Clinical and angiographic outcomes of true vs. false lumen stenting of coronary chronic total occlusions: Insights from intravascular ultrasound.

OBJECTIVES: The clinical implications of subintimal stenting (SS) of the recanalized chronic total occlusion (CTO) segment have not been characterized. We evaluated the in-hospital and the long-term clinical and angiographic outcomes of drug-eluting stents (DESs) deployed in true vs. false lumen of successfully recanalized CTO. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two independent reviewers analyzed the intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images of 173 successfully recanalized CTO lesions (157 patients), between August 2011 and October 2012. After successful guidewire (GW) crossing, lesions were classified according to IVUS evaluation into two groups: (1) true lumen (TL) stenting group and (2) SS group; and compared with regards to in-hospital and long-term clinical outcomes. In 154 lesions, DESs were deployed in the TL; and in 19 (11%) lesions, DESs were deployed in the subintimal space (95% confidence interval: 6.3-15.6%). False GW tracking in the SS group resulted in increased rates of IVUS-detected dissection flaps (84% vs. 42.6%, P ≤ 0.001), intramural hematoma (32 vs. 11%, P = 0.01), and minor perforations 6/19 (31.6% vs. 8.4%, P = 0.002). At 1-year follow-up, both groups had similar cumulative rates of binary restenosis and target lesion revascularization (P = 0.73 and P = 0.97, respectively). Six patients (4.6%, 6/129 patients) in the TL group and none in the subintimal group died at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Acknowledging some limitations, our observations may suggest that, subintimal stent deployment in a recanalized CTO segments, using second generation DES and IVUS guidance, might have a comparable success rate and long-term angiographic and clinical outcomes as TL stenting.

Optical Coherence Tomography Predictors for Recurrent Restenosis After Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Angioplasty for Drug-Eluting Stent Restenosis.

BACKGROUND: Little is known of the relationship between optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings and recurrent restenosis after paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) angioplasty for drug-eluting stent in-stent restenosis (DES-ISR). To identify the predictors of recurrent restenosis after PCB angioplasty, we investigated quantitative and qualitative OCT findings during PCB angioplasty for DES-ISR. Methods and Results: In all, 222 DES-ISR lesions treated by PCB angioplasty with OCT assessment and followed-up angiographically at 6 months were divided into restenotic and non-restenotic lesions on the basis of the presence or absence of restenosis at follow-up. There was a significantly higher proportion of the heterogeneous tissue pattern in restenotic than non-restenotic lesions (26.5% vs. 11.0%, respectively; P=0.02). The OCT-derived post-procedural minimal lumen and stent areas were significantly smaller in restenotic lesions, but the intima area was similar in both groups. Post-procedural stent underexpansion, defined as a stent diameter : size of the previous stent ratio <1.0, was more frequently observed in restenotic than non-restenotic lesions (33.3% vs. 17.4%, respectively; P=0.02). Multivariate analysis identified a heterogeneous tissue pattern (odds ratio [OR] 2.92; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32-6.47; P=0.006) and post-procedural stent underexpansion (OR 2.36; 95% CI 1.15-4.85; P=0.04) as independent predictors of recurrent restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneous tissue pattern and insufficient post-procedural minimal lumen area, caused primarily by stent underexpansion, may be associated with restenosis after PCB angioplasty for DES-ISR.

Two-Year Outcomes and Predictors of Target Lesion Revascularization for Non-Left Main Coronary Bifurcation Lesions Following Two-Stent Strategy With 2nd-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents.

BACKGROUND: Data on outcomes of non-left main coronary bifurcation lesions treated with the 2-stent strategy using 2nd-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) are insufficient.Methods and Results:The 2-year outcomes and predictors of target lesion revascularization (TLR) in 356 patients with 364 non-left main coronary bifurcation lesions treated with the 2-stent strategy using 2nd-generation DES were retrospectively evaluated. The primary outcome measure was defined as TLR. The median follow-up duration was 3.6 years (interquartile range, 2.7-4.9 years). A 2-year clinical follow-up was achieved in 99.2%. The 2-year cumulative incidence of TLR was 9.2%. Multiple stents implanted in either the main branch (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37-6.62; P=0.006) or the side branch (adjusted OR 4.55; 95% CI: 1.99-10.4; P<0.001) and the culprit in the left anterior descending artery and its diagonal branch (adjusted OR 0.33; 95% CI: 0.15-0.75: P=0.008) were independent predictors of TLR within 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: The 2-year outcomes for the 2-stent strategy using 2nd-generation DES in non-left main coronary bifurcation lesions were acceptable. Coronary bifurcation location in the left anterior descending artery and its diagonal branch is protective against TLR, whereas multiple stents implanted in either the main branch or the side branch was associated with TLR.

