Sevoflurane in acute myocardial infarction: a pilot randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Experimental evidence suggests that the inhalational anesthetic sevoflurane has a cardioprotective effect. Our objective was to determine if sedation with sevoflurane will reduce infarct size in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) who are treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We randomized 50 patients presenting with a first acute ST-elevation MI treated by primary PCI within 6 hours from symptom onset to sedation with sevoflurane inhalation or standard sedation (control). Coronary flow at the end of PCI was assessed by corrected Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction frame count. Myocardial reperfusion was assessed by ST-segment resolution 60 minutes post-PCI. Infarct size was assessed by release of creatinine kinase (CK) and troponin T. RESULTS: There was no difference in the primary end point: troponin T or CK release adjusted to the area at risk, between groups. However, among patients with anterior MI, there was a trend toward lower CK (P = .05) and nonsignificant decrease in troponin (P = .11) levels in the sevoflurane group. Corrected Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction frame count was 12.3 ± 1.5 in the sevoflurane group and 15.6 ± 9.1 in the control group (P = .16). There was more ST resolution in patients treated by sevoflurane 80.7% ± 25.8% versus 56.6% ± 35.7% (P = .01). Sevoflurane had no significant adverse effect during administration. CONCLUSIONS: Sevoflurane administration during primary PCI did not reduce infarct size. There was a trend toward a reduction in infarct size among patients with anterior MI. Sevoflurane administration was associated with improvement in ST-segment resolution.

Non-invasive assessment of functionally relevant coronary artery stenoses with quantitative CT perfusion: preliminary clinical experiences.

OBJECTIVES: We developed a quantitative Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced CT (DCE-CT) technique for measuring Myocardial Perfusion Reserve (MPR) and Volume Reserve (MVR) and studied their relationship with coronary stenosis. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) were recruited. Degree of stenosis in each coronary artery was classified from catheter-based angiograms as Non-Stenosed (NS, angiographically normal or mildly irregular), Moderately Stenosed (MS, 50-80% reduction in luminal diameter), Severely Stenosed (SS, >80%) and SS with Collaterals (SSC). DCE-CT at rest and after dipyridamole infusion was performed using 64-slice CT. Mid-diastolic heart images were corrected for beam hardening and analyzed using proprietary software to calculate Myocardial Blood Flow (MBF, in mL∙min(-1)∙100 g(-1)) and Blood Volume (MBV, in mL∙100 g(-1)) parametric maps. MPR and MVR in each coronary territory were calculated by dividing MBF and MBV after pharmacological stress by their respective baseline values. RESULTS: MPR and MVR in MS and SS territories were significantly lower than those of NS territories (p < 0.05 for all). Logistic regression analysis identified MPR∙MVR as the best predictor of ≥50% coronary lesion than MPR or MVR alone. CONCLUSIONS: DCE-CT imaging with quantitative CT perfusion analysis could be useful for detecting coronary stenoses that are functionally significant.

Early experience with robotically assisted internal thoracic artery harvest.

We sought to determine the efficacy of using robotic assistance to facilitate endoscopic harvesting of internal thoracic arteries (ITAs). A total of 104 patients had ITAs harvested endoscopically with use of both the AESOP 3000 system (Computer Motion, Goleta, CA, U.S.A.) and Zeus robotic telesurgical system (Computer Motion). All ITAs were harvested with a harmonic scalpel (Ethicon Endosurgery, Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A.). With the left lung collapsed, ITAs were harvested with CO2 insufflation through three 5-mm ports in the left chest. All patients tolerated insufflation without hemodynamic compromise. Average ITA harvest time was 61.3 +/- 20.9 minutes. Intraoperative graft flows averaged 36.3 +/- 22.4 mL/min. There were three distal ITA injuries; all other vessels were patent after harvesting and demonstrated no angiographic evidence of injury. This article demonstrates a technique by which ITA can be safely harvested totally endoscopically with use of computer-enhanced robotic systems and a harmonic scalpel, allowing complete pedicle dissection through 5-mm ports with minimal ITA manipulation.

Remote ischemic postconditioning during percutaneous coronary interventions: remote ischemic postconditioning-percutaneous coronary intervention randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Remote ischemic preconditioning may result in reduction in infarct size during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It is unclear whether remote ischemic postconditioning (RIPost) will reduce the incidence of myocardial injury after PCI, and whether ischemic conditioning of a larger remote organ (thigh versus arm) would provide further myocardial protection. METHODS AND RESULTS: We randomized 360 patients presenting with stable or unstable angina (28% of patients) and negative Troponin T at baseline to 3 groups: 2 groups received RIPost (induced by ischemia to upper or lower limb), and a third was the control group. RIPost was applied during PCI immediately after stent deployment, by three 5-minute cycles of blood pressure cuff inflation to >200 mm Hg in the arm or thigh (20 mm Hg in the control) with 5-minute breaks between each cycle. The primary end-point was the proportion of patients with Troponin T levels >3×ULN postprocedure (at 6 or 18-24 hours), where ULN stands for upper limit of normal. A total of 120 patients were randomized to each group. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the 3 groups. The primary outcome occurred in 30%, 35%, and 35% of the arm, thigh, and control groups, respectively (P=0.64). There were no differences in creatine kinase or high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels after PCI or in the incidence of acute kidney injury between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: RIPost during PCI did not reduce the incidence of periprocedural myocardial injury. Similar effect was obtained when remote ischemia was induced to the upper or lower limb. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00970827.

