseline clinical features of the patients are similar between the two groups. The actual rate of IVUS usage was 89.2% in the routine group and 68.2% in the selective group (p<0.01). A high rate of adjunctive ballooning was determined as a remarkable procedure-related parameter which was comparable between the two groups (72.5% vs. 76.1% in routine vs. selective, p=0.57). The minimal lumen diameter at immediate post-PCI was significantly larger in the routine IVUS group than that in the selective group (2.58 mm vs. 2.48 mm, p=0.03). However, the difference disappeared during the follow-up period (1.98 mm vs. 1.98 mm, p=0.94). Clinical outcomes at 1 year were not different between the two groups.ConclusionPCI under the strategy of 'selective' IVUS-guidance was comparable to PCI under 'routine' IVUS-guidance in terms of angiographic and clinical outcomes in circumstances with frequent use of adjunctive ballooning after stenting.

Optical Coherence Tomography

Case presentation : A 56-year-old man presented to the hospital with chest pain and a non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Thrombotic plaque rupture in the left anterior descending coronary artery was treated with an everolimus-eluting stent. After stent deployment, angiography demonstrated the presence of a hazy opacity at the distal edge of the stent, and there was concern about a possible edge dissection. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging of the opacity showed residual thrombus and no dissection. Subsequent aspiration thrombectomy and balloon dilation effectively treated the lesion without deployment of an additional stent. OCT is an intravascular imaging modality that utilizes near-infrared light to generate cross-sectional blood vessel images. OCT is similar to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), and both OCT and IVUS provide information about intravascular anatomy that far exceeds the level of detail obtained from conventional contrast cineangiography. With the use of light rather than ultrasound reflectance, OCT generates in vivo images of coronary arteries and deployed stents with up to 10 to 15 μm of spatial resolution compared with the 100- to 200-μm resolution of IVUS. Although the spatial resolution of OCT is markedly superior to that of IVUS, near-infrared light does not penetrate tissue as effectively as sound, and therefore OCT imaging depths range from 1 to 3 mm into the vessel wall, whereas IVUS imaging depths range from 4 to 10 mm (Table). Additionally, near-infrared light is scattered by red blood cells, and therefore OCT imaging requires transient blood clearing during image acquisition. View this table: Table. Comparison of FD-OCT and IVUS The speed of light was initially a central challenge to developing a “clinically friendly” OCT system. Light travels too quickly for direct measurement of differential reflectance caused by vascular structures, and the original time delay OCT (TD-OCT) systems utilized a moving reference mirror to calibrate reflected light waves for image …

Role of Intravascular Ultrasound in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Stent thrombosis and restenosis remain drawbacks of drug-eluting stents in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance for stent deployment helps optimize its results in stable patients. The aim of this study was to examine the utility of routine IVUS guidance in patients with AMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Employing data from Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR), we analyzed 14,329 patients with AMI from April 2006 through September 2010. Patients with cardiogenic shock and rescue PCI after thrombolysis were excluded. Clinical outcomes of 2,127 patients who underwent IVUS-guided PCI were compared to those of 8,235 patients who did not. Mean age was 63.6 ± 13.5 years and 72.3% were men. Patients undergoing IVUS-guided PCI were younger, more often men, more hyperlipemic, and had increased body mass index and left ventricular ejection fraction. Number of treated vessels and stents used, stent length, and stent diameter were increased in the IVUS-guided group. Multivessel involvement was less frequent and American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association type C lesion was more frequent in the IVUS-guided group. Drug-eluting stents were more frequently used compared to bare-metal stents in the IVUS group. There was no significant relation of stent thrombosis between the 2 groups. Twelve-month all-cause death was lower in the IVUS group. After multivariate analysis and propensity score adjustment, IVUS guidance was not an independent predictor for 12-month all-cause death (hazard ratio 0.212, 0.026 to 1.73, p = 0.148). In conclusion, this study does not support routine use of IVUS guidance for stent deployment in patients who present with AMI and undergo PCI.

