Arterial switch operation in a child with commissural malalignment and unusual coronary anatomy.

The arterial switch operation has evolved to become the treatment of choice for transposition of the great arteries and is one of the greatest success stories in congenital heart surgery. The most crucial step of the operation is the coronary artery translocation; therefore, it is of paramount importance for surgeons to know every single detail about the morphology and spatial relationships of the coronary arteries and the roots of the great vessels. However, sometimes the surgeon may face unfavourable scenarios such as major commissural malalignment and anomalous coronary artery patterns and need to be prepared to carry out a successful coronary artery translocation. Herein, we demonstrate that the trapdoor technique is useful for transferring coronary arteries in a neonate with major commissural malalignment and unusual coronary anatomy during the arterial switch operation.

Characteristics of Right-Sided Accessory Pathways Associated With Right Cardiac Veins.

BACKGROUND: The anatomy of myocardial fibers around the right cardiac veins (RCVs) and their roles in accessory pathways (APs) are rarely reported. METHODS: Six RCV-APs were identified from 566 patients with right-sided APs. Mapping of retrograde atrial activation was performed using CARTO 3 system under orthodromic tachycardia or right ventricular pacing. Venography of RCVs was acquired at the earliest retrograde atrial activation. RESULTS: Patients enrolled had a median age of 30 (11-51) years, 5 of them were male. Venography of RCVs could be classified into 3 distinct patterns based on the identified ventricular branches, right marginal vein only (type I; n=3), both right marginal vein and anterior cardiac veins (type II; n=2), and anterior cardiac vein only (type III; n=1). Patients with type I venography had rS QRS pattern in lead V1, negative delta wave in lead III and negative or isoelectric delta wave in lead aVF. However, patients with type II and III venography had QS QRS patterns in lead V1 and variable patterns of delta wave in inferior leads. Earliest retrograde atrial activation was found at a median of 16.75 (14.60-20.00) mm away from the tricuspid annulus, all with A larger than V. At the earliest retrograde atrial activation, far-field ventricular electrogram was found 30 ms later than QRS onset in 1 patient under sinus rhythm. AP conduction was eliminated by mechanical pressure in 2 and by radiofrequency ablation in 4 at the ostium of the veins colocalizing with the earliest retrograde activation of the right atrium. No recurrence was observed during 36 (10-60) months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The RCV-AP is a rare form of right-sided APs characterized by atrial insertions distant from the annulus. ECG-speculated ventricular insertion sites conformed to the location of identified RCVs.

Agreement of Fractional Flow Reserve Estimated by Computed Tomography With Invasively Measured Fractional Flow Reserve: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is the ratio of blood pressure measured distal to a stenosis and pressure proximal to a stenosis. FFR can be estimated noninvasively using computed tomography (CT) although the usefulness of this technique remains controversial. This meta-analysis evaluated the agreement of FFR estimated by CT (FFR-CT) with invasively measured FFR. The study also evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of FFR-CT, defined as the ability of FFR-CT to classify lesions as hemodynamically significant (invasive FFR ≤0.8) or insignificant (invasive FFR >0.8). METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-three studies reporting on 7291 blood vessels from 5236 patients were included. A moderate positive linear relationship between FFR-CT and invasively measured FFR was observed (Spearman correlation coefficient: 0.67). Agreement between the 2 measures increased as invasively measured FFR values approached 1. The overall diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of FFR-CT were 82.2%, 80.9%, and 83.1%, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of 90% could be demonstrated for FFR-CT values >0.90 and <0.49. The diagnostic accuracy of off-site tools was 79.4% and the diagnostic accuracy of on-site tools was 84.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The agreement between FFR-CT and invasive FFR is moderate although agreement is highest in vessels with FFR-CT >0.9. Diagnostic accuracy varies widely with FFR-CT value but is above 90% for FFR-CT values >0.90 and <0.49. Furthermore, on-site and off-site tools have similar performance. Ultimately, FFR-CT may be a useful adjunct to CT coronary angiography as a gatekeeper for invasive coronary angiogram.

Anomalous circumflex artery encircling the aortic annulus: implications for mitral valve repair.