Impact of Stent Type and Presence of Vasospastic Angina on Long-Term Prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the impact of stent type on the prognosis of vasospastic angina (VSA) in patients who undergo stent implantation.Methods and Results:We evaluated consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography with positive (n=650; VSA) and negative (n=2,872; non-VSA) ergonovine testing. Among them, 304 patients undergoing stent implantation for organic stenosis were classified for comparison into 3 respective VSA and non-VSA groups based on stent type (68 and 78 with bare-metal stent [BMS]; 21 and 49 with sirolimus-eluting stent [SES]; 26 and 62 with newer generation drug-eluting stent [N-DES]). The primary outcome was defined as target lesion revascularization, target vessel revascularization, emergency coronary angiography, and cardiac death. The 2-year cumulative incidence of the primary outcome was significantly higher in the VSA group than non-VSA group after SES implantation (38.1% vs. 16.1%, P=0.03), whereas there were no differences between the 2 groups after both BMS implantation and N-DES implantation. The difference in the percent diameter stenosis from mid-term to late-term follow-up was significantly higher in the VSA group than non-VSA group (10.0% vs. 2.3%, P=0.045) after SES implantation, whereas there were no differences between the 2 groups after both BMS implantation and N-DES implantation. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of VSA on clinical and angiographic outcomes was observed only in SES implantation, but not after N-DES or BMS implantation.

In-Hospital Bleeding and Utility of a Maintenance Dose of Prasugrel 2.5 mg in High Bleeding Risk Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Data on bleeding events in Japanese patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are insufficient. In addition, the efficacy and safety of a maintenance dose of prasugrel 2.5 mg/day in high bleeding risk patients are unknown.Methods and Results:We prospectively enrolled 1,167 consecutive patients with suspected ACS and undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. The maintenance dose of prasugrel 2.5 mg/day was prescribed for patients with a low body weight (≤50 kg), elderly (≥75 years), or renal insufficiency (eGFR ≤30 mL/min/1.73 m2). In-hospital events were assessed in 992 ACS patients treated with drug-eluting stents. Excluding 29 in-hospital deaths, out-of-hospital events were assessed in 963 ACS patients. The primary safety outcome measure was major bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium types 3 and 5). The incidence of in-hospital major bleeding was 3.4%. Multivariate analysis showed that being elderly, low body weight, renal insufficiency, stroke history, femoral approach, and mechanical support usage were independent predictors of in-hospital major bleeding. The cumulative 1-year incidence of out-of-hospital major bleeding was not significantly different between the prasugrel 2.5 mg/day (n=284) and 3.75 mg/day (n=487) groups (1.6% vs. 0.7%, log-rank P=0.24). That of out-of-hospital definite or probable stent thrombosis was 0% in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The maintenance dose of adjusted prasugrel 2.5 mg/day seems to be one option in ACS patients at high bleeding risk.

Clinical and angiographic outcomes of axial stent deformations in unrestricted real world patient population.