AS-064 Role of Intravascular Ultrasound in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

The development of drug eluting stent has been a major advancement in the treatment of coronary artery stenosis, however stent thrombosis and in-stent restenosis remain as its main drawbacks. intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance for stent deployment helps to optimize its results in stable patients. The aim of this study was to examine the utility of routine IVUS guidance in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Coronary Flow Reserve by Transthoracic Echocardiography Predicts Epicardial Intimal Thickening in Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in heart transplantation (HT). We sought to investigate the role of coronary flow reserve (CFR) by contrast-enhanced transthoracic echocardiography (CE-TTE) in CAV diagnosis. CAV was defined as maximal intimal thickness (MIT) assessed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) > or =0.5 mm. CFR was assessed in the left anterior descending coronary artery in 22 HT recipients at 6 +/- 4 years post-HT. CAV was diagnosed in 10 patients (group A), 12 had normal coronaries (group B). The mean MIT was 0.7 +/- 0.1 mm (range 0.03-1.8). MIT was higher in group A (1.16 +/- 0.3 mm vs. 0.34 +/- 0.07 mm, p < 0.0001). CFR was 3.1 +/- 0.8 in all patients and lower in group A (2.5 +/- 0.6 vs. 3.7 +/- 0.3, p < 0.0001). CFR was inversely related with MIT (r =-0.774, p < 0.0001). A cut point of < or =2.9, identified as optimal by receiver operating characteristics analysis was 100% specific and 80% sensitive (PPV = 100%, NPV = 89%, Accuracy = 91%). CFR assessment by CE-TTE is a novel noninvasive diagnostic tool in the detection of CAV defined as MIT > or =0.5 mm. CFR by CE-TTE may reduce the need for routine IVUS in HT.

International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation working formulation of a standardized nomenclature for cardiac allograft vasculopathy—2010

The development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy remains the Achilles heel of cardiac transplantation. Unfortunately, the definitions of cardiac allograft vasculopathy are diverse, and there are no uniform international standards for the nomenclature of this entity. This consensus document, commissioned by the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation Board, is based on best evidence and clinical consensus derived from critical analysis of available information pertaining to angiography, intravascular ultrasound imaging, microvascular function, cardiac allograft histology, circulating immune markers, non-invasive imaging tests, and gene-based and protein-based biomarkers. This document represents a working formulation for an international nomenclature of cardiac allograft vasculopathy, similar to the development of the system for adjudication of cardiac allograft rejection by histology.

THE UTILITY OF ROUTINE INTRA-VASCULAR ULTRASOUND DURING PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION OF SAPHENOUS VEIN GRAFTS.

Abstract Category: Intravascular DiagnosticsPresentation Number: 2503-509Authors: Asmir I. Syed, Gabriel Maluenda, Itsik Ben-Dor, Manuel A. Gonzalez, Michael A. Gaglia, Cedric Delhaye, Loic Belle, Kohei Wakabayashi, Nicholas Hanna, Sara D. Collins, Rebecca Torguson, Zhenyi Xue, Nelson Bernardo, William O. Suddath, Kenneth M. Kent, Lowell F. Satler, Augusto D. Pichard, Joseph Lindsay, Ron Waksman, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC Background: Intra-vascular Ultrasound (IVUS) use during Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) of native coronaries has been used to study lesion and vessel characteristics. It is unknown whether routine IVUS use in PCI of a saphenous vein graft (SVG) is beneficial.Methods: A cohort of 543 patients who underwent SVG PCI ( 375 in IVUS group, 171 in the no IVUS group) were followed clinically up to 1 year and the clinical events were recorded and compared between the two groups. Patients presenting with myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, and multi-vessel or native vessel PCI were excluded. The primary composite endpoints were in-hospital major complications and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 1 year. Peri-procedural MI was defined as maximum troponin I greater then 3 times the baseline troponin I.Results: Baseline and procedural characteristics were similar [see Table]. IVUS group had significantly longer procedural length and higher restenosis lesions. In-hospital complications, peri-procedural myocardial infarction, and no-reflow phenomenon were similar between the two groups. At 1 year, IVUS group had significantly higher MACE then the no IVUS group (22.7% vs 14.6%, p=0.03). On multivariate analysis, IVUS was not an independent predictor of MACE. [HR, 1.57 (0.95-2.60), p=0.07)Conclusion: Routine IVUS for SVG PCI is safe but does not improve in-hospital or long term outcomes.Table

