Angiographic Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Impella-Supported High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights From the cVAD PROTECT III Study.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have found that patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have worse outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). There are no data about patients with advanced CKD undergoing Impella-supported high-risk PCI. We, therefore, aimed to evaluate angiographic characteristics and clinical outcomes in patients with CKD who received Impella-supported high-risk PCI as part of the catheter-based ventricular assist device PROTECT III study (A Prospective, Multi-Center, Randomized Controlled Trial of the IMPELLA RECOVER LP 2.5 System Versus Intra Aortic Balloon Pump [IABP] in Patients Undergoing Non Emergent High Risk PCI). METHODS: Patients enrolled in the PROTECT III study were analyzed according to their baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The primary outcome was 90-day major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (the composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke/transient ischemic attack, and repeat revascularization). RESULTS: Of 1237 enrolled patients, 1052 patients with complete eGFR baseline assessment were evaluated: 586 with eGFR ≥60 mL/min per 1.73 m2, 190 with eGFR ≥45 to <60, 105 with eGFR ≥30 to <45, and 171 with eGFR <30 or on dialysis. Patients with lower eGFR (all groups with eGFR <60) were more frequently females and had a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, anemia, and peripheral artery disease. The baseline Synergy Between PCI With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery score was similar between groups (28.2±12.6 for all groups). Patients with lower eGFR were more likely to have severe coronary calcifications and higher usage of atherectomy. There were no differences in individual PCI-related coronary complications between groups, but the rates of overall PCI complications were less frequent among patients with lower eGFR. Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events at 90 days and 1-year mortality were significantly higher among patients with eGFR <30 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or on dialysis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with advanced CKD undergoing Impella-assisted high-risk PCI tend to have higher baseline comorbidities, severe coronary calcification, and higher atherectomy usage, yet CKD was not associated with a higher rate of immediate PCI-related complications. However, 90-day major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and 1-year mortality were significantly higher among patients with eGFR<30 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or on dialysis. Future studies of strategies to improve intermediate and long-term outcomes of these high-risk patients are warranted. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04136392.

Acute coronary syndromes in patients with cancer: Recent advances.

Coronary artery disease is presently one of the leading causes of death among cancer survivors. Due to the number of cancer survivors projected to reach 26 million by 2040 managing coronary disease in this population presents a unique challenge. Cancer patients face an elevated risk of atherosclerotic disease due to shared cardiovascular risk factors and the cardiotoxic effects of cancer therapies, predisposing them to acute coronary syndromes. Challenges in treating cancer patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes include atypical presentations, obscured symptoms, and the impact of cancer-related processes on traditional biomarkers. This review explores the complexities of acute coronary syndrome management in cancer patients, addressing challenges involved, recent advances in percutaneous strategies, pharmacology, and considerations for these high-risk individuals. This review discusses a balance between invasive vs. medical strategy, technical advances in multimodal imaging, intravascular physiology, intracoronary imaging, and evolving stent options, highlighting the need for tailored approaches in this complex patient population.

Prevalence and outcomes of type 2 myocardial infarction in patients with cancer: A retrospective analysis from the National Inpatient Sample dataset.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of type 2 myocardial infarction (T2AMI) in patients with versus without cancer. METHODS: All hospitalizations with a primary discharge diagnosis of T2AMI were stratified according to cancer status (secondary diagnosis of any-cancer vs cancer-free) using data from the US National Inpatient Sample (2016-2019). The primary outcome was in-hospital all-cause mortality while secondary outcomes were in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). RESULTS: Among 61,305 included hospitalizations with primary diagnosis of T2AMI, 3745 (6.1%) were associated with a diagnosis of cancer. Patients with T2AMI and cancer presented more frequently with acute respiratory failure (23.2% vs 18.1%), acute pulmonary embolism (3.7% v 1.3%), major bleeding (6.8% vs 4.1%) and renal failure (51.0% vs 46.8%), compared to patients without. On adjusted analysis, diagnosis of cancer was associated with lower odds of invasive coronary angiography (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.93, p = 0.009) but greater odds of mortality (aOR 1.95, 95% C.I. 1.26-2.99 p = 0.002). Among the different types of cancer, adjusted risk of all-cause mortality was higher in patients with colorectal (aOR 4.17 95% CI 1.68-10.32, p = 0.002), lung (aOR 3.63, 95% CI 1.83-7.18, p < 0.001) and haematologic (aOR 2.48, 95% CI 1.22-5.05, p = 0.001) cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cancer presenting with T2AMI have lower odds of management with invasive diagnostic coronary angiography and have higher rates of in-hospital all-cause death. Further studies are warranted to improve overall care and outcomes of cancer patients and cardiovascular diseases.

