An asymptomatic Lima dissection after a programmed hybrid revascularization procedure turned to nightmare.

A 71-year-old female with symptomatic bitroncular coronary ischemic disease was admitted in our hospital for hybrid revascularization. She presented significant stenosis of the proximal and middle left anterior descending artery (LAD) and of the second segment of right coronary artery (RCA). She was scheduled for an Endoscopic Atraumatic Coronary Artery Bypass (EACAB) of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to LAD and staged percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to RCA after the EACAB. Control of LIMA permeability after RCA PCI showed LIMA dissection with TIMI 2 flow to LAD. Decision to stent a freshly implanted LIMA led to LIMA rupture. An emergent LAD revascularization with a saphenous vein graft and control of bleeding was successfully performed. Patient was discharged at day 10 from the hospital.

Cardiopoietic cell therapy for advanced ischaemic heart failure: results at 39 weeks of the prospective, randomized, double blind, sham-controlled CHART-1 clinical trial.

AIMS: Cardiopoietic cells, produced through cardiogenic conditioning of patients' mesenchymal stem cells, have shown preliminary efficacy. The Congestive Heart Failure Cardiopoietic Regenerative Therapy (CHART-1) trial aimed to validate cardiopoiesis-based biotherapy in a larger heart failure cohort. METHODS AND RESULTS: This multinational, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study was conducted in 39 hospitals. Patients with symptomatic ischaemic heart failure on guideline-directed therapy (n = 484) were screened; n = 348 underwent bone marrow harvest and mesenchymal stem cell expansion. Those achieving > 24 million mesenchymal stem cells (n = 315) were randomized to cardiopoietic cells delivered endomyocardially with a retention-enhanced catheter (n = 157) or sham procedure (n = 158). Procedures were performed as randomized in 271 patients (n = 120 cardiopoietic cells, n = 151 sham). The primary efficacy endpoint was a Finkelstein-Schoenfeld hierarchical composite (all-cause mortality, worsening heart failure, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire score, 6-min walk distance, left ventricular end-systolic volume, and ejection fraction) at 39 weeks. The primary outcome was neutral (Mann-Whitney estimator 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47-0.61 [value > 0.5 favours cell treatment], P = 0.27). Exploratory analyses suggested a benefit of cell treatment on the primary composite in patients with baseline left ventricular end-diastolic volume 200-370 mL (60% of patients) (Mann-Whitney estimator 0.61, 95% CI 0.52-0.70, P = 0.015). No difference was observed in serious adverse events. One (0.9%) cardiopoietic cell patient and 9 (5.4%) sham patients experienced aborted or sudden cardiac death. CONCLUSION: The primary endpoint was neutral, with safety demonstrated across the cohort. Further evaluation of cardiopoietic cell therapy in patients with elevated end-diastolic volume is warranted.

First prospective multicenter experience with the 7 French Glidesheath slender for complex transradial coronary interventions.

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility and safety of the 7 French (Fr) Glidesheath Slender for complex transradial (TR) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). BACKGROUND: The TR approach is increasingly used worldwide for coronary and peripheral vascular interventions. However, the small size of the radial artery remains an important limitation for the use of large-bore guiding catheters (>6 Fr), restricting thereby the treatment of highly complex lesions through the TR approach. The 7 Fr Glidesheath slender (Terumo, Tokyo, Japan) is a new dedicated radial sheath with a thinner wall and hydrophilic coating. It combines an inner diameter compatible with any 7 Fr guiding catheter and an outer diameter smaller than current 7 Fr sheaths. METHODS: Prospective multicenter registry of complex TR PCI cases using the 7 Fr Glidesheath Slender to determine the procedural success, rates of vascular complications, radial spasm, and radial artery occlusion (RAO). RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were included. Procedural success was 97% with only one access-site crossover. The use of a 7 Fr guiding catheter was indicated for the treatment of highly complex coronary lesions including distal left main (LM) disease (n = 20), complex non-LM bifurcation lesions (n = 16), chronic total occlusion (n = 15), and severely calcified vessels requiring rotational atherectomy (n = 10). There were three vascular access-site complications (4.7%) including two moderate (type II) local hematoma and one uncomplicated guiding catheter-induced brachial artery dissection. None of the patients experienced major bleeding. The occurrence of radial spasm was reported in seven patients (11%). Doppler ultrasound imaging of the radial artery at 1 month was available in 62 of 64 radial access with three cases of RAO (4.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Use of the 7 Fr Glidesheath slender for complex coronary interventions is feasible and associated with a high rate of procedural success and a low rate of vascular complications. These favorable results need be confirmed in larger multicenter studies. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Severe catheter kinking and entrapment during transradial coronary angiography: percutaneous retrieval using a sheathless guide catheter.