Injury to coronary arteries during mitral surgery is a rare but life-threatening procedural complication, an anomalous origin and course of the left circumflex artery (LCx) increase this risk. Recognizing the anomaly by the characteristic angiographic pattern and identifying its relationship with the surrounding anatomical structure using imaging techniques, mainly transesophageal echocardiography (TOE) or coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), is of crucial importance in setting up the best surgical strategy. We report a case of anomalous origin of a circumflex artery (LCx) from the proximal portion of the right coronary artery (RCA) with a pathway running retroaortically through the mitro-aortic space. An integrated diagnostic approach using a multidisciplinary team with a cardiologist and an imaging radiologist allowed us to decide the surgical strategy. We successfully performed a mitral valvular repair using a minimally invasive minithoracotomic approach and implanting a complete semirigid ring.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in a Male Patient With Fibromuscular Dysplasia.

A male patient presented with cardiac arrest attributed to anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction from type 1 spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Subsequent imaging confirmed fibromuscular dysplasia in noncoronary arterial segments. The patient was started on guideline-directed medical therapy and referred to cardiac rehabilitation, showing substantial improvements in clinical status. With greater awareness and advancements in imaging, spontaneous coronary artery dissection has been more frequently recognized, and although as many as 81% to 92% of all cases occur in female patients, it can be seen among men, as well. Adjunctive imaging for arteriopathies may help establish the diagnosis for equivocal causes of acute coronary syndrome in women and men.

Controlled antegrade and retrograde subintimal tracking (CART) for recanalisation of chronic total occlusions.

BACKGROUND: Controlled antegrade and retrograde subintimal tracking (CART) is rarely performed in contemporary chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). AIMS: We aimed to analyse the indications, procedural characteristics, and outcomes of CART at a high-volume CTO programme. METHODS: We included all patients undergoing a retrograde CTO PCI in which CART was performed at our institution between January 2019 and November 2023. The primary endpoint was technical success. RESULTS: Of 1,582 CTO PCI, the retrograde approach was performed in 603 procedures (38.1%), and CART was used in 45 cases (7.5%). The mean age was 69.1±10.3 years, 93.3% were male, and prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery was present in 68.9%. The most common target CTO vessel was the right coronary artery (48.9%). Anatomical complexity was high (Multicentre CTO Registry of Japan [J-CTO] score of 3.6±0.9). The most common collateral used for CART was a saphenous vein graft (62.2%). Advanced calcium modification was required in 15.6% of cases. CART was successful in 73.3%. Technical and procedural success was 82.2%. Coronary perforation was diagnosed in 4 subjects (8.9%), but only 1 patient (2.2%) suffered tamponade and required pericardiocentesis. No other in-hospital major adverse cardiac events were diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: CART is a useful technique in selected, very complex CTOs tackled with the retrograde approach. Success rates were high, while complication rates were low, considering the high anatomical complexity and baseline patient risk.

Predictors of late lumen enlargement after drug-coated balloon angioplasty for de novo coronary lesions.

BACKGROUND: Late lumen enlargement (LLE) - a positive remodelling phenomenon - after drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty for stable coronary disease contributes to a lower restenosis rate. However, lesion characteristics promoting LLE remain unclear. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate predictive lesion characteristics for LLE using serial optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) following DCB angioplasty for de novo coronary artery lesions. METHODS: This retrospective, single-centre observational study included patients with angina pectoris who underwent paclitaxel-coated balloon angioplasty without stenting under OFDI guidance as well as follow-up OFDI. OFDI endpoints were lumen volume, plaque phenotype, and procedure-associated dissection. LLE was defined as a ≥10% increase in the lumen volume of the treated lesion at follow-up. RESULTS: Between August 2016 and December 2019, among patients with successful DCB angioplasty, 108 lesions (83 patients) had available follow-up imaging after a median of 6.1 months. LLE was detected in 44 (40.7%) lesions. Fibrous/fibrocalcific and layered plaques had significantly larger lumen volumes at follow-up than immediately after the index procedure, whereas lipid plaques exhibited no significant difference. Medial dissection with an arc >90° revealed an increased lumen volume. Multivariate analysis showed that layered plaques (odds ratio [OR] 8.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.92-39.7; p=0.005) and medial dissection with an arc >90° (OR 4.65, 95% CI: 1.63-13.3; p=0.004) were independent LLE predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Layered plaques and extensive medial dissection after DCB angioplasty were associated with higher LLE occurrence in de novo coronary lesions. These findings may be clinically applicable to DCB therapeutic strategies based on plaque features.

