Excimer Laser Coronary Angioplasty in Coronary Lesions: Use and Safety From the NCDR/CATH PCI Registry.

[Figure: see text].

The IMPact on Revascularization Outcomes of intraVascular ultrasound-guided treatment of complex lesions and Economic impact (IMPROVE) trial: Study design and rationale.

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown in clinical trials, registries, and meta-analyses to reduce recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events after PCI. However, IVUS utilization remains low. An increasing number of high-risk or complex coronary artery lesions are treated with PCI, and we hypothesize that the impact of IVUS in guiding treatment of these complex lesions will be of increased importance in reducing major adverse cardiovascular events while remaining cost-effective. The "IMPact on Revascularization Outcomes of intraVascular ultrasound-guided treatment of complex lesions and Economic impact" trial (registered on clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04221815) is a multicenter, international, clinical trial randomizing subjects to IVUS-guided versus angiography-guided PCI in a 1:1 ratio. Patients undergoing PCI involving a complex lesion are eligible for enrollment. Complex lesion is defined as involving at least 1 of the following characteristics: chronic total occlusion, in-stent restenosis, severe coronary artery calcification, long lesion (≥28 mm), or bifurcation lesion. The clinical investigation will be conducted at approximately 120 centers in North America and Europe, enrolling approximately 2,500 to 3,100 randomized subjects with an adaptive design. The primary clinical end point is the rate of target vessel failure at 12 months, defined as the composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, and ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization. The co-primary imaging end point is the final post-PCI minimum stent area assessed by IVUS. The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of IVUS guidance on the PCI treatment of complex lesions.

Sex Differences in Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio or Fractional Flow Reserve-Guided Revascularization Strategy.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate sex differences in procedural characteristics and clinical outcomes of instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR)- and fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided revascularization strategies. BACKGROUND: An iFR-guided strategy has shown a lower revascularization rate than an FFR-guided strategy, without differences in clinical outcomes. METHODS: This is a post hoc analysis of the DEFINE-FLAIR (Functional Lesion Assessment of Intermediate stenosis to guide Revascularization) study, in which 601 women and 1,891 men were randomized to iFR- or FFR-guided strategy. The primary endpoint was 1-year major adverse cardiac events (MACE), a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or unplanned revascularization. RESULTS: Among the entire population, women had a lower number of functionally significant lesions per patient (0.31 ± 0.51 vs. 0.43 ± 0.59; p < 0.001) and less frequently underwent revascularization than men (42.1% vs. 53.1%; p < 0.001). There was no difference in mean iFR value according to sex (0.91 ± 0.09 vs. 0.91 ± 0.10; p = 0.442). However, the mean FFR value was lower in men than in women (0.83 ± 0.09 vs. 0.85 ± 0.10; p = 0.001). In men, an FFR-guided strategy was associated with a higher rate of revascularization than an iFR-guided strategy (57.1% vs. 49.3%; p = 0.001), but this difference was not observed in women (41.4% vs. 42.6%; p = 0.757). There was no difference in MACE rates between iFR- and FFR-guided strategies in both women (5.4% vs. 5.6%, adjusted hazard ratio: 1.10; 95% confidence interval: 0.50 to 2.43; p = 0.805) and men (6.6% vs. 7.0%, adjusted hazard ratio: 0.98; 95% confidence interval: 0.66 to 1.46; p = 0.919). CONCLUSIONS: An FFR-guided strategy was associated with a higher rate of revascularization than iFR-guided strategy in men, but not in women. However, iFR- and FFR-guided strategies showed comparable clinical outcomes, regardless of sex. (Functional Lesion Assessment of Intermediate Stenosis to guide Revascularization [DEFINE-FLAIR]; NCT02053038).

