Computed tomography and transthoracic echocardiography for assessment of left ventricle geometry in patients with aortic valve stenosis.

Introduction: Standard transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) often is not sufficient to properly visualize the geometry of the left ventricle. One of the clinical imaging modalities that can be used for this purpose is contrast-enhanced, electrocardiologically gated cardiac computed tomography (CT). Aim: To compare cardiac CT and TTE as tools for assessing geometry and function of the left ventricle in patients with severe aortic stenosis. Material and methods: We analyzed 58 consecutive patients (43.1% males, mean age 81.4 ±6.0 years) with severe aortic stenosis, who underwent both cardiac CT and TTE. Results: Left ventricle major axis length is significantly longer in CT than in TTE (81.5 ±11.7 mm vs. 74.6 ±13.5 mm, p = 0.004). No difference was found in end-systolic left ventricle volume between the two imaging methods, while end-diastolic volume of the left ventricle was significantly larger when measured in CT than in both 2D biplane and 3D triplane TTE. The stroke volume was not different between the 2D biplane TTE and CT. No significant difference was found between CT and TTE in the calculation of ejection fraction and LV mass/indexed LV mass (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The use of three-dimensional postprocessing provides a very accurate image of heart structures in CT, which in some aspects may significantly differ from the values estimated by TTE.

European Society of Cardiology guidance for the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease during the COVID-19 pandemic: part 1-epidemiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis.

AIMS: Since its emergence in early 2020, the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has reached pandemic levels, and there have been repeated outbreaks across the globe. The aim of this two-part series is to provide practical knowledge and guidance to aid clinicians in the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in association with COVID-19. METHODS AND RESULTS: A narrative literature review of the available evidence has been performed, and the resulting information has been organized into two parts. The first, reported here, focuses on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of cardiovascular (CV) conditions that may be manifest in patients with COVID-19. The second part, which will follow in a later edition of the journal, addresses the topics of care pathways, treatment, and follow-up of CV conditions in patients with COVID-19. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive review is not a formal guideline but rather a document that provides a summary of current knowledge and guidance to practicing clinicians managing patients with CVD and COVID-19. The recommendations are mainly the result of observations and personal experience from healthcare providers. Therefore, the information provided here may be subject to change with increasing knowledge, evidence from prospective studies, and changes in the pandemic. Likewise, the guidance provided in the document should not interfere with recommendations provided by local and national healthcare authorities.

Innovative Managed Care May Be Related to Improved Prognosis for Acute Myocardial Infarction Survivors.

BACKGROUND: Mortality following discharge in myocardial infarction survivors remains high. Therefore, we compared outcomes in myocardial infarction survivors participating and not participating in a novel, nationwide managed care program for myocardial infarction survivors in Poland. METHODS: We used public databases. We included all patients hospitalized due to acute myocardial infarction in Poland between October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018. We excluded from the analysis all patients aged <18 years as well as those who died during hospitalization or within 10 days following discharge from hospital. All patients were prospectively followed. The primary end point was defined as death from any cause. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 324.8±140.5 days (78 034.1 patient-years; 340.0±131.7 days in those who did not die during the observation). Participation in the managed care program was related to higher odds ratio of participating in cardiac rehabilitation (4.67 [95% CI, 4.44-4.88]), consultation with a cardiologist (7.32 [6.83-7.84]), implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (1.40 [1.22-1.61]), and cardiac resynchronization therapy with cardioverter-defibrillator implantation (1.57 [1.22-2.03]) but lower odds of emergency (0.88 [0.79-0.98]) and nonemergency percutaneous coronary intervention (0.88 [0.83-0.93]) and coronary artery bypass grafting (0.82 [0.71-0.94]) during the follow-up. One-year all-cause mortality was 4.4% among the program participants and 6.0% in matched nonparticipants. The end point consisting of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke occurred in 10.6% and 12.0% (P<0.01) of participants and nonparticipants respectively, whereas all-cause death or hospitalization for cardiovascular reasons in 42.2% and 47.9% (P<0.001) among participants and nonparticipants, respectively. The difference in outcomes between patients participating and not participating in the managed care program could be explained by improved access to cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac care, and cardiac procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Managed care following myocardial infarction may be related to improved prognosis as it may facilitate access to cardiac rehabilitation and may provide a higher standard of outpatient cardiac care.