Coronary artery calcium score as independent risk factor of obstructive coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To prove an independence of CAC score comparatively to conventional risk factors such as age, and dyslipidemia especially in patients under forty years of age. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: Thirty-four asymptomatic adult patients with no prior established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus or severe comorbidities, except of complex clinical examination, underwent CT scan with evaluation of coronary artery calcium score. RESULTS: Results: The average total cholesterol level in the group was (5.62±1.02) mmol/l, indicating the presence of dyslipidemia. The average HDL level was (1.26±0.24) mmol/l, suggesting an average risk of atherosclerosis. The average LDL levels were within the borderline range at (3.63±1.01) mmol/l. The average triglyceride level was within the safe range at (1.93±1.08) mmol/l. The atherogenicity coefficient indicated a moderate risk of atherosclerosis with an average value of 3.64±1.31. The average coronary artery calcium score was 56.71±143.85, indicating minor plaques and a moderate risk of coronary artery disease. Correlation analysis revealed no significant correlation between age and the CAC score (r=0.1, p>0.05). However, reliable direct correlation of weak strength was found between the CAC score and LDL level (r=0.35, p<0.05). Direct correlations of weak strength were also observed between age and the levels of total cholesterol, LDL and the atherogenicity coefficient (r=0.43, 0.49, 0.42 respectively, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Coronary artery calcium score is a valuable screening tool for identifying potential obstructive coronary artery disease, not only for individuals aged forty and above, but also for younger asymptomatic patients.

Comparison of angiographic change in side-branch ostium after drug-coated balloon vs. drug-eluting stent vs. medication for the treatment of de novo coronary bifurcation lesions.

OBJECTIVES: Data on side-branch (SB) ostial effect after drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment in the context of de novo coronary bifurcation lesions are limited. We aimed to investigate the angiographic outcomes of SB ostium after DCB treatment compared with drug-eluting stents (DESs) implantation in the main vessel (MV) or optimal medical therapy (OMT) for the treatment of de novo coronary bifurcation lesions. METHODS: Serial angiographic changes in the SB ostium were compared between DCB, DES, and medication alone for MV treatment. Δ value was calculated by subtracting the follow-up value from the pre-procedure value. RESULTS: A total of 132 bifurcation lesions were included for analysis (44 lesions in DCB group; 38 lesions in DES group; 50 lesions in OMT group). The minimal lumen diameter (MLD) of SB ostium showed an increase at follow-up in the DCB group, whereas a decrease was observed in both the DES and OMT groups (ΔMLD: -0.16 ± 0.45 mm for DCB group vs. 0.50 ± 0.52 mm for DES group vs. 0.08 ± 0.38 mm for OMT group, p < 0.001). The diameter stenosis (DS) of SB ostium showed a marked decrease at follow-up in the DCB group, in contrast to an increase observed in both the DES and OMT groups (ΔDS: 8.01 ± 18.96% for DCB group vs. -18.68 ± 18.60% for DES group vs. -2.05 ± 14.58% for OMT group, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In de novo coronary bifurcation lesions, DCB treatment on the MV demonstrated favorable angiographic outcomes in the SB ostium at 6-9 month follow-up compared to DES implantation or OMT.

Renal Dysfunction Increases Risk of Adverse Cardiovascular Events in 5-Year Follow-Up Study of Intermediate Coronary Artery Lesions.

