Ticagrelor effectively inhibits platelet aggregation in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia.

BACKGROUND: Mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) is believed to reduce the effectiveness of antiplatelet drugs. Effective dual-antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is mandatory to avoid acute stent thrombosis. The effectiveness of ticagrelor in MTH-treated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors is still a matter of debate. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of MTH on the platelet-inhibitory effect of ticagrelor in comatose survivors of OHCA treated with primary PCI. METHODS: Eighteen comatose survivors of OHCA with acute coronary syndrome undergoing immediate PCI treated with MTH were compared with 14 patients with uncomplicated primary myocardial infarction after PCI, matched for gender and age, in a prospective, single-center, observational study. Platelet aggregation was evaluated using VerifyNow P2Y12 point-of-care testing at 3 time points: admission (T0), during MTH (T1), and 48-72 h after rewarming (T2). RESULTS: Ticagrelor effectively inhibits platelet aggregation in OHCA patients subjected to MTH and in all patients in the control group. The effectiveness of ticagrelor did not differ between the MTH group and the control group (p = 0.581). In 2 cases in the MTH population, the platelet response to ticagrelor was inadequate, and in one of them it remained insufficient during the re-warming phase. There was no stent thrombosis in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed the effectiveness of ticagrelor to inhibit platelets in myocardial infarction patients after OHCA treated with primary PCI undergoing hypothermia. The use of cooling was not associated with an increased risk of stent thrombosis.

Clinical Outcomes of Left Main Coronary Artery PCI With Rotational Atherectomy.

Data regarding rotational atherectomy percutaneous coronary intervention (RA PCI) angioplasty in the left main (LM) coronary artery are scarce, and mostly outdated. We aimed to describe clinical outcomes of RA PCI in LM. Patients requiring RA in 8 European countries and 19 centers were prospectively and consecutively included in the European registry of Cardiac Care of Calcified and Complex patients registry. In-hospital data collection and 1-year follow-up were performed for each patient. Between October 2016 and July 2018, 966 patients with complete data were included. Among them, 241 presented with an LM lesion, and 171 required an LM lesion preparation by RA. The latter, allocated to the LM-RA group, were compared with the 725 patients in the non-LM-RA group. Clinical success of the RA procedure was comparable in both groups, but in-hospital major adverse cardiac events were higher in the RA-LM group (7.6% vs 3.2%, adjusted p = 0.04), mainly driven by a higher in-hospital mortality rate (5.3 vs 0.3%, adjusted p = 0.005). At 1-year follow-up, mortality and major adverse cardiac event rates were comparable in both groups (12.9% vs 8.0%, adjusted p value: 0.821, and 15.8% vs 10.9%, adjusted p value: 0.329, respectively), but the rate of target vessel revascularization remained higher in the RA-LM group (5.3% vs 3.2%, adjusted p = 0.021). In conclusion, RA PCI is an efficient option for calcified LM lesions, providing acceptable outcomes regarding this population with high risk at 1 year, and yields comparable outcomes with RA PCI performed on non-LM lesions.

Hemodynamic effects of larger volume intra-aortic balloon pump during high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention in high-risk patients (HRPCI) is associated with increased risk of complications. Mechanical circulatory support devices, including intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) may bridge patient safely throughout the procedure. AIM: We aimed to describe hemodynamic effects of larger (MEGA) compared to standard (STRD) volume IABP or no balloon control group (CTRL) during HRPCI. METHODS: In this single-center, open-label randomized controlled trial HRPCI were randomly assigned to three groups according to planned hemodynamic support: MEGA, STDR and CTRL in a 1:1:1 scheme. Screening failure patients formed registry (REG). We analyzed data from pulmonary artery catheter especially cardiac output and cardiac power output (CPO) with Fick method and pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PCWP), as well as left ventricle systolic pressure (LVSP) with PIGTAIL catheter. We also calculated endocardial viability ratio (EVR) and analyzed pressure tracings from the IABP console. We compared baseline and on-support values. Final hemodynamic analysis was done on per-treatment basis, including REG patients. RESULTS: A total of 47 patients were analyzed (16 MEGA, 10 STRD and 21 CTRL). Compared to CTRL we found significant increase from baseline to on-support value for cardiac output and CPO in the MEGA, but not in the STRD group. The change in EVR (increase) and in LVSP (decrease) was significant equally in MEGA and STRD vs. CTRL group, but PCWP did not change significantly for both balloons vs. CTRL. Diastolic augmented pressure with IABP was higher in MEGA than STRD and was positively correlated with systolic unloading. CONCLUSIONS: We observed more favorable hemodynamic effects of larger compared to standard volume balloon.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Shows Improved Outcomes in Patients with an ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and a High Thrombus Burden Treated with Adjuvant Aspiration Thrombectomy.

