Inaccuracy of brachial blood pressure and its potential impact on treatment and aortic blood pressure estimation.

OBJECTIVE: Although brachial cuff SBP is universally used to guide hypertension management, it can differ significantly from intraarterial SBP. We examine the potential impacts of cuff-to-intraarterial brachial SBP (bSBP) mismatch on hypertension treatment and accuracy towards central SBP. METHODS: In 303 individuals, cuff bSBP (CUFF-bSBP) and central SBP were measured using a Mobil-o-Graph simultaneously to intraarterial bSBP (IA-bSBP) and aortic SBP. According to the difference between CUFF-bSBP and IA-bSBP, we identified three phenotypes: Underestimation (CUFF-bSBP < IA-bSBP by >10 mmHg); No Mismatch (CUFF-bSBP within 10 mmHg of IA-bSBP); Overestimation (CUFF-bSBP > IA-bSBP by >10 mmHg) phenotypes. Risk of overtreatment and undertreatment, and accuracy (ARTERY society criteria: mean difference ≤5 ±â€Š8 mmHg) were determined. A multiple linear regression model was used to assess variables associated with the bSBP difference. RESULTS: Underestimation (n = 142), No Mismatch (n = 136) and Overestimation (n = 25) phenotypes had relatively similar characteristics and CUFF-bSBP (124 ±â€Š17, 122 ±â€Š14, 127 ±â€Š19 mmHg, P = 0.19) but different aortic SBP (133 ±â€Š21, 120 ±â€Š16, 112 ±â€Š18 mmHg, P < 0.001). In the underestimation phenotype, 59% were at risk of undertreatment (14% in No Mismatch), whereas 50% in the Overestimation phenotype were at risk of overtreatment (17% in No Mismatch). CUFF-bSBP accurately estimated aortic SBP only in the No Mismatch Group (mean difference 1.6 ±â€Š8.2 mmHg) whereas central BP never met the accuracy criteria. Male sex, higher height and active smoking were associated with lesser underestimation of bSBP difference. CONCLUSION: The brachial cuff lacks accuracy towards intraarterial BP in a significant proportion of patients, potentially leading to increased risks of BP mismanagement and inaccurate determination of central BP. This illustrates the need to improve the accuracy of cuff-based BP monitors.

Outcomes of retrograde chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: A report from the OPEN-CTO registry.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess in-hospital and long-term outcomes of retrograde compared with antegrade-only percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion (CTO PCI). BACKGROUND: Procedural and clinical outcomes following retrograde compared with antegrade-only CTO PCI remain unknown. METHODS: Using the core-lab adjudicated OPEN-CTO registry, we compared the outcomes of retrograde to antegrade-only CTO PCI. Primary endpoints included were in-hospital major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) (all-cause death, stroke, myocardial infarction [MI], emergency cardiac surgery, or clinically significant perforation) and MACCE at 1-year (all-cause death, MI, stroke, target lesion revascularization, or target vessel reocclusion). RESULTS: Among 885 single CTO procedures from the OPEN-CTO registry, 454 were retrograde and 431 were antegrade-only. Lesion complexity was higher (J-CTO score: 2.7 vs. 1.9; p < .001) and technical success lower (82.4 vs. 94.2%; p < .001) in retrograde compared with antegrade-only procedures. All-cause death was higher in the retrograde group in-hospital (2 vs. 0%; p = .003), but not at 1-year (4.9 vs. 3.3%; p = .29). Compared with antegrade-only procedures, in-hospital MACCE rates (composite of all-cause death, stroke, MI, emergency cardiac surgery, and clinically significant perforation) were higher in the retrograde group (10.8 vs. 3.3%; p < .001) and at 1-year (19.5 vs. 13.9%; p = .03). In sensitivity analyses landmarked at discharge, there was no difference in MACCE rates at 1 year following retrograde versus antegrade-only CTO PCI. Improvements in Seattle Angina Questionnaire Quality of Life scores at 1-year were similar between the retrograde and antegrade-only groups (29.9 vs 30.4; p = .58). CONCLUSIONS: In the OPEN-CTO registry, retrograde CTO procedures were associated with higher rates of in-hospital MACCE compared with antegrade-only; however, post-discharge outcomes, including quality of life improvements, were similar between technical modalities.

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

Coronary perforation is a potential complication of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We analyzed 2,097 CTO PCIs performed in 2,049 patients from 2012 to 2017. Patient age was 65 ± 10 years, 85% were men, and 36% had prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Technical and procedural success were 88% and 87%, respectively. A major periprocedural adverse cardiovascular event occurred in 2.6%. Coronary perforation occurred in 85 patients (4.1%); The frequency of Ellis class 1, 2, and 3 perforations was 21%, 26%, and 52%, respectively. Perforation occurred more frequently in older patients and those with previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery (61% vs 35%, p < 0.001). Cases with perforation were angiographically more complex (Multicenter CTO Registry in Japan score 3.0 ± 1.2 vs 2.5 ± 1.3, p < 0.001). Twelve patients (14%) with perforation experienced tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis. Patient age, previous PCI, right coronary artery target CTO, blunt or no stump, use of antegrade dissection re-entry, and the retrograde approach were associated with perforation. Adjusted odds ratio for periprocedural major periprocedural adverse cardiovascular events among patients with perforation was 15.04 (95% confidence interval 7.35 to 30.18). In conclusion, perforation occurs relatively infrequently in contemporary CTO PCI performed by experienced operators and is associated with baseline patient characteristics and angiographic complexity necessitating use of advanced crossing techniques. In most cases, perforations do not result in tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis, but they are associated with reduced technical and procedural success, higher periprocedural major adverse events, and reduced procedural efficiency.

Potential Sunitinib-Induced Coronary Artery and Aortic Dissections.

Small-molecule multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy is used in different types of cancer. These drugs have been associated with cardiovascular toxicity, including aortic dissection. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a coronary dissection potentially associated with a TKI treatment has been described.

Predictors of Excess Patient Radiation Exposure During Chronic Total Occlusion Coronary Intervention: Insights From a Contemporary Multicentre Registry.

BACKGROUND: High patient radiation dose during chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) might lead to procedural failure and radiation skin injury. METHODS: We examined the association between several clinical and angiographic variables on patient air kerma (AK) radiation dose among 748 consecutive CTO PCIs performed at 9 experienced US centres between May 2012 and May 2015. RESULTS: The mean age was 65 ± 10 years, 87% of patients were men, and 35% had previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Technical and procedural success was 92% and 90%, respectively. The median patient AK dose was 3.40 (interquartile range, 2.00-5.40) Gy and 34% of the patients received > 4.8 Gy (high radiation exposure). In univariable analysis male sex (P = 0.016), high body mass index (P < 0.001), history of hyperlipidemia (P = 0.023), previous CABG (P < 0.001), moderate or severe calcification (P < 0.001), tortuosity (P < 0.001), proximal cap ambiguity (P = 0.001), distal cap at a bifurcation (P = 0.006), longer CTO occlusion length (P < 0.001), blunt/no blunt stump (P < 0.001), and centre (P < 0.001) were associated with higher patient AK dose. In multivariable analysis high body mass index (P < 0.001), previous CABG (P = 0.005), moderate or severe calcification (P = 0.005), longer CTO occlusion length (P < 0.001), and centre (P < 0.001) were independently associated with higher patient AK dose. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1 in 3 patients who undergo CTO PCI receive high AK radiation dose (> 4.8 Gy). Several baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics can help predict the likelihood of high radiation dose and assist with intensifying efforts to reduce radiation exposure for the patient and the operator.