Comparison of Major Adverse Cardiac Events Between Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio and Fractional Flow Reserve-Guided Strategy in Patients With or Without Type 2 Diabetes: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Invasive physiologic indices such as fractional flow reserve (FFR) and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) are used in clinical practice. Nevertheless, comparative prognostic outcomes of iFR-guided and FFR-guided treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes have not yet been fully investigated. Objective: To compare 1-year clinical outcomes of iFR-guided or FFR-guided treatment in patients with and without diabetes in the Functional Lesion Assessment of Intermediate Stenosis to Guide Revascularization (DEFINE-FLAIR) trial. Design, Setting, and Participants: The DEFINE-FLAIR trial is a multicenter, international, randomized, double-blinded trial that randomly assigned 2492 patients in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either iFR-guided or FFR-guided coronary revascularization. Patients were eligible for trial inclusion if they had intermediate coronary artery disease (40%-70% diameter stenosis) in at least 1 native coronary artery. Data were analyzed between January 2014 and December 2015. Interventions: According to the study protocol, iFR of 0.89 or less and FFR of 0.80 or less were used as criteria for revascularization. When iFR or FFR was higher than the prespecified threshold, revascularization was deferred. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as the composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or unplanned revascularization at 1 year. The incidence of MACE was compared according to the presence of diabetes in iFR-guided and FFR-guided groups. Results: Among the total trial population (2492 patients), 758 patients (30.4%) had diabetes. Mean age of the patients was 66 years, 76% were men (1868 of 2465), and 80% of patients presented with stable angina (1983 of 2465). In the nondiabetes population (68.5%; 1707 patients), iFR guidance was associated with a significantly higher rate of deferral of revascularization than the FFR-guided group (56.5% [n = 477 of 844] vs 46.6% [n = 402 of 863]; P < .001). However, it was not different between the 2 groups in the diabetes population (42.1% [n = 161 of 382] vs 47.1% [n = 177 of 376]; P = .15). At 1 year, the diabetes population showed a significantly higher rate of MACE than the nondiabetes population (8.6% vs 5.6%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.88; 95% CI, 1.28-2.64; P < .001). However, there was no significant difference in MACE rates between iFR-guided and FFR-guided groups in both the diabetes (10.0% vs 7.2%; adjusted HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 0.78-2.25; P = .30) and nondiabetes population (4.7% vs 6.4%; HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.51-1.35; P = .45) (interaction P = .25). Conclusions and Relevance: The diabetes population showed significantly higher risk of MACE than the nondiabetes population, even with the iFR-guided or FFR-guided treatment. The iFR-guided and FFR-guided treatment showed comparable risk of MACE and provided equal safety in selecting revascularization target among patients with diabetes. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02053038.

Reversing the "Risk-Treatment Paradox" of Bleeding in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Risk-Concordant Use of Bleeding Avoidance Strategies Is Associated With Reduced Bleeding and Lower Costs.

Background Bleeding is a common, morbid, and costly complication of percutaneous coronary intervention. While bleeding avoidance strategies ( BAS ) are effective, they are used paradoxically less in patients at high risk of bleeding. Whether a patient-centered approach to specifically increase the risk-concordant use of BAS and, thus, reverse the risk-treatment paradox is associated with reduced bleeding and costs is unknown. Methods and Results We implemented an intervention to reverse the bleeding risk-treatment paradox at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO, and examined: (1) the temporal trends in BAS use and (2) the association of risk-concordant BAS use with bleeding and hospital costs of percutaneous coronary intervention. Among 3519 percutaneous coronary interventions, there was a significantly increasing trend ( P=0.002) in risk-concordant use of BAS . The bleeding incidence was 2% in the risk-concordant group versus 9% in the risk-discordant group (absolute risk difference, 7%; number needed to treat, 14). Risk-concordant BAS use was associated with a 67% (95% confidence interval, 52-78%; P<0.001) reduction in the risk of bleeding and a $4738 (95% confidence interval, 3353-6122; P<0.001) reduction in per-patient percutaneous coronary intervention hospitalization costs (21.6% cost-savings). Conclusions In this study, patient-centered care directly aimed to make treatment-related decisions based on predicted risk of bleeding, led to more risk-concordant use of BAS and reversal of the risk-treatment paradox. This, in turn, was associated with a reduction in bleeding and hospitalization costs. Larger multicentered studies are needed to corroborate these results. As clinical medicine moves toward personalization, both patients and hospitals can benefit from a simple practice change that encourages objectivity and mitigates variability in care.