The transradial (TR) approach for coronary angiography and intervention is increasingly used worldwide because of several advantages such as reduced bleeding and vascular complications. During TR procedures, aggressive catheter manipulation in the setting of complex and tortuous arterial anatomy can lead to catheter kinking and entrapment. Several percutaneous retrieval techniques using either homolateral radial access or femoral access have been described previously. We demonstrate, for the first time, the use of a sheathless guide catheter as a rescue technique to successfully retrieve a severely kinked and entrapped diagnostic catheter during TR access. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Importance of guiding catheter disengagement during measurement of fractional flow reserve in patients with an isolated proximal left anterior descending artery stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of ostial guiding catheter disengagement during measurement of fractional flow reserve (FFR) in patients with an isolated proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenosis. METHODS: Measurements of FFR were performed in 21 patients with an isolated intermediate lesion of the proximal LAD. Proximal aortic pressure (Pa), distal post stenotic pressure (Pd), and Pd/Pa were recorded at baseline, after at least 90 sec of intravenous (IV) adenosine infusion with the guiding catheter still engaged in the coronary ostium (Pa1 , Pd1 , FFReng ), and after at least 30 sec of guiding catheter disengagement back to the aorta (Pa2 , Pd2 , FFRdis ). RESULTS: The average value of Pd/Pa at baseline was 0.92 ± 0.04. After 110 ± 8 sec of IV adenosine infusion, FFReng was 0.81 ± 0.07, which decreased to 0.77 ± 0.08 (FFRdis ) after 38 ± 6 sec of guiding catheter disengagement. The mean ΔFFR (FFReng - FFRdis ) was 0.05 ± 0.04. As compared to baseline values, the mean change in FFR values was significantly increased after disengagement of the guiding catheter (Pd/Pabaseline - FFRdis vs. Pd/Pabaseline - FFReng , 0.15 ± 0.05 vs. 0.10 ± 0.04, P < 0.0001). Before guiding catheter disengagement, eight patients (38%) had an FFR value ≤ 0.8. Following disengagement of the guiding catheter, the new FFR values decreased below 0.8 in six additional patients (28%), with subsequent change in treatment strategy. CONCLUSIONS: During FFR assessment of isolated intermediate proximal LAD lesions, guiding catheter disengagement is associated with a decrease in mean FFR values. In patients with FFR values lying close to the treatment threshold, this can have an impact on treatment strategy.

Initial experience with the Glidesheath Slender for transradial coronary angiography and intervention: a feasibility study with prospective radial ultrasound follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the Glidesheath Slender in routine transradial (TR) coronary angiography and intervention. BACKGROUND: In recent years, The TR approach has gained in popularity because of several advantages such as reduced vascular access site complications and immediate patient mobilization. Procedural success has been further improved through technological innovations and the development of less invasive devices. The Glidesheath Slender (Terumo, Tokyo, Japan) is a new dedicated radial sheath with a thinner wall and hydrophilic coating. It combines an inner diameter compatible with 6Fr guiding catheter with an outer diameter close to current 5Fr sheaths. Its use has the potential to decrease invasiveness and access site complications during TR procedures. METHODS: A total of 114 consecutive patients undergoing TR coronary angiography and/or PCI using the Gidesheath Slender were included in a prospective single-center feasibility and safety study. RESULTS: Procedural success was 99.1% with only one case requiring conversion to femoral access. There were six minor hematomas but none of the patients experienced major vascular complications. The rate of symptomatic radial spasm was 4.4%. No case of major sheath kinking was noted. Doppler ultrasound examination of the radial artery at 1 month follow-up was available in 113/114 patients with only one case of radial artery occlusion (RAO) (0.88%). CONCLUSIONS: Routine use of the Glidesheath Slender for TR coronary angiography and interventions is safe and feasible with a high rate of procedural success and a low rate of RAO. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Late contained aortic root rupture and ventricular septal defect after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a highly specialized technique offering a new therapeutic option to patients at high risk for conventional surgery. However, despite continuous improvements in operators' expertise and device technology, complications associated with this catheter procedure are not uncommon. We report an unusual case of late contained rupture of the aortic annulus, combining a para-aortic false aneurysm and a ventricular septal defect, after the placement of an Edwards Sapien prosthesis.