BACKGROUND Progression of chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) is influenced by chronic kidney disease (CKD). This 5-year follow-up study aimed to assess 100 patients with 118 intermediate coronary artery lesions evaluated by fractional flow reserve (FFR) and intravascular imaging stratified according to renal function. MATERIAL AND METHODS This prospective study enrolled patients with intermediate coronary stenosis identified by coronary angiogram. Patients with severe renal dysfunction (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <45 ml/min/1.73 m²) were excluded from the study. The remaining were divided into 2 groups according to eGFR: 45-60 ml/min/1.73 m² for mild-to-moderate renal dysfunction and >60 ml/min/1.73 m² for no renal dysfunction. We analyzed intermediate-grade stenoses (40-80% as assessed in coronary angiography) with the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT), FFR, and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). RESULTS Renal dysfunction patients were older (67.7±8.1 vs 63.6±9.7 years, P=0.044). Lesion characteristics, including plaque type and minimal lumen area in OCT, showed no significant differences between the renal dysfunction and no renal dysfunction groups. Thin-cap fibroatheroma, calcific plaques, lipidic plaques, and fibrous plaques had similar prevalence. FFR values and IVUS parameters did not significantly differ between the groups. Over a 5-year follow-up, individuals with mild-to-moderate renal dysfunction had an elevated risk of all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events in multivariate analyses adjusted for age and sex. CONCLUSIONS Mild-to-moderate renal dysfunction was not associated with significant differences in OCT- and IVUS-derived plaque morphology nor with functional indices characterizing intermediate-grade coronary stenoses. Renal dysfunction was related to a higher risk of all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events prevalence in 5-year follow-up.

Computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging to detect myocardial ischemia in patients with anxiety and obstructive coronary heart disease post-exposure to mental stressors.

This study aims to measure myocardial blood flow (MBF) using dynamic CT- myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) combined with mental stressors in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD) and in patients with anxiety and no obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCAD). A total of 30 patients with OCAD with 30 patients with ANOCAD were included in this analysis. Using the 17-segment model, the rest and stress phase MBF of major coronary arteries in participants were recorded respectively. Compared with ANOCAD patients, OCAD patients were more likely to have localized reduction of MBF (p < 0.05). For patients with ANOCAD, both global MBF and MBF of the main coronary arteries in the stress phase were lower than those in the rest phase (all p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in MBF among the main coronary arteries in the rest or stress phase (p = 0.25, p = 0.15). For patients with OCAD, the MBF of the target area was lower than that of the non-target area in both the rest and stress phase, and the MBF of the target area in the stress phase was lower than that in the rest phase (all p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in MBF between the rest or stress phase in the non-target area (p = 0.73). Under mental stress, the decrease in MBF in ANOCAD patients was diffuse, while the decrease in MBF in OCAD patients was localized. Dynamic CT-MPI combined with mental stressors can be used to detect MBF changes in anxiety patients.

Association of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy With Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction 8 to 10 Years After Delivery.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with subsequent adverse cardiac remodeling and cardiovascular disease. The role of myocardial microvascular disease among individuals with HDP and left ventricular (LV) remodeling as a potential link to cardiovascular disease is unknown. We aimed to determine whether individuals with HDP history have coronary microvascular dysfunction measured by coronary flow reserve 8 to 10 years after delivery and whether microvascular dysfunction correlates with LV remodeling. METHODS: Individuals with pregnancies delivered from 2008 to 2010 underwent burst-replenishment myocardial contrast echocardiography (2017-2020) to quantify myocardial perfusion at rest and during dobutamine stress. Video intensity versus time data were used to derive ß, the rate of rise of video intensity, a correlate for myocardial blood flow. Coronary flow reserve was calculated as the ratio of ß at peak stress to ß at rest, averaged across LV myocardial regions of interest. RESULTS: We studied 91 individuals (aged 38±6 and 9.1±0.9 years postdelivery) and 19 with a history of HDP. Individuals with coronary microvascular dysfunction (coronary flow reserve <2.0; n=13) had a higher proportion of HDP (46.2% versus 16.7%; P=0.026) and higher prepregnancy body mass index, baseline heart rate, and hemoglobin A1c compared with those without microvascular dysfunction. The association of coronary flow reserve and HDP was attenuated after adjusting for cardiometabolic factors (P=0.133). In exploratory subgroup analyses, individuals with both LV remodeling (relative wall thickness >0.42) and HDP (n=12) had the highest proportion of microvascular dysfunction (41.7% versus +HDP-LV remodeling [n=7] 14.3%; -HDP+LV remodeling [n=26] 7.7%; P=0.0498). CONCLUSIONS: In this small study, HDP history is associated with coronary microvascular dysfunction 1 decade after delivery, findings that may, in part, be driven by metabolic factors including obesity and diabetes. Microvascular dysfunction may contribute to cardiovascular disease among individuals with a history of HDP.