Association of Same-Day Discharge After Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the United States With Costs and Outcomes.

Importance: Same-day discharge (SDD) after elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with lower costs and preferred by patients. However, to our knowledge, contemporary patterns of SDD after elective PCI with respect to the incidence, hospital variation, trends, costs, and safety outcomes in the United States are unknown. Objective: To examine (1) the incidence and trends in SDD; (2) hospital variation in SDD; (3) the association between SDD and readmissions for bleeding, acute kidney injury (AKI), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or mortality at 30, 90, and 365 days after PCI; and (4) hospital costs of SDD and its drivers. Design, Setting, and Participants: This observational cross-sectional cohort study included 672 470 patients enrolled in the nationally representative Premier Healthcare Database who underwent elective PCI from 493 hospitals between January 2006 and December 2015 with 1-year follow-up. Exposures: Same-day discharge, defined by identical dates of admission, PCI procedure, and discharge. Main Outcomes and Measures: Death, bleeding requiring a blood transfusion, AKI and AMI at 30, 90, or 365 days after PCI, and costs from hospitals' perspective, inflated to 2016. Results: Among 672 470 elective PCIs, 221 997 patients (33.0%) were women, 30 711 (4.6%) were Hispanic, 51 961 (7.7%) were African American, and 491 823 (73.1%) were white. The adjusted rate of SDD was 3.5% (95% CI, 3.0%-4.0%), which increased from 0.4% in 2006 to 6.3% in 2015. We observed substantial hospital variation for SDD from 0% to 83% (median incidence rate ratio, 3.82; 95% CI, 3.48-4.23), implying an average (median) 382% likelihood of SDD at one vs another hospital. Among SDD (vs non-SDD) patients, there was no higher risk of death, bleeding, AKI, or AMI at 30, 90, or 365 days. Same-day discharge was associated with a large cost savings of $5128 per procedure (95% CI, $5006-$5248), driven by reduced supply and room and boarding costs. A shift from existing SDD practices to match top-decile SDD hospitals could annually save $129 million in this sample and $577 million if adopted throughout the United States. However, residual confounding may be present, limiting the precision of the cost estimates. Conclusions and Relevance: Over 2006 to 2015, SDD after elective PCI was infrequent, with substantial hospital variation. Given the safety and large savings of more than $5000 per PCI associated with SDD, greater and more consistent use of SDD could markedly increase the overall value of PCI care.

Novel Patient-Centered Approach to Facilitate Same-Day Discharge in Patients Undergoing Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Same-day discharge (SDD) after elective percutaneous coronary intervention is safe, less costly, and preferred by patients, but it is usually performed in low-risk patients, if at all. To increase the appropriate use of SDD in more complex patients, we implemented a "patient-centered" protocol based on risk of complications at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. METHODS AND RESULTS: Our objectives were as follows: (1) to evaluate time trends in SDD; (2) to compare (a) mortality, bleeding, and acute kidney injury, (b) patient satisfaction, and (c) hospital costs by SDD versus no SDD (NSDD); and (3) to compare SDD eligibility by our patient-centered approach versus Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions guidelines. Our patient-centered approach was based on prospectively identifying personalized bleeding, mortality, and acute kidney injury risks, with a personalized safe contrast limit and mitigating those risks. We analyzed Barnes-Jewish Hospital's National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry data from July 1, 2009 to September 30, 2015 (N=1752). SDD increased rapidly from 0% to 77% (P<0.001), independent of radial access. Although SDD patients were comparable to NSDD patients, SDD was not associated with adverse outcomes (0% mortality, 0% bleeds, and 0.4% acute kidney injury). Patient satisfaction was high with SDD. Propensity score-adjusted costs were $7331 lower/SDD patient (P<0.001), saving an estimated $1.8 million annually. Only 16 patients (6.95%) met the eligibility for SDD by Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions guidelines, implying our patient-centered approach markedly increased SDD eligibility. CONCLUSIONS: With a patient-centered approach, SDD rapidly increased and was safe in 75% of patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention, despite patient complexity. Patient satisfaction was high, and hospital costs were lower. Patient-centered decision making to facilitate SDD is an important opportunity to improve the value of percutaneous coronary intervention.

