Impact of calcium on the procedural techniques and outcomes of chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Coronary calcification is common and increases the difficulty of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We examined the impact of calcium on procedural outcomes of 13,079 CTO PCIs performed in 12,799 patients at 46 US and non-US centers between 2012 and 2023. RESULTS: Moderate or severe calcification was present in 46.6% of CTO lesions. Patients whose lesions were calcified were older and more likely to have had prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Calcified lesions were more complex with higher J-CTO score (3.0 ± 1.1 vs. 1.9 ± 1.2; p < 0.001) and lower technical (83.0% vs. 89.9%; p < 0.001) and procedural (81.0% vs. 89.1%; p < 0.001) success rates compared with mildly calcified or non-calcified CTO lesions. The retrograde approach was more commonly used among cases with moderate/severe calcification (40.3% vs. 23.5%; p < 0.001). Balloon angioplasty (76.6%) was the most common lesion preparation technique for calcified lesions, followed by rotational atherectomy (7.3%), laser atherectomy (3.4%) and, intravascular lithotripsy (3.4%). The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was higher in cases with moderate or severe calcification (3.0% vs. 1.2%; p < 0.001), as was the incidence of perforation (6.5% vs. 3.4%; p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, the presence of moderate/severe calcification was independently associated with lower technical success (odds ratio, OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.63-0.84) and higher MACE (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.66-3.27). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate/severe calcification was present in nearly half of CTO lesions, and was associated with higher utilization of the retrograde approach, lower technical and procedural success rates, and higher incidence of in-hospital MACE.

Aortocoronary dissection during percutaneous coronary interventions for chronic total occlusion: Insights from the PROGRESS-CTO registry.

BACKGROUND: Aortocoronary dissection is a potentially serious complication of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We examined the incidence, mechanisms, treatment, and outcomes of aortocoronary dissection among 12,117 CTO PCIs performed between 2012 and 2022 in a large multicenter CTO PCI registry. RESULTS: The incidence of aortocoronary dissection was 0.2% (n = 27). Most aortocoronary dissections occurred in the right coronary artery (96.3%, n = 26). The baseline clinical characteristics of patients with and without aortocoronary dissection were similar, except for dyslipidemia, which was less common in patients with aortocoronary dissection (70.4% vs. 86.0%; p = 0.019). The retrograde approach was used more commonly among cases complicated by aortocoronary dissection (59.3% vs. 31.0%; p = 0.002). Technical (74.1% vs. 86.6%; p = 0.049) and procedural (70.4% vs. 85.2%; p = 0.031) success rates were lower among aortocoronary dissection cases, with a similar incidence of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (3.7% vs. 2.0%; p = 0.541). Of the 27 patients with aortocoronary dissection, 19 (70.4%) were treated with ostial stenting and 8 (29.6%) were treated conservatively without subsequent adverse clinical outcomes. No patients required emergency surgery. Follow-up was available for 22 patients (81.5%): during a mean follow up of 767 (±562) days, the incidence of in-stent restenosis was 11.1% (n = 3). CONCLUSIONS: Aortocoronary dissection occurred in 0.2% of CTO PCIs performed by experienced operators, was associated with lower technical and procedural success, and was treated most commonly with ostial stenting. None of the patients required emergency cardiac surgery.