There is a discrepancy between epicardial vessel patency and microcirculation perfusion in a third of patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Optimization with aspiration thrombectomy (AT) may reduce distal embolization and microvascular obstruction. The effect of AT in the treatment of STEMI is debatable. The purpose of this study was to use cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to determine whether AT influences microvascular obstruction (MVO), infarct size and left ventricular (LV) remodelling in STEMI patients. Sixty STEMI patients with a thrombus-occluded coronary artery were randomized in a 2:1 fashion to receive PCI proceeded by AT (AT + PCI group), or PCI only. MVO, myocardial infarct size and LV remodelling were assessed by CMR during the index hospitalization and 6 months thereafter. The majority of patients had a large thrombus burden (TIMI thrombus grade 5 in over 70% of patients). PCI and AT were effective in all cases. There were no periprocedural strokes. CMR showed that the addition of AT to standard PCI was associated with lesser MVO when indexed to the infarct size and larger infarct size reduction. There were less patients with left ventricle remodelling in the AT + PCI vs. the PCI only group. To conclude, in STEMI patients with a high thrombus burden, AT added to PCI is effective in reducing infarct size, MVO and LV remodelling.

Annual operator volume among patients treated using percutaneous coronary interventions with rotational atherectomy and procedural outcomes: Analysis based on a large national registry.

BACKGROUND: Low operator and institutional volume are associated with poorer procedural and long-term clinical outcomes in the general population of patients treated with percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). AIM: To assess the relationship between operator experience and procedural outcomes of patients treated with PCI and rotational atherectomy (RA). METHODS: Data for conducting the current analysis were obtained from the national registry of percutaneous coronary interventions (ORPKI) maintained in cooperation with the Association of Cardiovascular Interventions (AISN) of the Polish Cardiac Society. The study covers data from January 2014 to December 2020. RESULTS: During the investigated period, there were 162 active CathLabs, at which 747,033 PCI procedures were performed by 851 operators (377 RA operators [44.3%]). Of those, 5188 were PCI with RA procedures; average 30 ± 61 per site/7 years (Me: 3; Q1-Q3: 0-31); 6 ± 18 per operator/7 years (Me: 0; Q1-Q3: 0-3). Considering the number of RA procedures annually performed by individual operators during the analyzed 7 years, the first quartile totaled (Q1: < =2.57), the second (Q2: < =5.57), and the third (Q3: < =11.57), while the fourth quartile was (Q4: > 11.57). The maximum number of procedures was 39.86 annually per operator. We demonstrated, through a nonlinear relationship with annualized operator volume and risk-adjusted, that operators performing more PCI with RA per year (fourth quartile) have a lower number of the overall periprocedural complications (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: High-volume RA operators are related to lower overall periprocedural complication occurrence in patients treated with RA in comparison to low-volume operators.

Successful percutaneous treatment of late outflow graft failure of the left ventricular assist device: a long-term follow-up.

Continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) outflow graft stenosis constitutes a severe complication. Treatment options include surgical pump exchange, transcatheter procedures, or systemic thrombolysis. We present a case of a spontaneous mechanical twisting of the outflow graft at two distinct points, which was treated by a two-step percutaneous stent implantation. Self-expanding stents were used during the first procedure. We also ensured distal bilateral percutaneous neuroprotection against cerebrovascular embolism. During the second, previously unpredicted procedure, we used balloon-expandable bare-metal stents to overcome the torque of the graft, because of their higher radial force. It was assumed that the external, self-expanding layer of the stent might protect the graft from the bare-metal stents. The effects of the treatment were monitored both clinically and through computed tomography angiography. The check-up 12 months later revealed nothing of note. Interventional transcatheter procedures are a safe treatment option for outflow graft stenosis, with good long-term effects. Both self-expanding and balloon-expandable stents can be used for transcatheter intervention. Both the incidence of the graft twisting and the radial force of the implanted stent seem to be critical and robust predictors of the long-term result of percutaneous therapy.

Profilin 1 and Mitochondria-Partners in the Pathogenesis of Coronary Artery Disease?

Atherosclerosis remains a large health and economic burden. Even though it has been studied for more than a century, its complex pathophysiology has not been elucidated. The relatively well-established contributors include: chronic inflammation in response to oxidized cholesterol, reactive oxygen species-induced damage and apoptosis. Recently, profilin 1, a regulator of actin dynamics emerged as a potential new player in the field. Profilin is abundant in stable atherosclerotic plaques and in thrombi extracted from infarct-related arteries in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The exact role of profilin in atherosclerosis and its complications, as well as its mechanisms of action, remain unknown. Here, we summarize several pathways in which profilin may act through mitochondria in a number of processes implicated in atherosclerosis.

Effect of Sex on Outcomes of Coronary Rotational Atherectomy Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (From the European Multicenter Euro4C Registry).

Data regarding the potential influence of gender on outcomes of rotational atherectomy (RA) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are scarce and conflicting. Using the Euro4C registry, an international prospective multicentric registry of RA PCI, we evaluated the influence of gender on clinical outcomes of RA PCI. Between October 2016 and July 2018, 966 patients were included. In them, 267 (27.6%) were females. Female patients were older than males (77.7 years old ± 9.8 vs 73.3 ± 9.5 years old respectively, p < 0.001) had a poorer renal function (43,1% of females had a GFR < 60 ml/min:1.73m² vs 30.4% of males, p < 0.001) and were more frequently admitted for an acute coronary syndrome (32.2% vs 22.3% p = 0.002). During RA procedure, women were less likely to be treated by radial approach (65.0% vs 74.4%, p = 0.004). In-hospital major adverse cardiac event rate-defined as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke/transient ischemic attack, target lesion revascularization, and coronary artery bypass grafting surgery-was higher in the female group (7.1% vs 3.7%, p = 0.043). However, coronary perforation, dissection, slow/low flow and tamponade did not significantly differ in gender, neither did cardiovascular medications at discharge. At 1 year follow-up, rate of major adverse cardiac event was 18.4% in the female group vs 11.2% in the male group (adjusted Hazard Ratio 1.82 [1.24 to 2.67], p = 0.002). No significant bleeding differences were observed in gender, neither in hospital, nor during follow-up. In conclusion women had worse clinical outcomes following RA PCI during hospitalization and at 1 year follow-up than did men.

Circulatory support with larger volume intra-aortic balloon pump vs. standard volume or no-balloon pump during high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions. A randomised study.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous coronary intervention in high-risk patients (HRPCI) is associated with increased risk of periprocedural complications such as hypotension and shock. Mechanical circulatory support devices may the bridge patient safely throughout the procedure and are often used in this setting. AIM: We assessed the outcomes of patients subjected to HRPCI and supported with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) of larger volume (MEGA) compared to standard volume (STRD) or no balloon support at all (CTRL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this single-centre, open-label, randomised, controlled trial, HRPCI patients were randomly assigned to three groups: MEGA, STRD, and CTRL in a 1 : 1 : 1 scheme. Screening failure patients were assigned to the registry (REG). Composite haemodynamic endpoint (CHEP) was assessed during the procedure and major adverse cardiac even (MACE)/safety endpoints up to 1-year follow-up (FU). RESULTS: A total of 36 patients were randomised (13 MEGA, 14 STRD, and 9 CTRL). The incidence of in-hospital MACE was observed in 23.1% of MEGA, 7.1% of STRD and 33.3% of CTRL (p = 0.25) patients; MACE at FU in 50.0%, 35.7%, and 55.6% (p = 0.61); major bleeding in 46.2%, 28.6%, and 22.2%, (p = 0.45); and CHEP in 15.4%, 50.0%, and 44.4%, respectively (p = 0.13). On per-treatment (PT) analysis (16 MEGA, 10 STRD, and 21 CTRL), including 11 patients from REG, in-hospital MACE was observed in 18.8% of MEGA, 10.0% of STRD, and 23.8% of CTRL (p = 0.64) patients; MACE at FU in 53.3%, 20.0%, and 57.1% (p = 0.12); major bleeding in 37.5%, 20.0%, and 33.3% (p = 0.62); and CHEP in 15.5%, 50.0%, and 52.4%, respectively (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Larger volume intra-aortic balloon pump might be effective at reducing haemodynamic instability during HRPCI without a statistically significant effect on safety endpoints or MACE.

