Reasons for reperfusion delay in ST-elevation myocardial infarction and their impact on mortality.

AIMS: The impact of reperfusion delay in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is well known. We aimed to describe the specific reasons for delay to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI), and their impact on mortality after adjusting for confounders, using the first-medical-contact-to-device (FMCTD) time to measure the delay. METHODS: Between January 2006 and December 2019, 2149 STEMI patients underwent pPCI at our centre. Delayed pPCI was defined as FMCTD > 90 min or > 120 min in the case of inter-hospital transfer. The causes of delay were classified as system-related (related to the network organization) or patient-related (related to the clinical condition of the patient). Primary outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality. RESULTS: The pPCI was timely in 69.9% of patients, delayed for system-related causes in 16.4% or for patient-related causes in 13.7%. Different patient-related causes induced variable median FMCTD time (from 114 min for technically difficult pPCI to 159 min for ECG and/or symptom resolution). By multivariable Cox-regression models, the main independent risk factors for mortality were delay due to comorbidities [hazard ratio (HR) 2.19 (1.22-3.91)], or hemodynamic instability [HR 2.05 (1.25-3.38)], after adjusting for Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk score tertiles and angiographic success. The difference in risk of mortality is maintained over the entire spectrum of time from symptom onset. CONCLUSIONS: Different causes of delay had different impacts on mortality, generally more important than the length of the delay. Causes of delay such as hemodynamic instability and comorbidities should prompt specific programs of performance improvement. Timely pPCI maintains prognostic advantages after several hours from symptom onset, mandating prompt reperfusion also in late-presenter patients.

Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy in the treatment of under-expanded coronary stent: Case Series.

Under-expanded coronary stent related to inadequate preparation of calcified lesion is associated with poor clinical outcomes.Off-label use of S-IVL to correct this clinical issue is effective and safe, probably more than other current techniques. However, this statement needs further evidence.

Bivalirudin or Heparin in Patients Undergoing Invasive Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Contrasting evidence exists on the comparative efficacy and safety of bivalirudin and unfractionated heparin (UFH) in relation to the planned use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPIs). OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of bivalirudin compared with UFH with or without GPIs in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent invasive management. METHODS: In the MATRIX (Minimizing Adverse Haemorrhagic Events by Transradial Access Site and Systemic Implementation of AngioX) program, 7,213 patients were randomly assigned to receive either bivalirudin or UFH with or without GPIs at discretion of the operator. The 30-day coprimary outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) (a composite of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke), and net adverse clinical events (NACEs) (a composite of MACEs or major bleeding). RESULTS: Among 3,603 patients assigned to receive UFH, 781 (21.7%) underwent planned treatment with GPI before coronary intervention. Bailout use of GPIs was similar between the bivalirudin and UFH groups (4.5% and 5.4%) (p = 0.11). At 30 days, the 2 coprimary endpoints of MACEs and NACEs, as well as individual endpoints of mortality, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis or stroke did not differ among the 3 groups after adjustment. Compared with the UFH and UFH+GPI groups, bivalirudin reduced bleeding, mainly the most severe bleeds, including fatal and nonaccess site-related events, as well as transfusion rates and the need for surgical access site repair. These findings were not influenced by the administered intraprocedural dose of UFH and were confirmed at multiple sensitivity analyses, including the randomly allocated access site. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ACS, the rates of MACEs and NACEs were not significantly lower with bivalirudin than with UFH, irrespective of planned GPI use. However, bivalirudin significantly reduced bleeding complications, mainly those not related to access site, irrespective of planned use of GPIs. (Minimizing Adverse Haemorrhagic Events by Transradial Access Site and Systemic Implementation of AngioX [MATRIX]; NCT01433627).

Percutaneous Management of a Coronary Bifurcation Aneurysm with Mesh-Covered Stents and the Simultaneous Kissing Stent Technique.

A 63-year-old man was admitted with a clinical diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (non-ST-segment elevation), characterized by regional hypokinesia of the left ventricular posterior and lateral walls and by positive cardiac biomarkers. The coronary angiogram showed a 12.5-mm-diameter aneurysm with a mural thrombus and possible distal embolism to the bifurcation of the left circumflex coronary artery and the 2nd marginal branch. The aneurysm was managed percutaneously by implanting 2 mesh-covered stents in accordance with the "simultaneous kissing stent" technique. Follow-up angiography and optical coherence tomography at 5 postprocedural months documented complete sealing of the aneurysm and diffuse in-stent restenosis. No sign of ischemia occurred during the subsequent follow-up.

Switching from femoral to routine radial access site for ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a single center experience.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to describe the change of first choice access site from transfemoral (TF) to transradial (TR) in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) in a single center. BACKGROUND: TR-pPCI, when performed by experienced operators, can reduce bleeding events and improve clinical outcome. However, little is known about the learning curve of TR-pPCI and the results obtained by less experienced operators. METHODS: Time to reperfusion, contrast and radiation doses, and 30-day clinical events were evaluated. The relationship between operator experience and procedural results was assessed. RESULTS: During 6.5 years, 1,045 patients with STEMI underwent pPCI. The rate of TR-pPCI increased gradually from about 40% to 90% and remained stable thereafter. The crossover from TR to TFpPCI occurred in 4.6% of patients and was not related to the operator experience. Patients selected for TR-pPCI had a lower risk profile and lower incidence of 30-day mortality and bleeding events. Time to reperfusion, contrast volume, fluoroscopy time, and angiographic success was not significantly different between the 2 vascular approaches, nor was it associated to the operator experience. At roughly 200 PCIs as operator experience, a slight adjusted reduction in the time form first coronary angiogram to balloon was detected with both vascular approaches. CONCLUSIONS: A progressive transition from TF to TR-pPCI could be implemented over a 4-year period without increasing overall treatment delay. The impact of operator experience on procedural results appeared to be modest and it did not differ in the study access groups.