Incidence, Mechanisms, Treatment, and Outcomes of Coronary Artery Perforation During Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Coronary artery perforation is a feared complication of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Our objective was to describe the incidence, mechanisms, treatment, and outcomes of coronary artery perforation during CTO PCI. We analyzed the baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of 10,454 CTO PCIs performed in 10,219 patients between 2012 and 2022. The incidence of coronary perforation was 4.9% (n = 503). Patients who experienced coronary perforation were older and were more likely to have had previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Procedures that resulted in perforation were more complex, with higher Japanese CTO and Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention (PROGRESS-CTO) scores. Technical (66% vs 87%, p <0.001) and procedural (55% vs 87%, p <0.001) success rates were lower in perforation cases. The CTO target vessel was the most common perforation site (66%). The retrograde approach was responsible for the perforation in 47% of cases, and guidewire exit was the most common perforation mechanism. The proportion of Ellis class 1, 2, 3, and 3 -"cavity spilling" coronary perforations was 20%, 41%, 28%, and 11%, respectively. In 52% of perforations, 1 or more interventions were required: prolonged balloon inflation (23%), covered stent deployment (21%), coil embolization (6%), and/or autologous fat embolization (4%). Tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis occurred in 69 patients (14%). The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events was higher in perforation cases (18% vs 1.3%, p <0.001). In conclusion, coronary artery perforation occurred in 4.9% of CTO PCIs performed by experienced operators and was associated with lower technical success and higher in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events.

Eosinophilic myocarditis-an unusual cause of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Eosinophilic myocarditis is a rare condition in which inflammation of the heart results in an infiltrative cardiomyopathy that is often difficult to diagnose in the acute setting. It sometimes presents as left ventricular hypertrophy. The authors present a case of a 79-year-old woman with a history of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who presented with acute heart failure with marked left ventricular hypertrophy. Echocardiography demonstrated abnormalities consistent with an infiltrative cardiomyopathy, and endomyocardial biopsy showed findings consistent with eosinophilic myocarditis. The patient was managed with diuresis and glucocorticoid therapy, and within 4 weeks of her admission, her clinical status had improved and her echocardiogram normalized. The prompt diagnosis and treatment of this patient's myocarditis likely resulted in her favorable outcome. This illustrates the need for a broad consideration of all the potential causes of hypertrophy and the necessary diagnostic strategies and therapeutic options.

Aortic dilatation with bicuspid aortic valves: cusp fusion correlates to matrix metalloproteinases and inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Congenital bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs) result from fusion of 2 valve cusps, resulting in left-noncoronary (L-N), right-left (R-L), and right-noncoronary (R-N) morphologic presentations. BAVs predispose to ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (ATAAs). This study hypothesized that ATAAs with each BAV morphologic group possess unique signatures of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). METHODS: Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm tissue from 46 patients with BAVs was examined for MMP/TIMP abundance, and global MMP activity was compared with normal aortic specimens (n=15). Proteolytic balance was calculated as the ratio of MMP abundance to a composite TIMP score. Results were stratified by valve morphologic group (L-N [n=6], R-L [n=31], and R-N [n=9]). RESULTS: The BAV specimens (p<0.05 versus normal aorta, 100%) displayed elevated global MMP activity (273%±63%), MMP-9 (263%±47%), and decreased MMP-7 (56%±10%), MMP-8 (58%±11%), TIMP-1 (63%±7%), and TIMP-4 (38%±3%). The R-L group showed increased global MMP activity (286%±89%) and MMP-9 (267%±55%) with reduced MMP-7 (45%±7%), MMP-8 (68%±15%), TIMP-1 (58%±7%), and TIMP-4 (35%±3%). The L-N group showed elevated global MMP activity (284%±71%) and decreased MMP-8 (37%±17%) and TIMP-4 (48%±14) activity. In the R-N group, MMP-7 (46%±13%) and MMP-8 (36%±17%) and TIMP-1 (59%±10%) and TIMP-4 (42%±5%) were decreased. The R-L group demonstrated an increased proteolytic balance for MMP-1, MMP-9, and MMP-12 relative to L-N and R-N. CONCLUSIONS: Each BAV morphologic group possesses a unique signature of MMPs and TIMPs. MMP/TIMP score ratios suggest that the R-L group may be more aggressive, justifying earlier surgical intervention.

Invasive thymoma with endobronchial metastasis.

Endobronchial thymoma is an exceedingly rare presentation. We report a 70-year-old woman undergoing bronchoscopy for dyspnea and a computed tomographic scan believed to be most consistent with a right lower lobe neoplasm. Thoracoscopy was ultimately required for diagnosis.