Utilization of Non-Drug-Eluting Devices for Inpatient Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the United States.

There is a paucity of data on the contemporary use of non-drug-eluting devices (balloon angioplasty or bare-metal stents) in contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the United States. We utilized the Nationwide Readmissions Database to identify patients hospitalized to undergo PCI with non-drug-eluting devices from 2016 to 2019. The main outcome of interest was the trends in utilization over the study years. Among 1,870,262 PCI procedures, 127,810 (6.8%) were performed with non-drug-eluting devices; 72% of these were in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (MI). The use of non-drug-eluting devices decreased throughout the study period from 12.9% of all PCI in the first quarter of 2016 to 3.4% in the last quarter of 2019 (p <0.001). Factors associated with their use included advanced age and high bleeding risk. Only a small percentage were used as a bridge to coronary artery bypass graft surgery (2%) and for treatment of in-stent restenosis (3%). The in-hospital mortality was 5.8% for the entire cohort and 6.6% when the indication for use was an acute MI. In patients presenting with an acute MI, reinfarction within 30 days was common and occurred in 18% of the patients. In conclusion, the use of non-drug-eluting devices in PCI in the United States decreased from 2016 to 2019. Factors associated with their use included old age and high bleeding risk. Due to suboptimal outcomes in patients currently being treated with non-drug-eluting devices, there remains an unmet clinical need for alternative treatment options.

Saphenous Vein Graft Intervention.

Even though saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) are the most commonly used surgical conduits, their long-term patency is limited by accelerated atherosclerosis often resulting in acute coronary syndrome or asymptomatic occlusion. SVG intervention is associated with 2 significant challenges: a significant risk of distal embolization with resultant periprocedural myocardial infarction in the short-term and restenosis in the long-term. Several individual trials have compared bare metal stents with drug-eluting stents for SVG intervention. This review article discusses the pathophysiology of SVG lesions, indications for SVG intervention, and the challenges encountered, and also technical considerations for SVG intervention and the supporting evidence.

Hemorrhagic pericardial effusion resulting in constriction in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

BACKGROUND: We report the first ante-mortem diagnosis of hemorrhagic pericardial effusion in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia resulting in constriction; the case also demonstrates the unusual but well-described complication of right-sided heart failure requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support after pericardiectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A previously healthy 48 year old man with a strong family history of Osler-Weber-Rendu disease presented to our institution with signs and symptoms of advance heart failure. His workup demonstrated a thickened pericardium and constrictive physiology. He was brought to the operating room where old clot and inflamed tissue were appreciated in the pericardial space and he underwent complete pericardiectomy under cardiopulmonary bypass. Separation from bypass, hampered by the development of right ventricular dysfunction and profound vasoplegia, required significant pressor and inotropic support. The right heart dysfunction and vasoplegia worsened in the early postoperative period requiring a week of ECMO after which his right ventricle recovered and he was successfully de-cannulated. CONCLUSION: Given the poor outcome of severe postoperative right ventricular failure after pericardiectomy, with high central venous pressure, a low gradient between central venous and pulmonary artery pressures and high vasopressor requirements, ECMO should be instituted promptly.

In-Hospital Characteristics and 30-Day Readmissions for Acute Myocardial Infarction and Major Bleeding in Patients With Active Cancer.