Clinical outcomes of PCI with rotational atherectomy: the European multicentre Euro4C registry.

AIMS: Despite the use of rotational atherectomy (RA) in interventional cardiology for over three decades, data regarding factors affecting the clinical outcomes of the RA procedure remain scarce. The aim of the present study was to describe the contemporary use and outcomes of RA in Europe. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted, for the first time, a prospective international registry in 8 European countries and 19 centres and included patients treated by percutaneous coronary intervention with RA. Between October 2016 and July 2018, 966 patients with complete data were recruited. Mean age was 74.5 years, 72.4% were male and 43.4% had diabetes. Initial presentation was an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) for 25.1% of the patients. Clinical success was observed in 91.9% of the procedures. The rate of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) - defined as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularisation, stroke and coronary artery bypass grafting - was 4.7%. At one year, the rate of MACE was 13.2%. Factors independently associated with the occurrence of MACE at one year were female gender, renal failure, ACS at admission, depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and presence of a significant left main coronary artery (LMCA) lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high level of complexity of the studied population, RA turned out to be an effective procedure with a low rate of in-hospital complications and demonstrated good immediate and midterm results.

Percutaneous management of long and diffused coronary lesions using newer generation drug-eluting stents in routine clinical practice: long-term outcomes and complication predictors.

INTRODUCTION: Long and diffuse coronary lesions (LDCLs) are routinely subjected to percutaneous management, but long­term clinical outcomes and complication predictors with the use of contemporary stents and techniques remain undetermined. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to address long­term effects of percutaneous management of LDCLs, using contemporary devices and optimization techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Long and diffuse coronary lesion was defined as a lesion requiring an implantation of 30 mm or longer total stent(s) length (TSL) into one coronary artery (bailouts excluded). There were 290 LDCL interventions with the use of newer generation drug­eluting stents (DESs; cobalt chromium everolimus- or zotarolimus-eluting stents) performed between January 2013 and January 2016. RESULTS: The mean (SD) TSL was 55.5 (16.8) mm. The use of intravascular ultrasound / optical coherence tomography was 17.1%, rotablation, 6.9%, and noncompliant balloon, 88.9%. The median (range) follow­up duration was 831 (390-1373) days. All­cause mortality and cardiac death rates were 11.7% and 6.9%, respectively. The myocardial infarction (MI) rate was 6.6%, including target­vessel MI in 4.1%. The rate of clinically­driven repeat revascularization was 13.8%, and of definite or probable LDCL stent thrombosis, 7.2%. Overall patient­oriented adverse event rate (any death, MI, or repeat revascularization) was 25.5%, and device­oriented rate (cardiac death, target vessel­MI, or target lesion restenosis), 13.4%. Adverse outcome predictors were chronic kidney disease, acute coronary syndrome as an indication for the procedure, chronic heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, multivessel disease, and coexisting peripheral artery disease, but not lesion­related factors, such as bifurcation, calcification, chronic total occlusion, or TSL. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse outcomes following contemporary LDCL management using newer generation DESs in routine clinical practice are associated with clinical patient characteristics rather than lesion characteristics or TSL. We identified high­risk patient cohorts that may benefit from enhanced surveillance.