High screen failure rate in patients with resistant hypertension: Findings from SYMPLICITY HTN-3.

BACKGROUND: The SYMPLICITY HTN-3 trial, which randomized subjects to renal denervation (RDN) or sham control, was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RDN for the treatment of resistant hypertension. Outcomes were previously reported. This retrospective analysis evaluated reasons for screen failure (SF) for randomization in the trial. METHODS: SYMPLICITY HTN-3 enrolled subjects with office systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥160 mmHg on stable and maximal doses of ≥3 antihypertensive medication classes. Blood pressure was measured during screening visit (SV) 1 and SV2 a minimum of 2 weeks later to ensure resistant hypertension and to exclude white-coat hypertension. We analyzed baseline characteristics and reasons for SF at each SV and changes in BP between SVs. RESULTS: Among 1,415 patients screened, 880 (62%) did not meet criteria for randomization. Compared with randomized patients, those in the SF cohort were more likely to be older (58.7 vs. 57.4 years, P=.029), current smokers (14.5% vs. 10.7%, P=.041), and prescribed fewer antihypertensive medications (4.7 vs. 5.1, P<.001). The predominant reason for SF at SV2 was office SBP <160 mmHg despite office SBP ≥160 mmHg at SV1. CONCLUSION: Screening patients with resistant hypertension on maximal doses of ≥3 antihypertensive drugs led to a high SF rate. Screen failures were most common at SV1 and were due to failing the office SBP entry criteria. Not meeting ambulatory SBP criteria at SV2 was a secondary reason for SF, often due to white-coat hypertension; thus, 24-hour ambulatory monitoring is important to validate resistant hypertension.

Left Ventricular Unloading by Impella Device Versus Surgical Vent During Extracorporeal Life Support.

BACKGROUND: Patients supported with extracorporeal life support (ECLS) can experience severe complications from increased left ventricular (LV) afterload. The Impella (Abiomed, Danvers, MA) percutaneous ventricular assist device (PVAD) may offer an attractive option for unloading the LV in these patients. This study describes the efficacy and outcomes of PVAD use during ECLS compared with surgically placed LV vent. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we reviewed patients supported by ECLS with PVAD or surgical LV vent for cardiogenic shock between April 2010 and May 2016. Included were 23 patients with PVADs and 22 with surgical vents. Patients' baseline characteristics, hemodynamic data, and outcomes were collected immediately preceding combined support initiation, at 48 hours, intensive care unit discharge, and 30 days. RESULTS: After 48 hours, pulmonary artery diastolic pressure was significantly reduced in the PVAD (23.3 ± 8.4 vs 15.6 ± 4.2, p = 0.02) and surgical vent groups (20.1 ± 5.9 vs 15.6 ± 5.4, p = 0.01), and radiographic evidence of pulmonary edema was reduced or unchanged in 90% of PVAD patients and in 76% of surgical vent patients. The primary end points of survival to 30 days (43% vs 32%, p = 0.42) and intensive care unit discharge (35% vs 23%, p = 0.37) were not different between the two methods of support. The PVAD and surgical vent groups were also not significantly different in the rate of vascular complications or in the number decannulated from ECLS and transitioned to durable LV assist device. CONCLUSIONS: PVAD use in ECLS patients is an effective means of LV unloading and preventing worsened pulmonary edema, with outcomes and complications that are comparable to surgical LV vent.