BACKGROUND: Prior reports have suggested that the design of the Promus Element stent is prone to longitudinal stent deformation (LSD). However, little is known about the clinical and angiographic outcomes of Promus Element stent axial deformations when implanted in unrestricted coronary lesions. METHOD AND RESULTS: Two independent reviewers retrospectively evaluated the procedure steps of 961 Promus Element stent (833 de novo lesions in 494 consecutive patients) implanted in unrestricted coronary lesions, between February 2012 and March 2013, and compared the prevalence, predictors, and the mid-term clinical and angiographic outcomes between lesions with and without stent deformation. Fifteen stents (1.56%) with LSD were observed (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78-2.34%). The proximal edge of the stent was deformed in 13 stents (86.6%). Ostial stenting (Adjusted Odds ratio [OR]: 9; 95%CI: 2.27-33.3; P = 0.002), and bifurcation lesions (Adjusted OR: 3; 95%CI: 1.03-8.8; P = 0.04) were independently associated with the occurrence of stent deformation. LSD led to unplanned stenting in (53%, 8 of 15) of the deformed stents, which consumed larger contrast volume and longer fluoroscopy time. At 8-month follow-up, there was no significant difference in binary restenosis rate and target lesions revascularization between both groups (P = 0.98, and P = 0.56, respectively), while death occurred in six patients of the non-LSD group (1.36%, 6 of 440) and none in the LSD group. All patients of the LSD group had no major adverse clinical events at 8-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Axial stent deformation in Promus Element platform is an infrequent event, occurs following manipulation of the interventional tools. Other than unplanned stenting, the LSD was not associated with any adverse clinical events at 8-month follow-up.

Impact of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Beyond 1 Year on Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Stent Fracture or Peri-Stent Contrast Staining After Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation.

BACKGROUND: Stent fracture (SF) and peri-stent contrast staining (PSS) after sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation are considered to be related to very late stent thrombosis (VLST). How dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) beyond 1 year affects the clinical outcomes of patients with SF or PSS remains unclear.Methods and Results:Based on their DAPT status, 1,962 patients undergoing SES implantation were classified as on-thienopyridine (n=1,404) or off-thienopyridine (n=558). The 6-year incidence of VLST was significantly lower in the on-thienopyridine patients (0.56% vs. 1.8%, P=0.01), whereas cardiac death and myocardial infarction (MI) were similar (5.0% vs. 6.2%, P=0.31; 3.2% vs. 4.0%, P=0.33; respectively). The 1,962 patients were also classified as having SF/PSS (n=256) or non-SF/PSS (n=1,706). In the SF/PSS group, VLST and MI were significantly lower in on-thienopyridine patients (1.9% vs. 10.1%, P=0.003; 3.5% vs. 10.3%, P=0.02; respectively). In the non-SF/PSS group, VLST and MI were similar (0.36% vs. 0.45%, P=0.78; 3.2% vs. 3.0%, P=0.93; respectively). In both groups, cardiac death was similar (3.6% vs. 4.3%, P=0.78; 5.2% vs. 6.5%, P=0.32; respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged DAPT was associated with significantly lower incidences of VLST and MI in the SF/PSS group, but had no effect on cardiac death, VLST, or MI in the non-SF/PSS group.

Stent Fracture and Peri-Stent Contrast Staining After Everolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation　- 5-Year Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Stent fracture (SF) and peri-stent contrast staining (PSS) after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation are reported to be risk factors of adverse events. However, the effect of these after everolimus-eluting stent (EES) implantation on long-term outcomes remains unclear.Methods and Results:The study sample comprised 636 patients (1,081 lesions) undergoing EES implantation in 2010 and follow-up angiography within 1 year. The 5-year cumulative rates of target lesion revascularization (TLR) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE: a combination of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and TLR) were compared between patients with and without SF or PSS. SF was observed in 2.7%, and PSS in 3.0%. The cumulative rates of MACE and TLR were significantly higher in the SF group than in the non-SF group (51.7% vs. 27.5% and 48.3% vs. 13.4%, respectively), but showed no significant differences between the PSS and non-PSS groups. In a landmark analysis, the rate of TLR within 1 year was significantly higher in the SF group than in the non-SF group (44.8% vs. 7.2%), but beyond 1 year showed no significant difference (6.3% vs 6.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The 5-year clinical outcomes suggested that SF after EES implantation is related to increased risk of MACE and TLR, especially within 1 year after the procedure, but PSS after EES implantation is unrelated.