Drug-Eluting Resorbable Magnesium Scaffold Implantation in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess feasibility and short-term clinical outcomes associated with resorbable magnesium scaffold (RMS) implantation in the setting of primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). BACKGROUND: RMS implantation has demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes in stable coronary artery disease patients. However, to date, data are lacking in the setting of STEMI. METHODS: This is a single-center prospective non-randomized pilot study. Patients admitted for STEMI were enrolled according to prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. The primary endpoint was device-oriented composite endpoint (DOCE), including cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction, and target-lesion revascularization (TLR) within 30 days of the index procedure. Secondary endpoints were procedural success, any probable/definite scaffold thrombosis, and DOCE at subsequent follow-up. RESULTS: From December 1, 2016 to October 30, 2017, a total of 18 patients were included. Follow-up data were available for 17 patients (94%). There was no primary endpoint event. Procedural success was 100%. Patients were followed for a median of 153 days (range, 59-326 days). Over that extended follow-up period, 1 case of TLR occurred 102 days after the index procedure. There was no case of definite or probable scaffold thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study is the first to assess feasibility and clinical outcomes associated with RMS implantation in selected STEMI patients. The results seem reassuring, with favorable short-term clinical outcomes and absence of definite/probable scaffold thrombosis, and should prompt further research including randomized controlled trials evaluating RMS implantation in the setting of STEMI.

Occurrence of longitudinal stent compression before stent deployment: Two case studies.

Several recent reports have described the occurrence of longitudinal stent deformation (LSD, defined as the distortion or shortening of a stent along the longitudinal axis), following its successful deployment. However, few reports have described LSD prior to any stent deployment. This previously unrecognized complication is the result of modifications to stent design. It has been noted that the new-generation stent platforms have a reduced number of connectors, which in turn causes a reduction in longitudinal stent strength. To corroborate previous findings by our lab and others (Vijayvergiya et al, 2013), we describe here two cases of LSD prior to stent deployment that occurred due to crushing of the proximal stent edge by the guide catheter while attempting to withdraw the crimped stent. In addition, we discuss the associated risk factors, such as the length of the stent, and specific management strategies, including technical guidelines and use of fluoroscopic guidance for maneuvering the stent during the procedure.

Cardiopoietic stem cell therapy in heart failure: the C-CURE (Cardiopoietic stem Cell therapy in heart failURE) multicenter randomized trial with lineage-specified biologics.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the feasibility and safety of autologous bone marrow-derived and cardiogenically oriented mesenchymal stem cell therapy and to probe for signs of efficacy in patients with chronic heart failure. BACKGROUND: In pre-clinical heart failure models, cardiopoietic stem cell therapy improves left ventricular function and blunts pathological remodeling. METHODS: The C-CURE (Cardiopoietic stem Cell therapy in heart failURE) trial, a prospective, multicenter, randomized trial, was conducted in patients with heart failure of ischemic origin who received standard of care or standard of care plus lineage-specified stem cells. In the cell therapy arm, bone marrow was harvested and isolated mesenchymal stem cells were exposed to a cardiogenic cocktail. Derived cardiopoietic stem cells, meeting release criteria under Good Manufacturing Practice, were delivered by endomyocardial injections guided by left ventricular electromechanical mapping. Data acquisition and analysis were performed in blinded fashion. The primary endpoint was feasibility/safety at 2-year follow-up. Secondary endpoints included cardiac structure/function and measures of global clinical performance 6 months post-therapy. RESULTS: Mesenchymal stem cell cocktail-based priming was achieved for each patient with the dose attained in 75% and delivery without complications in 100% of cases. There was no evidence of increased cardiac or systemic toxicity induced by cardiopoietic cell therapy. Left ventricular ejection fraction was improved by cell therapy (from 27.5 ± 1.0% to 34.5 ± 1.1%) versus standard of care alone (from 27.8 ± 2.0% to 28.0 ± 1.8%, p < 0.0001) and was associated with a reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume (-24.8 ± 3.0 ml vs. -8.8 ± 3.9 ml, p < 0.001). Cell therapy also improved the 6-min walk distance (+62 ± 18 m vs. -15 ± 20 m, p < 0.01) and provided a superior composite clinical score encompassing cardiac parameters in tandem with New York Heart Association functional class, quality of life, physical performance, hospitalization, and event-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: The C-CURE trial implements the paradigm of lineage guidance in cell therapy. Cardiopoietic stem cell therapy was found feasible and safe with signs of benefit in chronic heart failure, meriting definitive clinical evaluation. (C-Cure Clinical Trial; NCT00810238).

Importance of a hydrophilic coronary wire in anatomically challenging transradial access: an extended case series.

Anatomic variations during transradial (TR) procedures are relatively common and represent a significant cause of technical failure, even for experienced radial operators. In this study, we present an interesting alternative technique to overcome these anatomical anomalies. A significant amount of TR procedures in various and challenging anatomical conditions were successfully completed with the use of a 0.014″ hydrophilic coronary guidewire.

Small balloon inflation over a jailed wire as a bailout technique in a case of abrupt side branch occlusion during provisional stenting.

During provisional stenting of a bifurcation lesion, recrossing into the side branch (SB) can be sometimes difficult or even impossible, especially when the SB lumen is compromised by a dissection. This report describes a rescue technique that can help to restore flow and regain access to the SB lumen in case of total SB occlusion after main vessel stent placement.