There are limited data on readmission with ischemic and major bleeding events in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with active cancer. The purpose of our study was to evaluate in-hospital characteristics and 30-day readmission rates for recurrent AMI and major bleeding by cancer type in patients with AMI and active cancer. From 2016 through 2018, patients in the Nationwide Readmission Database admitted with AMI and underlying active colon, lung, breast, prostate, and hematological cancers were included. Thirty-day readmission for recurrent AMI and major bleeding were reported. Of 1,524,677 index hospitalizations for AMI, 35,790 patients (2.2%) had cancer (0.9% hematological; 0.5% lung; 0.4% prostate; 0.2% breast; and 0.1% colon). Compared with patients without cancer, patients with cancer were about 6 to 10 years older and had a higher proportion of atrial fibrillation, valvular heart disease, previous stroke, and a greater co-morbidity burden. Of all cancer types, only active breast cancer (adjusted odds ratios 1.82, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.98) was found to be significantly associated with elevated odds of readmission for major bleeding; no such association was observed for recurrent AMI. In conclusion, AMI in patients with breast cancer is associated with significantly greater odds of readmission for major bleeding within 30 days after discharge. Management of patients with concomitant AMI and cancer is challenging but should be based on a multidisciplinary approach and estimation of an individual patient's risk of major coronary thrombotic and bleeding events.

Percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with cancer and readmissions within 90 days for acute myocardial infarction and bleeding in the USA.

AIMS: The post-discharge outcomes of patients with cancer who undergo PCI are not well understood. This study evaluates the rates of readmissions within 90 days for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and bleeding among patients with cancer who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients treated with PCI in the years from 2010 to 2014 in the US Nationwide Readmission Database were evaluated for the influence of cancer on 90-day readmissions for AMI and bleeding. A total of 1 933 324 patients were included in the analysis (2.7% active cancer, 6.8% previous history of cancer). The 90-day readmission for AMI after PCI was higher in patients with active cancer (12.1% in lung, 10.8% in colon, 7.5% in breast, 7.0% in prostate, and 9.1% for all cancers) compared to 5.6% among patients with no cancer. The 90-day readmission for bleeding after PCI was higher in patients with active cancer (4.2% in colon, 1.5% in lung, 1.4% in prostate, 0.6% in breast, and 1.6% in all cancer) compared to 0.6% among patients with no cancer. The average time to AMI readmission ranged from 26.7 days for lung cancer to 30.5 days in colon cancer, while the average time to bleeding readmission had a higher range from 38.2 days in colon cancer to 42.7 days in breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Following PCI, patients with cancer have increased risk for readmissions for AMI or bleeding, with the magnitude of risk depending on both cancer type and the presence of metastasis.

Socioeconomic Status and Differences in the Management and Outcomes of 6.6 Million US Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Little is known about the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on management strategies and in-hospital clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and its subtypes, and whether these trends have changed over time. All AMI hospitalizations from the National Inpatient Sample (2004 to 2014) were analyzed and stratified by zip code-based median household income (MHI) into 4 quartiles (poorest to wealthiest): 0th to 25th, 26th to 50th, 51st to 75th, and 76th to 100th. Logistic regression was performed to examine the association between MHI and AMI management strategy and in-hospital clinical outcomes. A total of 6,603,709 AMI hospitalizations were analyzed. Patients in the lowest MHI group had more co-morbidities, a worse cardiovascular risk factor profile and were more likely to be female. Differences in receipt of invasive management were observed between the lowest and highest MHI quartiles, with the lowest MHI group less likely to undergo coronary angiography (63.4% vs 64.3%, p <0.001) and percutaneous coronary intervention (40.4% vs 44.3%, p <0.001) compared with the highest MHI group, especially in the STEMI subgroup. In multivariable analysis, the highest MHI group experienced better outcomes including lower risk (adjusted odds ratio; 95% confidence intervals) of mortality (0.88; 0.88 to 0.89), MACCE (0.91; 0.91 to 0.92) and acute ischemic stroke (0.90; 0.88 to 0.91), but higher all-cause bleeding (1.08; 1.06 to 1.09) in comparison to the lowest MHI group. In conclusion, the provision of invasive management for AMI in patients with lower SES is less than patients with higher SES and is associated with worse in-hospital clinical outcomes. This work highlights the importance of ensuring equity of access and care across all strata SES.

Outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions in cancer patients.