Repeat revascularisation outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate repeat revascularisation outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We performed a single-centre, retrospective matched cohort study of patients with RA matched to non-RA patients post PCI. Primary endpoints were time to target lesion revascularisation (TLR) and target vessel revascularisation (TVR) analysed by Cox proportional hazard shared frailty models. RESULTS: A total of 228 lesions (143 patients) were identified in the RA cohort and matched to 677 control lesions (541 patients). TLR occurred in 33% (n=75) of RA lesions versus 25% (n=166) of control lesions (adjusted HR 1.3; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.8). TVR occurred in 39% (n=89) of RA lesions versus 31% (n=213) of control lesions (adjusted HR 1.15; 95% CI 0.82 to 1.6). There was a significant hazard for TLR (adjusted HR 1.48; 95% CI 1.03 to 2.13) and TVR (adjusted HR 1.55; 95% CI 1.12 to 2.14) when excluding lesions with revascularisation events or follow-up less than 1 year. When stratified by treatment with methotrexate or tumour necrosis factor (TNF) α inhibitors or both at discharge, lesions from patients with RA treated with these agents had similar TVR and TLR as control lesions, whereas lesions from patients with RA not treated with these agents had significantly more TLR and TVR (TLR adjusted HR 1.48; 95% CI 1.08 to 2.03; TVR adjusted HR 1.38; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.84). CONCLUSIONS: RA predisposes to repeat revascularisation, specifically in patients followed after the 1-year landmark. In the absence of RA treatments including methotrexate and/or TNFα inhibitors, RA is associated with a 50% increased relative risk of repeat revascularisation following PCI. These findings emphasise the adverse effects of chronic inflammation on the durability of PCI and provide further support for aggressive anti-inflammatory treatment in patients with RA.

Impact of intravascular ultrasound on the long-term clinical outcomes in the treatment of coronary ostial lesions.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients with ostial lesions who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with and without the use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). BACKGROUND: A higher rate of adverse cardiac events is associated with PCI of ostial lesions as compared with nonostial disease. METHODS: From 7/2002 to 8/2010, 225 patients with 233 coronary ostial lesions underwent PCI with (n = 82) and without (n = 143) IVUS guidance. Ostial lesions included both native aorto-ostial or major coronary vessel (left anterior descending, left circumflex, and ramus intermedius) lesions. Clinical outcomes [cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target lesion revascularization (TLR)] at a mean follow-up of 4.2 ± 2.5 years were compared between patients undergoing PCI of an ostial lesion with and without use of IVUS using univariate and propensity score adjusted analyses. RESULTS: Aorto-ostial lesions (n = 109) comprised 47% of lesions, whereas the remaining lesions (53%) involved major coronary vessels. After propensity score adjustment, IVUS use was associated with lower rates of the composite of cardiovascular death, MI, or TLR (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.29-0.99; P = 0.04), composite MI or TLR (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.18-0.83; P = 0.01), and MI (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.11-0.85; P = 0.02) as compared with no IVUS. The use of IVUS was also associated with a trend towards a lower rate of TLR (HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.17-1.02; P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: PCI of coronary ostial lesions with the use of IVUS was associated with significantly lower rates of adverse cardiac events.

Dynamic Evaluation of Coronary Anomalies Originating from the Opposite Sinus of Valsalva (ACAOS).

OPINION STATEMENT: Coronary anomalies originating from the opposite sinus of Valsalva (ACAOS) are a rare anomaly associated with sudden cardiac death. Dynamic, invasive evaluation using coronary angiography, intravascular ultrasound, and fractional flow reserve can more clearly identify important pathophysiologic variants and guide treatment. This dynamic evaluation can assist the clinician in the appropriate surgical and percutaneous treatment options and aid in patient counseling. Long-term outcomes data regarding treatment and prognosis is still lacking.

Association of Lower Fractional Flow Reserve Values With Higher Risk of Adverse Cardiac Events for Lesions Deferred Revascularization Among Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The safety of deferring revascularization based on fractional flow reserve (FFR) during acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is unclear. We evaluated the association of FFR and adverse cardiac events among patients with coronary lesions deferred revascularization based on FFR in the setting of ACS versus non-ACS. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population (674 patients; 816 lesions) was divided into ACS (n=334) and non-ACS (n=340) groups based on the diagnosis when revascularization was deferred based on FFR values >0.80 between October 2002 and July 2010. The association and interaction between FFR and clinical outcomes was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models within each group (mean follow-up of 4.5±2.1 years). Subsequent revascularization of a deferred lesion was classified as a deferred lesion intervention (DLI), whereas the composite of DLI or myocardial infarction (MI) attributed to a deferred lesion was designated as deferred lesion failure (DLF). In the non-ACS group, lower FFR values were not associated with any increase in adverse cardiac events. In the ACS group, every 0.01 decrease in FFR was associated with a significantly higher rate of cardiovascular death, MI, or DLI (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 1.12), MI or DLI (HR, 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.14), DLF (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.18), MI (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.14), and DLI (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.18). CONCLUSION: Lower FFR values among ACS patients with coronary lesions deferred revascularization based on FFR are associated with a significantly higher rate of adverse cardiac events. This association was not observed in non-ACS patients.