Clinical Value of Single-Projection Angiography-Derived FFR in Noninfarct-Related Artery.

BACKGROUND: The Murray law-based quantitative flow ratio (µFR) is an emerging technique that requires only 1 projection of coronary angiography with similar accuracy to quantitative flow ratio (QFR). However, it has not been validated for the evaluation of noninfarct-related artery (non-IRA) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) settings. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of µFR and the safety of deferring non-IRA lesions with µFR >0.80 in the setting of AMI. METHODS: µFR and QFR were analyzed for non-IRA lesions of patients with AMI enrolled in the FRAME-AMI trial (Fractional Flow Reserve Versus Angiography-Guided Strategy for Management of Non-Infarction Related Artery Stenosis in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction), consisting of fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention and angiography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention groups. The diagnostic accuracy of µFR was compared with QFR and FFR. Patients were classified by the non-IRA µFR value of 0.80 as a cutoff value. The primary outcome was a vessel-oriented composite outcome, a composite of cardiac death, non-IRA-related myocardial infarction, and non-IRA-related repeat revascularization. RESULTS: µFR and QFR analyses were feasible in 443 patients (552 lesions). µFR showed acceptable correlation with FFR (R=0.777; P<0.001), comparable C-index with QFR to predict FFR ≤0.80 (µFR versus QFR: 0.926 versus 0.961, P=0.070), and shorter total analysis time (mean, 32.7 versus 186.9 s; P<0.001). Non-IRA with µFR >0.80 and deferred percutaneous coronary intervention had a significantly lower risk of vessel-oriented composite outcome than non-IRA with performed percutaneous coronary intervention (3.4% versus 10.5%; hazard ratio, 0.37 [95% CI, 0.14-0.99]; P=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with multivessel AMI, µFR of non-IRA showed acceptable diagnostic accuracy comparable to that of QFR to predict FFR ≤0.80. Deferred non-IRA with µFR >0.80 showed a lower risk of vessel-oriented composite outcome than revascularized non-IRA. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02715518.

Quantitative analysis of blooming artifact caused by calcification based on X-ray energy difference using computed tomography.

Blooming artifacts caused by calcifications appearing on computed tomography (CT) images lead to an underestimation of the coronary artery lumen size, and higher X-ray energy levels are suggested to reduce the blooming artifacts with subjective visual assessment. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of higher X-ray energy levels on the quantitative measurement of adjacent pixels affected by calcification using CT images. In this two-part study, CT images were acquired from dual-energy CT scanners by changing the X-ray energy levels such as kilovoltage peak (kVp) and kilo-electron volts (keV). Adjacent pixels affected by calcification were measured using the brightened length, excluding the actual calcified length, as determined by the full width at third maximum. In a separate clinical study, the adjacent affected pixels associated with 23 calcifications across 10 patients were measured using the same method as that used in the phantom study. Phantom and clinical studies showed that the change in kVp (field of view [FOV] 300 mm: p = 0.167, 0.494, and 0.861 for vendors 1, 2, and 3, respectively) and keV levels (p = 0.178 for vendor 2) failed to reduce the adjacent pixels affected by calcification, respectively. Moreover, the change in keV levels showed different aspects of adjacent pixels affected by calcification in the phantom study (FOV 300 mm: no significant difference [p = 0.191], increase [p < 0.001], and decrease [p < 0.001] for vendors 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Quantitative measurements revealed no significant relationship between higher X-ray energy levels and the adjacent pixels affected by calcification.

Use of coronary artery calcium score and coronary CT angiography to guide cardiovascular prevention and treatment.