Relationship between n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Extent of Vessel Disease in Patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

A relationship between serum polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and cardiovascular disease has been reported; however, the existence of a relationship between serum PUFAs and extent of vessel disease (VD) in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains unclear.Between July 2011 and June 2015, 866 consecutive STEMI patients underwent emergent percutaneous coronary intervention, 507 of whom were enrolled and classified into three groups according to the initial angiograms: 1VD, 294 patients; 2VD, 110 patients; and 3VD/left main trunk disease (LMTD), 103 patients. Serum levels of PUFAs, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid, and other laboratory data during hospitalization were evaluated.The serum EPA level in the 3VD/LMTD group was significantly lower than that in the 1VD group (55.5 ± 22.1 versus 66.2 ± 28.7, P = 0.002) and was slightly lower than that in the 2VD group (55.5 ± 22.1 versus 65.2 ± 28.9, P = 0.0167). Multivariate adjustment analysis revealed that age ≥ 70 years (odds ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.89; P = 0.038) and a low serum EPA level (odds ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.00; P = 0.023) were independent risk factors for 3VD/LMTD, while a low serum DHA level was not.A low serum EPA level may be more strongly related than a low serum DHA level to the extent of VD in STEMI patients. Age ≥ 70 years and a low serum EPA level may be independent risk factors for 3VD/LMTD.

Ten-year clinical outcomes after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation: Impact of an in-stent restenosis target lesion.

UNLABELLED: Little is known about the long-term outcomes after first-generation sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation. We aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes up to 10 years after SES implantation. METHODS: The study population comprised 342 patients (504 lesions) who underwent SES implantation between January 2002 and December 2004. The median duration of follow-up was 3816 days (interquartile range [Q1-Q3], 3,705-3,883 days). RESULTS: The cumulative event rate of definite stent thrombosis was 3.9%. The cumulative rate of target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 1, 5, and 10 years was 8.7%, 18.8%, and 31.1%, respectively, and the annual rate of TLR was 3.1%. Clinically driven TLR occurred at relatively constant rate during 10 years (2.0% per year). In a multivariate analysis, higher body mass index, hemodialysis, in-stent restenosis (ISR) target lesion, and total stent length >30 mm were independent risk factors of TLR within 5 years. An independent risk factor of TLR beyond 5 years was ISR target lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Late TLR after SES implantation is a long-term hazard, lasting up to 10 years. The ISR target lesion is a risk factor of TLR during 10 years.

Comparison of long-term outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention for stent thrombosis between early, late, and very late stent thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Differences in long-term outcome between early stent thrombosis (EST), late stent thrombosis (LST), and very late stent thrombosis (VLST) are unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 152 patients who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention for stent thrombosis between January 2001 and October 2011 were enrolled, and the clinical outcome compared between EST (55 patients), LST (34 patients), and VLST (63 patients) after drug-eluting stent (DES) and bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including cardiac death, recurrent stent thrombosis, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization (TLR), were evaluated at 5 years. The in-hospital mortality was similar between EST, LST, and VLST (P=0.37). The incidence of MACE was significantly lower in VLST (21.9%) than in EST (66.9%, P<0.001) and LST (66.6%, P<0.001), mainly because of a lower TLR rate after VLST (11.1%) than after EST (50.8%, P<0.001) and LST (52.2%, P<0.001). The 5-year mortality rate was also significantly lower in VLST (14.7%) than in EST (29.3%, P=0.049) and LST (41.6%, P=0.025). The incidence of MACE was similar between DES and BMS (46.2% vs. 50.0%, P=0.82), and this finding was observed in EST (P=0.83), LST (P=0.77), and VLST (P=0.57). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with EST and LST, long-term outcome was markedly better in VLST, mainly because of a lower TLR rate, whether after DES or BMS implantation.

Thirty-day outcome of transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the edwards SAPIEN XT prosthesis via the transiliofemoral approach.

BACKGROUND: Few data exist on the results of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) via the transfemoral approach in small slightly built Japanese patients with severe aortic stenosis who are ineligible or at high-risk for conventional surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Therefore, the purpose was to investigate the early outcomes of TAVI using the transiliofemoral approach in Japan. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between June 2010 and June 2013, 21 consecutive patients (mean age, 81.0 years; 81.0% female) underwent TAVI with Edwards SAPIEN XT valves using the transiliofemoral approach. The mean body surface area was 1.44±0.15m(2). The device success rate was 90.5%. Although 2 patients did not meet the echocardiographic criteria for device success, no failure to deliver and deploy a valve occurred. The mean effective aortic valve area increased from 0.54±0.12cm(2) at baseline to 1.46±0.29cm(2) after the procedure (P<0.001), and the mean aortic transvalvular pressure gradient decreased from 51.0±15.6 at baseline to 11.2±3.6 after the procedure (P<0.001). The 30-day mortality and combined safety endpoint rates were 0% and 4.8%, respectively. All patients achieved New York Heart Association functional class I or II at 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Early outcome of TAVI with the Edwards-SAPIEN XT valve via the transiliofemoral approach at Kurashiki Central Hospital is satisfactory for patients who are ineligible or at high risk for SAVR.