Current developments and future applications of intracoronary hemodynamics.

Intracoronary hemodynamic assessment of the physiologic significance of coronary lesions improves clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. Coronary flow velocity reserve, fractional flow reserve, instantaneous wave-free ratio, and index of microcirculatory resistance utilize sensor-mounted guidewires to approximate coronary flow. Coronary flow velocity reserve and fractional flow reserve rely on pharmacologic administration of adenosine to achieve hyperemia and diagnose epicardial lesion severity. As an adenosine-free index, the instantaneous wave-free ratio utilizes a wave-free period in the mid-late diastole during which resistance is constant and low to assess lesion significance. The index of microcirculatory resistance combines hyperemic pressure measurements with thermodilution to quantify microvascular resistance. We review the physiology, clinical trials, and clinical applications of these invasive hemodynamic assessments.

Coronary bifurcations as you have never seen them: the Visible Heart® Laboratory bifurcation programme.

The Visible Heart® Laboratory is an original experimental laboratory in which harvested animal hearts are resuscitated and connected to a support machine in order to beat outside the animal body. Resuscitated animal hearts may be exposed to various types of endovascular intervention under full, multimodality inspection. This unique experimental setting allows the performance of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a setting which resembles a standard catheterisation laboratory set-up, and contemporaneously allows unique multimodality imaging. For these reasons, the performance of PCI on bifurcations in the Visible Heart® Laboratory may improve the knowledge of the dynamic stent deformations and stent-vessel wall interactions associated with the different steps of the various techniques for bifurcation stenting. Furthermore, the collected images may also serve as a novel educative resource for physicians. The performance of bifurcation stenting in the Visible Heart® Laboratory is a promising experimental setting to gain novel information regarding any existing or future PCI technique to treat coronary bifurcations.

Risk model for estimating the 1-year risk of deferred lesion intervention following deferred revascularization after fractional flow reserve assessment.

AIMS: Although lesions deferred revascularization following fractional flow reserve (FFR) assessment have a low risk of adverse cardiac events, variability in risk for deferred lesion intervention (DLI) has not been previously evaluated. The aim of this study was to develop a prediction model to estimate 1-year risk of DLI for coronary lesions where revascularization was not performed following FFR assessment. METHODS AND RESULTS: A prediction model for DLI was developed from a cohort of 721 patients with 882 coronary lesions where revascularization was deferred based on FFR between 10/2002 and 7/2010. Deferred lesion intervention was defined as any revascularization of a lesion previously deferred following FFR. The final DLI model was developed using stepwise Cox regression and validated using bootstrapping techniques. An algorithm was constructed to predict the 1-year risk of DLI. During a mean (±SD) follow-up period of 4.0 ± 2.3 years, 18% of lesions deferred after FFR underwent DLI; the 1-year incidence of DLI was 5.3%, while the predicted risk of DLI varied from 1 to 40%. The final Cox model included the FFR value, age, current or former smoking, history of coronary artery disease (CAD) or prior percutaneous coronary intervention, multi-vessel CAD, and serum creatinine. The c statistic for the DLI prediction model was 0.66 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.61-0.70). CONCLUSION: Patients deferred revascularization based on FFR have variation in their risk for DLI. A clinical prediction model consisting of five clinical variables and the FFR value can help predict the risk of DLI in the first year following FFR assessment.