Introduction: There are numerous shared risk factors in the etiopathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) and cancer both at epidemiologic and molecular level. Additionally, different modalities of treatment of cancer such as radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormonal therapies further increase the risk of CAD and acute coronary syndrome. Most large database analysis and single-center experiences have shown that cancer patients undergoing PCI are at an increased risk of in-hospital mortality, bleeding, repeat revascularization.Areas covered: In this review article the authors discuss the associations between CAD and cancer, challenges for PCI in cancer patients and outcome data.Expert opinion: Interventionists performing PCI on cancer patients should be cognizant of the heightened risk of bleeding, thrombosis, possible need for interruption of dual-antiplatelet therapy, and the increased risk of target lesion revascularization in this cohort. These risks may be partially mitigated by utilization of best practices such as the use of radial artery access, intravascular imaging for lesion assessment and stent optimization and avoidance of complex stenting strategies. Finally, it is of paramount importance to have a multidisciplinary approach consisting of the treating cardiologist, medical and/or surgical oncologist, and palliative medicine, and involve the patient and their family in making informed decisions.

Management strategies and clinical outcomes of acute myocardial infarction in leukaemia patients: Nationwide insights from United States hospitalisations.

BACKGROUND: Patients with leukaemia are at increased risk of cardiovascular events. There are limited outcomes data for patients with a history of leukaemia who present with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2004-2014) for patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of AMI, and a concomitant diagnosis of leukaemia, and further stratified according to the subtype of leukaemia. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify the association between leukaemia and major acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE; composite of mortality, stroke and cardiac complications) and bleeding. RESULTS: Out of 6 750 878 AMI admissions, a total of 21 694 patients had a leukaemia diagnosis. The leukaemia group experienced higher rates of MACCE (11.8% vs 7.8%), mortality (10.3% vs 5.8%) and bleeding (5.6% vs 5.3%). Following adjustments, leukaemia was independently associated with increased odds of MACCE (OR 1.26 [1.20, 1.31]) and mortality (OR 1.43 [1.37, 1.50]) without an increased risk of bleeding (OR 0.86 [0.81, 0.92]). Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) was associated with approximately threefold risk of MACCE (OR 2.81 [2.51, 3.13]) and a fourfold risk of mortality (OR 3.75 [3.34, 4.22]). Patients with leukaemia were less likely to undergo coronary angiography (CA) (48.5% vs 64.5%) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (28.2% vs 42.9%) compared with those without leukaemia. CONCLUSION: Patients with leukaemia, especially those with AML, are associated with poor clinical outcomes after AMI, and are less likely to receive CA and PCI compared with those without leukaemia. A multi-disciplinary approach between cardiologists and haematology oncologists may improve the outcomes of patients with leukaemia after AMI.

Analysis of Subjective and Objective Screening Techniques as Predictors of Safety for Radial Artery Intervention.

BACKGROUND: There is no currently accepted standard in safety evaluation for radial artery intervention. We sought to compare the accuracy of various subjective and objective screening techniques in predicting safety for radial artery intervention. METHODS: Fifty-four patients in a prospective cohort study at a single institution underwent subjective Allen's test, objective Barbeau test, and several objective hand ultrasound techniques to assess safety for radial artery intervention. These results were then compared to the gold standard of conventional hand angiography to document complete palmar arch. Statistical analysis including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values, and accuracy were calculated. RESULTS: Compared to hand angiography, the subjective Allen's test and the objective Princeps Pollicis Artery ultrasound demonstrated the comparable levels of sensitivity (100% vs. 96.7%, respectively), specificity (100% vs. 100%, respectively), and accuracy (97.2% vs. 97.1%, respectively). The objective Barbeau test demonstrated similar results (sensitivity of 100%, accuracy of 98.2%) with the exception of a lower specificity (50%). CONCLUSIONS: There is no currently accepted standard in safety evaluation for radial artery intervention. However, preliminary data suggest that certain subjective and objective techniques such as Allen's testing, Princeps Pollicis artery ultrasound, and Barbeau testing are comparable options in predicting palmar arch patency.

