Imaging-guided PCI improves outcomes in patients with multivessel disease a meta-analysis of randomized and observational trials comparing treatment of ACS.

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis sought to investigate if IVUS-guided PCI (IVUS-PCI) can improve outcomes compared to standard PCI and CABG in patients with multivessel CAD. BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is traditionally revascularized by either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass (CABG) with a historical benefit of CABG over PCI in multivessel CAD. Intravascular ultrasound-guided PCI (IVUS-PCI) may improve outcomes compared to angiography alone. METHODS: We undertook a systematic search using PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Ovid from 2017 through 2022. We included randomized controlled trials and observational trials comparing PCI vs CABG for multivessel CAD evaluated by two independent reviewers. We extracted baseline data and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; death from any cause, MI, stroke, or repeat revascularization) at one year. Three trials were selected based on study arm criteria: FAME 3, BEST, and Syntax II. RESULTS: IVUS-PCI significantly reduced death from any cause (OR 0.45, CI 0.272-0.733, p = 0.001), repeat revascularization (OR 0.62, CI 0.41-0.95, p = 0.03), and showed a non-significant reduction in MACE (OR 0.74, CI 0.54-1.01, p = 0.054) when compared to CABG. IVUS-PCI significantly reduced MACE (OR 0.52, CI 0.38-0.72, p < 0.001) and showed a non-significant reduction in death (OR 0.66, CI 0.36-1.18, p = 0.16) and numerically reduced repeat revascularization (OR 0.66, CI95 0.431-1.02, p = 0.06) when compared to PCI without IVUS. CONCLUSION: IVUS-PCI reduces cardiovascular outcomes in patients with multivessel disease compared to CABG and angiographically-guided PCI at one year. These results reinforce the importance of IVUS-PCI in complex CAD and provide evidence for improved PCI outcomes compared to CABG for multivessel CAD.

Acute Coronary Syndrome Revascularization Strategies With Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease.

In acute coronary syndromes (ACS), revascularization is the standard of care. However, trials comparing contemporary coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are limited. Optimal revascularization in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (MV-CAD) presenting with ACS is unclear. This is a multicentered, retrospective observational study from a large hospital system in the United States. We abstracted data in patients with MV-CAD and ACS from 2018 to 2022 who underwent revascularization with PCI, CABG, or medical management (MM). We evaluated multivariate statistics comparing categorical variables and outcomes, including all-cause mortality and myocardial infarction (MI) at 1 year. All logistic and Cox proportional-hazard models were balanced using inverse probability treatment weights accounting for age and gender. There were 295 patients with CABG (median age 66 years [interquartile range 59.7 to 73.1]; 73% male), 1,559 patients with PCI (median age 68.3 years [interquartile range 60 to 76.6]; 69.1% male], and 307 patients with MM (median age 70 years [60.9 to 77.1] 74% male]. Patients revascularized with PCI had greater all-cause mortality at 1 year (14.1% vs 5.1%; hazard ratio 2.4, confidence interval [1.5 to 3.8], p <0.001) and similar mortality to MM (13.4%). CABG also showed a reduced 1-year MI rate compared with PCI (1.7% vs 3.9%; hazard ratio 0.36, confidence interval 0.21 to 0.61, p ≤0.001), with a similar 1-year rate of MI to MM (3.9%). In conclusion, CABG is associated with lower mortality than are PCI and MM, and repeat ACS events at 1 year in patients with ACS and MV-CAD.

Subepicardial aneurysm: echocardiographic evaluation and evolution.

Subepicardial aneurysms (SEA) are an infrequent and serious form of subacute cardiac rupture complicating myocardial infarction. An early diagnosis and surgical repair may be life saving. SEA comprise an abrupt interruption of the myocardium, with a narrow neck and thin wall containing only the epicardium. It may progress to fatal cardiorrhexis. We describe the echocardiographic evolution of this type of cardiac rupture and the contribution of contrast-enhanced echocardiography. A possible pathophysiological mechanism is proposed.