Difference in clinical and angiographic characteristics of very late stent thrombosis between drug-eluting and bare-metal stent implantations.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available with which to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with very late stent thrombosis (VLST) after drug-eluting stent (DES) or bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the characteristics of VLST after DES and BMS implantation by reviewing the clinical and angiographic data. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 28 patients (30 lesions) with VLST after DES implantation and 33 patients (33 lesions) with VLST after BMS implantation were identified. The occurrence of VLST after BMS implantation (2,647±996 days) was much later than that after DES implantation (1,194±558 days, P<0.001). The number of VLST after DES implantation increased gradually each year; however VLST after BMS implantation started to occur >50 months later, and its number increased subsequently. The prevalence of VLST related to surgical procedures involving discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy in VLST patients was higher after DES implantation (14.3%) than after BMS implantation (0%, P=0.039). Angiographic stent fracture was seen in 36.7% of VLST lesions after DES implantation at different times (464-2,102 days after procedure), while none was seen in VLST lesions after BMS implantation (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The timing of VLST was different after DES and BMS implantation. Stent fracture was a specific finding of VLST after DES implantation.

Seven-year clinical outcomes of unprotected left main coronary artery stenting with drug-eluting stent and bare-metal stent.

BACKGROUND: The superiority of drug-eluting stents (DES) over bare-metal stents (BMS) 7 years after unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenting has not been investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 2003 to 2005, 182 patients underwent stent implantation for unprotected LMCA disease (DES, 96 patients; BMS, 86 patients; acute coronary syndrome cases excluded), and the 7-year clinical outcomes between the DES and BMS groups were compared. The incidence of cardiac death or non-fatal myocardial infarction was similar between the DES and BMS groups (11.0% vs. 13.5%, P=0.78). The incidence of target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 7 years was significantly lower in the DES group than in the BMS group (26.4% vs. 40.5%, P=0.009); the incidence from 1 to 4 years and that beyond 4 years were similar between the DES and BMS groups (8.9% vs. 7.9%, P=0.97; 10.0% vs. 8.7%, P=0.74, respectively). Among patients with bifurcation lesions, whereas the incidence of 7-year TLR was significantly lower in the DES group than the BMS group in patients undergoing single-stent procedures (15.9% vs. 48.6%, P=0.002), it was similar between the 2 groups in patients undergoing 2-stent procedures (38.5% vs. 39.3%, P=0.49). CONCLUSIONS: With the exception of the 2-stent procedure, the 7-year outcomes after DES implantation for LMCA disease were superior to those after BMS implantation because of the lower TLR rate, when considering TLR during the late phase.

Serial clinical and angiographic follow-up after phosphorylcholine-coated stent implantation.

The efficacy of drug-eluting stents (DES) has been proven, but concerns about late complications after DES have been raised. Polymers that do not increase inflammatory or hypersensitivity reactions which may contribute to late complications are needed for new generation DES. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of phosphorylcholine-polymer coating, we investigated serial clinical and angiographic outcomes after phosphorylcholine-coated stent placement. Seventy-five consecutive patients treated with a BiodivYsio phosphorylcholine-coated stent for de novo lesions at our institute between October 2001 and August 2002 were enrolled. Six-month follow-up angiography was performed in 71 lesions (94.7%), and angiographic restenosis was found in 19 lesions (26.8%). Target lesion revascularization (TLR) was performed in 10 lesions (14.1%). Eighteen-month follow-up angiography was performed in 58 (95.1%) of the remaining 61 lesions (excluding TLR lesions), and angiographic restenosis was found in only 3 lesions. The cumulative MACE-free survival rate was 86.3%, 83.6%, and 78.6% at 6-month, 18-month, and 8-year follow-up, respectively. There were no episodes of stent thrombosis. Late loss decreased significantly from 0.74 ± 0.40 mm (6-months) to 0.51 ± 0.46 mm (18-months) (P < 0.0001). Phosphorylcholine-coated stent implantation was associated with acceptable clinical and angiographic results. Phosphorylcholine-coating may be an ideal polymer for new generation DESs.