Coronary subclavian steal syndrome.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Coronary subclavian steal syndrome (CSSS) is the reversal of blood flow in an internal mammary artery bypass graft that results in coronary ischemia. CSSS is an uncommon but treatable cause of coronary ischemia. In this review, we highlight the historical background and epidemiology of CSSS, common clinical presentations, diagnosis of CSSS and management strategies for relieving ischemia. We also present a case report to illustrate the complexity of CSSS and percutaneous management using current technology. RECENT FINDINGS: Most commonly, CSSS results from atherosclerotic stenosis of the subclavian artery and occurs in 2.5-4.5% of patients referred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). All patients referred for CABG should have bilateral noninvasive brachial blood pressures checked to screen for the underlying subclavian stenosis. A review of 98 case reports with 128 patients demonstrated a diverse clinical presentation of CSSS, including acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina and acute systolic heart failure. Resolution of CSSS symptoms has been reported with both surgical and percutaneous revascularization. Long-term patency with either revascularization strategy is excellent. Percutaneous revascularization is largely considered the first-line therapy for CSSS and can be safely performed prior to CABG to prevent CSSS. SUMMARY: CSSS should be suspected in patients presenting with angina, heart failure or myocardial infarction after CABG. Successful amelioration of CSSS symptoms can be safely and effectively performed via percutaneous revascularization.

Left main coronary artery dissection in pediatric sport-related chest trauma.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic coronary artery dissection (CAD) after blunt chest trauma (BCT) is extremely rare, particularly in children. Among coronary dissections, left main coronary artery (LMCA) dissection is the least common, with only two pediatric cases reported previously. Manifestations of coronary dissections can range from ST segment changes to sudden death. However, these manifestations are not specific and can be present with other cardiac injuries. To our knowledge we present the first pediatric case of traumatic LMCA dissection after sport-related BCT that was treated successfully with coronary stenting. CASE REPORT: A 14-year-old child sustained BCT during a baseball game. Early in the clinical course, he had episodes of ventricular dysrhythmias, diffuse ST changes, rising troponin I, and hemodynamic instability. Emergent cardiac catheterization revealed an LMCA dissection with extension into the proximal left anterior descending artery (LADA). A bare metal stent was placed from the LMCA to the LADA, which improved blood flow through the area of dissection. He has had almost full recovery of myocardial function and has been managed as an outpatient with oral heart failure and antiplatelet medications. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Our case highlights that CAD, although rare, can occur after pediatric BCT. Pediatric emergency responders must have a heightened awareness that evidence of ongoing myocardial ischemia, such as evolving and focal myocardial infarction on electrocardiogram, persistent elevation or rising troponin I, and worsening cardiogenic shock, can represent a coronary event and warrant further evaluation. Cardiac catheterization can be both a diagnostic and therapeutic modality in such cases. Early recognition and management is vital for myocardial recovery.

Outcomes of coronary stenoses deferred revascularization for borderline versus nonborderline fractional flow reserve values.

Current evidence supports deferral of revascularization for lesions with fractional flow reserve (FFR) values >0.80. The natural history after deferral of revascularization of lesions with borderline FFR values is unknown. This study evaluated the outcomes of patients after deferred revascularization of coronary stenoses based on a borderline FFR value. We retrospectively studied 720 patients with 881 intermediate-severity coronary stenoses who underwent FFR assessment from October 2002 to July 2010 and were deferred revascularization. Patients were divided into gray zone (0.75 to 0.80), borderline (0.81 to 0.85), and nonborderline (>0.85) FFR groups. Any subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting of a deferred stenosis during follow-up was classified as a deferred lesion intervention (DLI). Patient and/or lesion characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between the FFR groups using univariate and propensity score-adjusted inverse probability of weighting Cox proportional hazards analyses. During a mean follow-up of 4.5 ± 2.1 years, 157 deferred lesions (18%) underwent DLI by percutaneous coronary intervention (n = 117) or coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 40). No statistically significant differences were observed in clinical outcomes between the gray zone and borderline FFR groups. Lesions with a borderline FFR were associated with a significantly higher risk of DLI compared with lesions with nonborderline FFR values (hazard ratio 1.63, 95% confidence interval 1.14 to 2.33, p = 0.007). Lesions deferred revascularization because of a borderline FFR (0.81 to 0.85) were associated with a higher risk of DLI compared with lesions with a nonborderline FFR (>0.85). Further study is needed to determine the optimal management of coronary stenoses with a borderline FFR value.