Currently, cardiovascular risk stratification to guide preventive therapy relies on clinical scores based on cardiovascular risk factors. However, the discriminative power of these scores is relatively modest. The use of coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and coronary CT angiography (CCTA) has surfaced as methods for enhancing the estimation of risk and potentially providing insights for personalized treatment in individual patients. CACS improves overall cardiovascular risk prediction and may be used to improve the yield of statin therapy in primary prevention, and possibly identify patients with a favorable risk/benefit relationship for antiplatelet therapies. CCTA holds promise to guide anti-atherosclerotic therapies and to monitor individual response to these treatments by assessing individual plaque features, quantifying total plaque volume and composition, and assessing peri-coronary adipose tissue. In this review, we aim to summarize current evidence regarding the use of CACS and CCTA for guiding lipid-lowering and antiplatelet therapy and discuss the possibility of using plaque burden and plaque phenotyping to monitor response to anti-atherosclerotic therapies.

Computed Tomography Angiography Characteristics of Thin-Cap Fibroatheroma in Patients With Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: It was recently reported that thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) detected by optical coherence tomography was an independent predictor of future cardiac events in patients with diabetes. However, the clinical usefulness of this finding is limited by the invasive nature of optical coherence tomography. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) characteristics of TCFA have not been systematically studied. The aim of this study was to investigate CTA characteristics of TCFA in patients with diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with diabetes who underwent preintervention CTA and optical coherence tomography were included. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed for plaques on CTA. TCFA was assessed by optical coherence tomography. Among 366 plaques in 145 patients with diabetes, 111 plaques had TCFA. The prevalence of positive remodeling (74.8% versus 50.6%, P<0.001), low attenuation plaque (63.1% versus 33.7%, P<0.001), napkin-ring sign (32.4% versus 11.0%, P<0.001), and spotty calcification (55.0% versus 34.9%, P<0.001) was significantly higher in TCFA than in non-TCFA. Low-density noncalcified plaque volume (25.4 versus 15.7 mm3, P<0.001) and remodeling index (1.30 versus 1.20, P=0.002) were higher in TCFA than in non-TCFA. The presence of napkin-ring sign, spotty calcification, high low-density noncalcified plaque volume, and high remodeling index were independent predictors of TCFA. When all 4 predictors were present, the probability of TCFA increased to 82.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The combined qualitative and quantitative plaque analysis of CTA may be helpful in identifying TCFA in patients with diabetes. REGISTRATION INFORMATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04523194.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) - versus angiography-guided strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

BACKGROUND: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) guidance in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to improve procedural outcomes. However, evidence supporting its superiority over angiography-guided PCI in terms of clinical outcomes is still emerging and limited. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of OCT-guided PCI versus angiography-guided PCI in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted to identify randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing the clinical outcomes of OCT-guided and angiography-guided PCI in patients with CAD. Clinical endpoints including all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR), stent thrombosis and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were assessed. RESULTS: Eleven RCTs, comprising 2,699 patients in the OCT-guided group and 2,968 patients in the angiography-guided group met inclusion criteria. OCT-guided PCI was associated with significantly lower rates of cardiovascular death(RR 0.56; 95%CI: 0.32-0.98; p = 0.04; I2 = 0%), stent thrombosis(RR 0.56; 95%CI: 0.33-0.95; p = 0.03; I2 = 0%), and MACE (RR 0.79; 95%CI: 0.66-0.95; p = 0.01; I2 = 5%). The incidence of all-cause death (RR 0.71; 95%CI: 0.49-1.02; p = 0.06; I2 = 0%), myocardial infarction (RR 0.86; 95%CI: 0.67-1.10; p = 0.22; I2 = 0%) and TLR (RR 0.98; 95%CI: 0.73-1.33; p = 0.91; I2 = 0%) was non-significantly lower in the OCT-guided group. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients undergoing PCI, OCT-guided PCI was associated with lower incidences of cardiovascular death, stent thrombosis and MACE compared to angiography-guided PCI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023484342.

CatLet score and clinical CatLet score as predictors of long-term outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction presenting later than 12 hours from symptom onset.