Long-term outcomes of three-vessel coronary artery disease after coronary revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention using second-generation drug-eluting stents versus coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Studies on the outcomes of de novo three-vessel coronary artery disease (3VD) are limited. This study evaluated the outcomes after coronary revascularization in patients with 3VD treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using second-generation drug-eluting stents (2ndDES) in comparison with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We analyzed 853 patients undergoing either PCI or CABG for 3VD between 2010 and 2014. Of them, this study included 298 undergoing PCI with 2ndDES alone (PCI group) and 171 undergoing CABG (CABG group). The primary outcome measure was a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke. The secondary outcome measures were cardiac death, MI, stroke, and target vessel revascularization (TVR). Propensity matching was used to adjust a cohort of patients with similar baseline characteristics. Between the PCI and CABG groups, no significant differences were found in the 3-year cumulative incidence of the primary outcome measure (14.9% vs. 12.9%, p = 0.60). After propensity score matching, no significant differences were found in the incidences of primary outcome measure (13.0% vs. 12.8%, p = 0.95), cardiac death, MI, and stroke (3.5% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.72; 1.2% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.31; and 4.9% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.35), whereas that of TVR was significantly higher in the PCI group (24.5 vs. 7.1%, p < 0.01). Compared with CABG, PCI with second-generation DES was not associated with higher risk of clinical outcomes, but was associated with a higher risk of TVR in the treatment of 3VD.

Impact of retrograde approach on long-term clinical outcomes of patients undergoing coronary chronic total occlusion interventions.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to assess the long-term outcomes of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions after retrograde percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in comparison with those after antegrade PCI alone. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 842 consecutive patients (928 CTO lesions) undergoing PCI and subsequent follow-up were classified into two groups: retrograde PCI for at least one CTO (n=302, retrograde group) and antegrade PCI alone (n=540, antegrade group). The total procedural success rate was 89.7%. The retrograde group had significantly higher incidences of periprocedural myocardial infarction and coronary perforation (7.3% vs. 3.7%, p=0.01; 7.9% vs. 4.4%, p=0.04, respectively). Median follow-up duration was 7.7 (interquartile range 5.6-8.7) years. Seven-year relative risk comparing the retrograde and antegrade groups was neutral in all-cause death (adjusted HR [aHR] 1.06, 95% CI: 0.75-1.49; p=0.745), cardiac death (aHR 0.85, 95% CI: 0.47-1.55; p=0.598), coronary artery bypass grafting (aHR 1.62, 95% CI: 0.74-3.54; p=0.229), and non-target vessel revascularisation (aHR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.78-1.17; p=0.663). CONCLUSIONS: Retrograde CTO PCI did not lead to worse long-term outcomes despite increased risk in periprocedural myocardial infarction and coronary perforation.

Very long-term serial luminal changes after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation and progression process of very late stent failure.

BACKGROUND: Very long-term angiographic results after sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation have not been clarified. This study investigated serial angiographic results of early (<1year), late (1-5years), and very late (>5years) follow-up after SES implantation and the progression process to very late SES failure. METHODS: We analyzed 631 lesions undergoing serial coronary angiography at early, late, and very late follow-up after SES implantation. The results of 205 lesions undergoing very late target lesion revascularization (VL-TLR; TLR beyond 5years) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS; 83) and non-ACS (122) were evaluated in comparison with 426 non-TLR lesions as a control group. RESULTS: Non-TLR lesions showed no attenuated decline of minimum lumen diameter from postprocedure (2.51±0.47mm), early (2.37±0.58mm), late (2.22±0.60mm), up to very late (2.01±0.63mm) follow-up. In VL-TLR lesions, compared to non-TLR lesions, late lumen loss (LLL) from postprocedure to early follow-up was similar, but delayed LLL from early to late follow-up was significantly larger (0.25±0.48mm vs. 0.15±0.46mm, p=0.01). Although the delayed LLL was significantly larger in non-ACS lesions (0.29±0.44mm) than in non-TLR lesions (p<0.01), it was similar in ACS (0.19±0.52mm) and non-TLR lesions (p=0.54). Very delayed LLL from late to very late follow-up was 1.65±0.82mm in ACS lesions and 1.10±0.76mm in non-ACS lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Progression of in-stent luminal narrowing did not attenuate beyond 5years after SES implantation. In very late SES failure, stent-related ACS lesions showed gradual luminal narrowing and subsequent rapid progression beyond 5years, whereas non-ACS lesions had progressive luminal narrowing within 5years.