Adaptation of global hemostasis to therapeutic hypothermia in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Thromboelastography study.

BACKGROUND: The use of mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) in patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) who are undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) can protect patients from thromboembolic complications. The aim of the study was to evaluate the adaptive mecha- nisms of the coagulation system in MTH-treated comatose OHCA survivors. METHODS: Twenty one comatose OHCA survivors with acute coronary syndrome undergoing imme- diate pPCI were treated with MTH. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of physical clot properties were performed using thromboelastography (TEG). Two analysis time points were proposed: 1) during MTH with in vitro rewarming conditions (37°C) and 2) after restoration of normothermia (NT) under normal (37°C) and in vitro cooling conditions (32°C). RESULTS: During MTH compared to NT, reaction time (R) was lengthened, clot kinetic parameter (a) was significantly reduced, but no effect on clot strength (MA) was observed. Finally, the coagulation index (CI) was significantly reduced with clot fibrinolysis attenuated during MTH. The clot lysis time (CLT) was shortened, and clot stability (LY60) was lower compared with those values during NT. In vitro cooling generally influenced clot kinetics and reduced clot stability after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Thromboelastography is a useful method for evaluation of coagulation system dysfunc- tion in OHCA survivors undergoing MTH. Coagulation impairment in hypothermia was associated with a reduced rate of clot formation, increased weakness of clot strength, and disturbances of fibrinoly- sis. Blood sample analyses performed at 32°C during MTH, instead of the standard 37°C, seems to enhance the accuracy of the evaluation of coagulation impairment in hypothermia.

Rotational atherectomy in everyday clinical practice. Association of Cardiovascular Interventions of the Polish Society of Cardiology (Asocjacja Interwencji Sercowo-Naczyniowych Polskiego Towarzystwa Kardiologicznego - AISN PTK): Expert opinion.

The common use of stents, including antiproliferative drug-eluting stents, has been a major breakthrough in invasive cardiology. Nowadays, a change in the clinical presentation of patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is observed. The typical clinical characteristics now include advanced age, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, and multilevel atherosclerosis. Age, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease are the main predictors of coronary artery calcifications. Severe coronary artery calcifications are the main factor limiting the efficacy of PCI. Successful stent implantation is challenging in the presence of calcifications, because it is difficult to achieve full stent expansion and proper stent apposition. Therefore, it is necessary to adequately prepare the lesion before stent implantation. This document presents the technique of rotational atherectomy (rotablation) as well as indications for and contraindications to the procedure, along with its possible complications and their prevention. Training in rotablation for operators as well as reimbursement policy for the procedure in Poland are also discussed.

Clinical factors predicting blood pressure reduction after catheter-based renal denervation.

INTRODUCTION: Renal denervation (RD) can lead to a significant and sustained decrease in mean values of arterial blood pressure (BP). However, there is still a subset of patients without a significant BP drop after RD (non-responders). AIM: To compare characteristics of RD responders to RD non-responders and to identify the clinical predictors of BP reduction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients with diagnosed resistant hypertension underwent RD. Three years after RD the analysis of BP reduction was performed in regard to the baseline patient characteristics. RESULTS: After 3 years' follow-up a 10% or more reduction of systolic baseline BP was observed in 74% of patients. Ten percent or more reduction of diastolic baseline BP was observed in 71% of patients. Among responders we observed the following risk factors: hypercholesterolemia in 70%, body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2 in 55%, diabetes mellitus in 35%, current smoking in 5%. Comorbidity included coronary artery disease (CAD) in 30%, cardiomyopathy in 10%, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 10%, renal insufficiency in 10%, and ventricular arrhythmia in 5%. Among non-responders we observed the following risk factors: hypercholesterolemia in 38%, diabetes mellitus type 2 in 38% and BMI > 30 kg/m2 in 86%. Comorbidity included CAD in 50% and cardiomyopathy in 13% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: A 10% reduction of systolic baseline BP was observed in 74% of patients 3 years after renal denervation. Clinical factors like COPD, chronic kidney disease 3a, female sex and hypercholesterolemia increase the chances of effective reduction of BP.