Intravascular ultrasound-guided dissection recanalization in a patient with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a case report.

Background: In primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction, we occasionally experience challenging cases where conventional guidewires cannot pass through the lesion. In such cases, if the use of a tapered guidewire or polymer jacket guidewire is also unsuccessful, coronary artery bypass surgery becomes inevitable. Therefore, other methods to enable revascularization in a reliable and timely manner are desirable. Case summary: We present the first case of intravenous ultrasound (IVUS)-guided tip detection (TD)-antegrade dissection re-entry (ADR) in a 73-year-old man who suffered ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The patient had a total thrombotic occlusion of the right coronary artery and stenotic lesion of the left anterior descending artery. Primary PCI was unsuccessful and IVUS-guided rewiring using a chronic total occlusion (CTO) wire failed due to thrombus attenuation. However, IVUS imaging revealed the presence of intimal and subintimal space, which led us to perform IVUS-guided TD-ADR using Conquest Pro 12 ST (Asahi Intecc). Using the TD method, we were successful in swiftly puncturing the true lumen wall, and a stent was implanted following successful re-entry. Final angiography showed the establishment of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infraction-3 flow and resolution of ST-segment elevation. Discussion: IVUS-guided TD enables accurate puncture in an ADR procedure, enabling successful recanalization in a relatively short time. Thus, IVUS-guided TD-ADR is a reliable option for revascularization in STEMI cases wherein the guidewire fails to pass the occlusion using conventional techniques.

Angioscopic findings 1 year after percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion.

BACKGROUND: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) is a high-risk factor for stent thrombosis, but little is known about the difference in neointimal healing between CTO and non-CTO lesions regarding implanted stents. We investigated factors affecting neointimal healing after stent implantation for CTO and non-CTO lesions using angioscopy. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 106 stents in 85 consecutive patients between March 2016 and July 2020. Their average age was 68 ±â€¯11 years, and participants (73 male and 12 female) underwent follow-up angiography and angioscopy 1 year after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The stents (n = 106) were divided into three groups according to the lesion status at the previous PCI: CTO (n = 17), acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (n = 35), and stable coronary artery disease without CTO or non-CTO (n = 54). RESULTS: The neointimal stent coverage grade was significantly lower in the CTO and ACS groups than in the non-CTO group (0.4 ±â€¯0.5, 0.9 ±â€¯0.8, and 1.4 ±â€¯0.8, respectively, p < 0.001). Thrombi were significantly more frequent in CTO and ACS than in non-CTO (71 %, 51 %, and 15 %, respectively, p < 0.001). The yellow grade in CTO was comparable to that in ACS but significantly higher in CTO than in non-CTO (CTO vs. ACS vs. non-CTO 1.5 ±â€¯0.7, 1.4 ±â€¯0.6, and 0.9 ±â€¯0.7, respectively, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed healing occurs in stents implanted for CTO lesions. Longer dual-antithrombotic therapy may be beneficial.

Bisoprolol transdermal patch for perioperative care of non-cardiac surgery in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Non-cardiac surgery for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is considered to require meticulous perioperative care. ß-blockers are considered the first-line drugs for patients with HOCM, and they play a key role in preventing cardiovascular complications in perioperative care. The bisoprolol transdermal patch has recently become available in Japan, and it is useful for patients who are unable to take oral medication during perioperative care. The aim of this case series was to assess the hemodynamic features of patients with HOCM who used the bisoprolol transdermal patch during perioperative care for non-cardiac surgery. METHODS: Between August 2016 and August 2018, we retrospectively analyzed 10 consecutive cases of HOCM with the patients using the bisoprolol transdermal patch during perioperative care. Hemodynamic and echocardiographic features were evaluated before and after patients were switched from oral bisoprolol to transdermal patch therapy or started transdermal patch therapy as a new ß-blocker medication. In addition, cardiovascular complications (all-cause death, cardiac death, heart failure, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation) during the perioperative period were evaluated. RESULTS: There was no significant change in the patients' heart rate, blood pressure, ejection fraction, and pressure gradient in the left ventricle after switching from oral bisoprolol to the transdermal patch therapy. On the other hand, patients who started using the bisoprolol transdermal patch as a new ß-blocker medication tended to have a decreased heart rate and pressure gradient thereafter, but there was no significant difference in blood pressure or ejection fraction. No cardiovascular complications occurred during the perioperative period. CONCLUSIONS: We described the utilization of the bisoprolol transdermal patch during perioperative care for non-cardiac surgery in patients with HOCM. We determined that the hemodynamic features of these patients did not change significantly after switching to patch therapy. Further, initiation of the bisoprolol transdermal patch as a new ß-blocker medication sufficiently tended to decrease the pressure gradient. This unique approach can be an alternate treatment option for HOCM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The registry was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000036703). The date of registration was 10/5/2019 and it was "Retrospectively registered".

A novel application of the culotte stent technique to bail out a jailed common iliac artery.

Implanting a self-expandable stent at the ostium of the common iliac artery (CIA) may lead to coverage of the orifice of the contralateral CIA. Here, we describe a novel application of the culotte stent technique using a balloon-expandable stent to bail out an ostial stenotic legion of a jailed CIA due to prior self-expandable stent placement. The bilateral CIAs were revascularized by culotte stenting, and patency of the stents was confirmed 3 years after the procedure. The culotte stent technique was successfully applied to an ostial stenotic lesion of a jailed CIA.

Successful early diagnosis and treatment in a case of Toxocara canis-induced eosinophilic myocarditis with eosinophil-rich pericardial effusion.

Fulminant myocarditis can become fatal if left untreated. Treatments for most types of myocarditis, including mechanical support, are limited. However, immediate systemic corticosteroids are known to be effective against eosinophilic myocarditis; therefore, prompt diagnosis of this disease is crucial. Unfortunately, the standard diagnostic tool for myocarditis, endomyocardial biopsy, does not provide immediate histopathological findings. Thus, a rapid diagnostic tool for identifying types of myocarditis is urgently required. We report here the first case of Toxocara canis-induced eosinophilic fulminant myocarditis which was diagnosed based on eosinophil-rich pericardial effusion where the patient recovered with early corticosteroid therapy.