Difference in clinical presentations and related angiographic findings among early, late, and very late sirolimus-eluting stent failures requiring target lesion revascularization.

BACKGROUNDS: The difference in clinical presentations (acute coronary syndrome [ACS] and stable coronary artery disease [SCAD]) and related angiographic morphologies of sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) failure requiring target lesion revascularization (TLR) during early-term (<1year), late-term (1-5years), and very late-term periods (>5years) remains unknown. METHODS: Among 4484 lesions undergoing SES implantation, clinically-driven TLR was performed on 105 lesions during early-term, 169 lesions during late-term, and 147 lesions during very late-term period. Angiographic morphological patterns were divided into focal or non-focal patterns and stent-edge or stent-body patterns. RESULTS: The proportion of ACS substantially increased in very late TLR lesions (57.1%) from early (40.0%, p=0.01) and late TLR lesions (36.7%, p<0.001). The proportions of both stent-edge and non-focal patterns were higher in very late TLR lesions than in early and late TLR lesions. Although the stent-edge pattern tended to be more prevalent in SCAD lesions than in ACS lesions during the early- and late-term periods, it was more frequently observed in ACS lesions than in SCAD lesions during the very late-term period (65.5% vs. 47.6%, p=0.04). The non-focal pattern was more frequent in ACS lesions than in SCAD lesions during all 3 periods. However, the proportion of the non-focal pattern in ACS lesions was extremely high during the very late-term (90.5%) compared with the early- (47.6%, p<0.001) and late-term periods (48.4%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Stent-related ACS became more common beyond 5years after SES implantation. Stent-edge and non-focal patterns were the main angiographic morphologies of very late SES failure, particularly causing ACS.

Five-Year Outcomes After Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Angioplasty for Drug-Eluting Stent Restenosis.

The long-term outcomes of patients who underwent paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) angioplasty for drug-eluting stent restenosis (DES-ISR) remain unclear. We investigated the 5-year safety and efficacy outcomes of PCB angioplasty for DES-ISR. The study included 185 patients with 216 DES-ISR lesions who underwent PCB angioplasty from September 2008 to December 2010. Two serial angiographic follow-ups were routinely scheduled at 6 and 18 months after the index procedure. Five-year clinical outcomes were investigated. The mean duration of follow-up was 2,052 ± 352.5 days, and 94.1% of the patients completed the 5-year follow-up. Recurrent restenosis was observed in 48 lesions (22.2%) at the 6-month follow-up and late restenosis was observed in 22 lesions (14.3%) at the 18-month follow-up. Very late restenosis was observed in 6 lesions (6.8%), and target lesion revascularization (TLR) was performed for 8 lesions (13.6%) beyond 24 months after the procedure. The cumulative rates of TLR at 1, 2, and 5 years were 16.4%, 28.9%, and 34.1%, respectively. In patients who underwent TLR, 87% (52 of 60 patients) underwent TLR within the first 2 years after the index procedure. Multivariable analysis revealed that in-stent occlusion lesion (odds ratio [OR] 2.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09 to 4.47; p = 0.03), postprocedural percent diameter stenosis >35% (OR 3.19; 95% CI 1.54 to 6.68; p = 0.001), and right coronary artery ostial lesions (OR 5.56; 95% CI 1.40 to 24.9; p = 0.01) were independent predictors of recurrent restenosis. In conclusion, our results suggest that long-term outcomes after PCB angioplasty are acceptable; however, close follow-up during the first 2 years following this procedure may be necessary.