Acute myocardial infarction treatments and outcomes in 6.5 million patients with a current or historical diagnosis of cancer in the USA.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to evaluate temporal trends, treatment, and clinical outcomes of patients who present with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and have a current or historical diagnosis of cancer, according to cancer type and presence of metastases. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from 6 563 255 patients presenting with an AMI between 2004 and 2014 from the US National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database were analysed. A total of 5 966 955 had no cancer, 186 604 had current cancer, and 409 697 had a historical diagnosis of cancer. Prostate, breast, colon, and lung cancer were the four most common types of cancer. Patients with cancer were older with more comorbidities. Differences in invasive treatment were noted, 43.9% received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients without cancer, whilst only 21.0% of patients with lung cancer received PCI. Lung cancer was associated with the highest in-hospital mortality [odds ratio (OR) 2.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.62-2.80], major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications (OR 2.38, 95% CI 2.31-2.45), and stroke (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.80-2.02), while colon cancer was associated with highest risk of bleeding (OR 2.82, 95% CI 2.68-2.98). Irrespective of the type of cancer, presence of metastasis was associated with worse in-hospital outcomes, and historical cancer did not adversely impact on survival (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.89-0.91). CONCLUSION: A concomitant cancer diagnosis is associated with a conservative medical management strategy for AMI, and worse clinical outcomes, compared to patients without cancer. Survival and clinical outcomes in the context of AMI vary significantly according to the type of cancer and metastasis status. The management of this high-risk group is challenging and requires a multidisciplinary and patient-centred approach to improve their outcomes.

Non-specific chest pain and subsequent serious cardiovascular readmissions.

BACKGROUND: The rates of readmission for serious cardiovascular events among patients admitted with a diagnosis of non-specific chest pain are unknown. METHODS: A national retrospective cohort study in the United States was undertaken to evaluate the rates, trends and predictors of readmission for serious cardiovascular events (acute coronary syndrome (ACS), pulmonary embolism (PE) and aortic dissection (AD)) after an inpatient episode with a primary diagnosis of non-specific chest pain. RESULTS: Among 1,172,430 patients with an index diagnosis of non-specific chest pain between 2010 and 2014, 2.4% were readmitted with an ACS, 0.4% with a PE and 0.06% with an AD within 6 months of discharge. Predictors of ACS readmissions were diabetes (OR 1.49 95% CI 1.17-1.32), coronary artery disease (OR 2.29 95% CI 2.15-2.44), previous percutaneous coronary intervention (OR 1.65 95% CI 1.56-1.75), previous CABG (OR 1.52 95% CI 1.43-1.61) and discharge against medical advice (OR 1.94 95% CI 1.78-2.12). Female patients (OR 0.82 95% CI 0.78-0.86) and patients in whom a coronary angiogram was undertaken (OR 0.48 95% CI 0.45-0.52) were less likely to be readmitted for ACS. For PE, predictors of readmission were pulmonary circulatory disorder (OR 2.20 95% CI 1.09-4.43), anemia (OR 1.62 95% CI 1.40-1.86) and cancer (OR 4.15 95% CI 3.43-5.02). Peripheral vascular disease (OR 8.63 95% CI 5.47-13.60), renal failure (OR 2.08 95% CI 1.34-3.24) were predictors of AD. CONCLUSIONS: Non-specific chest pain may not be a benign condition as readmissions for serious cardiovascular events occur in 3% of patients within 180 days. Research is needed to define measures that may mitigate readmissions among these patients.

Subaltern biology? Local biologies, Indian odysseys, and the pursuit of human embryonic stem cell therapies.

As an emerging life form, stem cells are viewed as global biological entities. This extends Margaret Lock's categorization of local biological or local biologies as emerging from debates about menopause, brain death, and organ transplant. I seek to reconceptualize the local, shape-shifting nature of the biological form and the ontological mutations as inherently subaltern. I draw on a multisited ethnography and a spectrum of global publics from more than 22 countries in search of contentious human embryonic stem cell therapies (hESC) in India. In so doing, I show that the subaltern local biological experience seldom finds utterance and acknowledgement in the face of hegemonic, universalized, epistemic discourse on human body and biological form.

Outcomes and risk prediction model for peripheral arterial disease in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

We used the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Limited Access Dataset of Prevention of Events with Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition (PEACE) Trial (n = 8290) which included patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and preserved ejection fraction (>40%). We identified risk factors for the development of critical peripheral arterial disease (PAD; those needing angioplasty, bypass grafting, or aneurysm repair) and formulated a risk score by multivariate analyses. A total of 220 patients (2.8%) developed critical PAD over a mean follow-up of 4.7 years. Significant predictors of critical PAD were history of intermittent claudication, smoking, hypertension (HTN), coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG), diabetes, age, serum cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI). Incident critical PAD was associated with increased composite outcome of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or CABG (hazard ratio 1.82, 95% CI 1.50-2.22, P < .001). Risk assessment using our score may identify CAD patients at risk for critical PAD events.