Contrast volume use in manual vs automated contrast injection systems for diagnostic coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary interventions.

BACKGROUND: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is an important cause of iatrogenic morbidity and mortality. The amount of contrast delivered has a major effect on CIN and is operator-dependent. A few studies suggested that the use of automated contrast injection systems is associated with reduced contrast volume. It is unknown whether this is true when smaller amounts of contrast are used and how this is affected by training. METHODS: Volume of contrast media was measured in 1358 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from January 31 to May 31, 2011. Patients were allocated to manual stopcock-manifold contrast injection (1052 patients) or automated contrast injection (306 patients). RESULTS: No significant difference in contrast volume use was found between manual and automated contrast injection systems, respectively: diagnostic catheterization, 72 ± 40 mL vs 96 ± 63 mL (P = 0.08); diagnostic catheterization with left ventricular angiography, 98 ± 40 mL vs 95 ± 35 mL (P = 0.51); PCI, 206 ± 82 mL vs 205 ± 90 mL (P = 0.84); diagnostic catheterization and PCI, 264 ± 83 mL vs 253 ± 93 mL (P = 0.51). No significant difference in CIN incidence, according to contrast injection systems, was found among patients receiving PCI (manual 9.8% vs automated 7.4%, P = 0.43). Using smaller sized catheters during diagnostic procedures was associated with injection of smaller amounts of contrast (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of automated contrast injection for diagnostic catheterization and PCI is not associated with reduced contrast volume as compared with manual injection. The use of smaller calibre catheters might reduce contrast volume.

Simultaneous integrated coronary artery revascularization with long-term angiographic follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Traditionally integrated coronary artery revascularization has been described as a 2-stage procedure. We evaluated the safety and feasibility of 1-stage, simultaneous, hybrid, robotically assisted coronary artery bypass grafting surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients underwent simultaneous, integrated coronary artery revascularization in an operating theater equipped with angiographic equipment. Forty-five patients were men. The mean age was 59 years. All internal thoracic arteries were harvested with robotic assistance. All anastomoses were manually constructed through a small anterior non-rib-spreading incision without cardiopulmonary bypass on the beating heart. Immediately after and within the same operative suite, both angiographic confirmation of graft patency and percutaneous coronary intervention were performed. In 52 patients therapeutic anticoagulation was achieved with the direct thrombin inhibitor bivalirudin. RESULTS: There were no deaths or wound infections. There was 1 perioperative myocardial infarction. One patient had a stroke, and 3 patients required re-exploration for bleeding. The median lengths of intensive care and hospital stay were 1 and 4 days, respectively. All patients were alive and symptom free at follow-up (mean, 20.2 months; range, 1.1-40.8 months). Long-term angiographic follow-up in 54 patients showed 49 (91%) patent grafts (mean, 9.0 months; range, 4.3-40.8 months). There were 7 in-stent restenoses and 2 occluded stents. CONCLUSION: For multivessel coronary artery disease, simultaneous integrated coronary artery revascularization with bivalirudin is safe and feasible. This approach enables complete multivessel revascularization with decreased surgical trauma and postoperative morbidity. Further studies are necessary to better determine patient selection and long-term outcomes.

Prospective angiographic comparison of direct, endoscopic, and telesurgical approaches to harvesting the internal thoracic artery.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of left internal thoracic arteries harvested by the conventional open approach versus minimally invasive videoscopic and robotic-assisted telesurgical techniques. METHODS: One hundred and fifty consecutive patients with single vessel coronary artery disease were prospectively studied. The left internal thoracic artery was harvested using three different approaches, with 50 patients consecutively assigned to each group. The off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) group underwent median sternotomy with direct visualization. The automated endoscopic system for optimal positioning (AESOP) group employed the AESOP 3000 system (Computer Motion Inc, Goleta, CA) for robotic-assisted visualization with endoscopic manual left internal thoracic artery harvesting. The Zeus group used the Zeus robotic telesurgical system (Computer Motion Inc) and internal thoracic artery harvesting was performed remotely from a surgical console. Postanastomotic left internal thoracic artery flows and day one postoperative angiography were used to assess internal thoracic artery quality and patency. RESULTS: Average left internal thoracic artery harvest times were 23 +/- 2.5, 63.3 +/- 20.3, and 66.1 +/- 17.9 minutes in the OPCAB, AESOP, and Zeus groups, respectively (p < 0.001, OPCAB vs AESOP and Zeus). Intraoperative graft flows averaged 28.1 +/- 11.9, 33.7 +/- 19.3, and 36.9 +/- 24.6 mL/minute, respectively in the OPCAB, AESOP, and Zeus groups (p = 0.317, OPCAB vs AESOP and Zeus). There was no significant angiographic difference in the patency rate of the harvested left internal thoracic arteries in the three groups (p = 0.685, overall). CONCLUSIONS: The left internal thoracic artery can be harvested safely and effectively using minimally invasive videoscopic and robotic-assisted telesurgical techniques. Although the less invasive approaches require specialized equipment and training as well as increased operative time, they offer the potential for less traumatic myocardial revascularization through smaller incisions and reduced postoperative morbidity.