BACKGROUND: Our recently developed Coronary Artery Tree description and Lesion EvaluaTion (CatLet) angiographic scoring system is unique in its description of the variability in the coronary anatomy, the degree of stenosis of a diseased coronary artery, and its subtended myocardial territory, and can be utilized to predict clinical outcomes for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) presenting ≤12 h after symptom onset. The current study aimed to assess whether the Clinical CatLet score (CCS), as compared with CatLet score (CS), better predicted clinical outcomes for AMI patients presenting >12 h after symptom onset. METHODS: CS was calculated in 1018 consecutive AMI patients enrolled in a retrospective registry. CCS was calculated by multiplying CS by the ACEF I score (age, creatinine, and left ventricular ejection fraction). Primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) at 4-year-follow-up, a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and ischemia-driven revascularization. RESULTS: Over a 4-year follow-up period, both scores were independent predictors of clinical outcomes after adjustment for a broad spectrum of risk factors. Areas-under-the-curve (AUCs) for CS and CCS were 0.72(0.68-0.75) and 0.75(0.71-0.78) for MACEs; 0.68(0.63-0.73) and 0.78(0.74-0.83) for all-cause death; 0.73(0.68-0.79) and 0.83(0.79-0.88) for cardiac death; and 0.69(0.64-0.73) and 0.75(0.7-0.79) for myocardial infarction; and 0.66(0.61-0.7) and 0.63(0.58-0.68) for revascularization, respectively. CCS performed better than CS in terms of the above-mentioned outcome predictions, as confirmed by the net reclassification and integrated discrimination indices. CONCLUSIONS: CCS was better than CS to be able to risk-stratify long-term outcomes in AMI patients presenting >12 h after symptom onset. These findings have indicated that both anatomic and clinical variables should be considered in decision-making on management of patients with AMI presenting later.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction and atrial reservoir function.

BACKGROUND: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) refers to structural and functional abnormalities of the coronary microcirculation, which may be diagnosed using invasive coronary physiology. CMD is responsible for impaired diastolic cardiac function. It has recently been suggested that left atrial strain (LASr) represents a highly sensitive tool for detecting cardiac diastolic function abnormalities. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CMD and LASr. METHODS: Consecutively enrolled patients with non-obstructed coronary arteries (NOCA) underwent CMD and LASr evaluation by invasive thermodilution and noninvasive echocardiography, respectively. RESULTS: Forty-two (42) patients were included, out of which 26 presented with CMD. There were no significant differences between CMD-positive and negative patients in terms of clinical and echocardiographic characteristics. LASr was significantly reduced in patients with CMD (24.6% ± 6.1 vs. 30.3 ± 7.8%, p = 0.01). A moderate correlation was observed between coronary flow reserve and LAsr (r = 0.47, p = 0.002). A multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that CMD was independently associated with LASr (OR = 0.88, 95%CI 0.78-0.99.135, p = 0.04). A LASr cut-off of 25.5% enabled an optimal classification of patients with or without CMD. CONCLUSION: Patients with NOCA and CMD had a significantly reduced LASr compared with patients without CMD, suggesting the early impairment of diastolic function in these patients.

Epicardial fat volume is associated with primary coronary slow-flow phenomenon in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter valve implantation.

BACKGROUND: Primary coronary slow flow (CSF) is defined as delayed opacification of the distal epicardial vasculature during coronary angiography in the absence of relevant coronary artery stenoses. Microvascular disease is thought to be the underlying cause of this pathology. Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) is an active endocrine organ directly surrounding the coronary arteries that provides pro-inflammatory factors to the adjacent tissue by paracrine and vasocrine mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to investigate a potential association between EFT and primary CSF and whether EFT can predict the presence of primary CSF. METHODS: Between 2016 and 2017, n = 88 patients with high-grade aortic stenosis who were planned for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) were included in this retrospective study. EFT volume was measured by pre-TAVI computed tomography (CT) using dedicated software. The presence of primary CSF was defined based on the TIMI frame count from the pre-TAVI coronary angiograms. RESULTS: Thirty-nine of 88 TAVI patients had CSF (44.3%). EFT volume was markedly higher in patients with CSF (142 ml [IQR 107-180] vs. 113 ml [IQR 89-147]; p = 0.009) and was strongly associated with the presence of CSF (OR 1.012 [95%CI 1.002-1.021]; p = 0.014). After adjustment, EFT volume was still an independent predictor of CSF (OR 1.016 [95%CI 1.004-1.026]; p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Primary CSF was independently associated with increased EFT volume. Further studies are needed to validate this finding and elucidate whether a causal relationship exists.