Cost-effectiveness of intracoronary ultrasound for percutaneous coronary interventions

The Strategy for Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) guided PTCA and Stenting trial included a prospectively designed economic analysis to investigate whether routine IVUS guidance intervention is cost-effective. Consecutive patients (n = 269) with 356 lesions were randomly assigned to receive provisional stenting with angiographic guidance only (ANGIO) or with IVUS guidance. The 2-year major adverse cardiac event-free survival (effectiveness) was significantly higher in the IVUS-guided group (80% vs 69%, p <0.04). In-hospital costs for procedural personnel, capital equipment, and disposable equipment were higher in the IVUS group. This was offset by lower costs for inpatient care and urgent target vessel revascularization in the IVUS group. Therefore, the total in-hospital cost was only slightly higher with IVUS (5,245 ± $2,256 [IVUS] vs 4,776 ± $2,961 [ANGIO], $/patient, p = 0.15). During a 2-year follow-up, costs for cardiac hospitalizations were slightly lower in the IVUS group, whereas costs for medication and indirect costs were similar. This resulted in identical total costs over the 2-year period (15,947 ± $8,545 [IVUS] vs 16,103 ± $9,954 [ANGIO], $/patient, p = 0.89). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for IVUS guidance calculated to −$1,417/major adverse cardiac event-free survival gained. In 55.3% of bootstrapping replications, IVUS was less expensive and more effective. In conclusion, when used in a provisional stenting strategy, routine IVUS imaging is cost-saving half the time.

741-3 Prevention of Subacute Occlusion After Coronary Stenting with Ticlopidine Regimen without Intravascular Ultrasound Guided Stenting

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guiding optimal coronary stent expansion has been proposed in the prevention of subacute stent thrombosis (SIT) wich remains the major limitation of coronary stenting. However this strategy, requiring high balloon pressure, enhances the risk of coronary rupture, and increases the time of procedure. We report our experience of coronary stenting using quantitative coronary analysis (OCA) and ticlopidine regimen (500 mg/day) initiated 3 days before PTCA and given for one month after stenting without any anticoagulation. From March 1994 to July 1994 among 587 consecutive PTCA, 208 patients (63 ± 11 yrs) were successfully stented on 235 lesions with 248 stents (223 Palmaz-Schatz, 25 Gianturco-Roubin). Femoral approach was used in 98% of cases with 8F (65%) or 6F guiding catheter (35%). Indications for stenting were elective (70%) or after failed PTCA(30%). The stents were expanded with a non compliant balloon (final diameter = 3.46 ± 0.42 mm) at 10 bars. OCA results were:Empty CellBefore stentingAftar stentingReference diameter (mm)3.02 ± 042321 ± 051Minimal luminal diameter (mm)095 ± 0482.79 ± 0.60*Diameter stenosis (%)68 ± 1513 ± 9*Area stenosis (%)88 ± 925 ± 16**p &lt; 0.001 p &lt; 0.001 One month major complications included 2 deaths (0.96%). 2 O-wave MI (0.96%) and 1 emergency CABG (0.5%). SST during the first month occured in 1 pt (0.5%). One pt (0.5%) required external compression for false aneurism and one (0.5%) blood transfusion for gastric hemorrhage. Pre and post coronary stenting treatment with ticlopidine regimen provides low rate of SST with acceptable vascular bleeding complications. Routine IVUS utility with this regimen remains uncertain.