Hyperemic versus non-hyperemic indexes for coronary physiology assessment in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

PURPOSE: Recent data suggests that fractional flow reserve (FFR) may underestimate intermediate coronary stenosis in the presence of severe aortic stenosis (AS), whereas instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) values may remain similar after treatment of AS, yet the evidence still lacks to use iFR as the reference. We aimed to compare FFR/iFR values in the AS setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The functional significance of 416 coronary lesions in 221 patients with severe AS was investigated with iFR and FFR. RESULTS: The diagnostic agreement between iFR and FFR has been tested, using the cut-off value of 0.89 for iFR and 0.80 for FFR. The mean diameter stenosis was 58.6 â€‹± â€‹13.4% with FFR of 0.85 â€‹± â€‹0.07 and iFR of 0.90 â€‹± â€‹0.04. FFR ≤0.80 was identified in 26.0% and iFR≤0.89 in 33.2% of interrogated vessels. Good agreement between iFR and FFR was confirmed (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient 0.83 [95%CI 0.79-0.85]). The overall diagnostic accuracy (AUC in ROC analysis) of FFR in detecting iFR≤0.89 was 0.997 (95%CI 0.986 to 1.000; p<0.001) and of iFR in detecting FFR≤0.80 was 0.995 (95%CI 0.983 to 0.999; p<0.001). The optimal cut-off value for FFR to detect iFR≤0.89 was 0.82 with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 97.1%, 98.9%, and 97.7%, respectively, and for IFR to detect FFR≤0.80 was 0.88 with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 99.1%, 95.8%, and 97.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In the presence of AS, FFR has good agreement with iFR. However, the optimal FFR/iFR threshold to identify iFR≤0.89/FFR≤0.80 may be different from the standard thresholds of ischemia.

Assessment of the implementation level of the guidelines for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in everyday clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: The goal of secondary prevention is to hinder the recurrence of cardiovascular events in patients already diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases. AIMS: We aimed to assess the level of adherence to guidelines for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in everyday clinical practice. METHODS: This was a single­center retrospective analysis of 460 consecutive rehospitalized patients previously diagnosed with coronary artery disease. The presence of main risk factors for cardiovascular disease was analyzed in this cohort. RESULTS: Overall, 80.7% of patients did not comply with the body mass index recommendations. Among nondiabetic patients, 43.5% exceeded the recommended blood glucose level and 55.5% of diabetic patients exceeded the recommended level of glycated hemoglobin. Total cholesterol level was higher than recommended in 13.5% of patients, the level of low­density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was exceeded in 78.7% individuals, and the level of triglycerides was over the limit in 30.2% of patients. Systolic and / or diastolic blood pressure higher than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg was recorded in 41.3% of patients. Low level of physical activity was declared by 56.7% of the studied patients and 14.6% of them admitted to being current tobacco smokers. No patient fulfilled all of the main prevention goals (body weight, no smoking, LDL cholesterol level, glucose level, systolic and / or diastolic blood pressure) and in 10.2% of cases none of the above­mentioned criteria were achieved. Significant difference in the implementation level of the guidelines was found between the sexes, with men showing lower adherence than women. CONCLUSIONS: The level of adherence to the guidelines for secondary prevention of coronary artery disease was extremely low, with men being worse responders than women.

The Usefulness of [18F]F-Fluorodeoxyglucose and [18F]F-Sodium Fluoride Positron Emission Tomography Imaging in the Assessment of Early-Stage Aortic Valve Degeneration after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)-Protocol Description and Preliminary Results.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is now a well-established treatment for severe aortic stenosis. As the number of procedures and indications increase, the age of patients decreases. However, their durability and factors accelerating the process of degeneration are not well-known. The aim of the study was to verify the possibility of using [18F]F-sodium fluoride ([18F]F-NaF) and [18F]F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in assessing the intensity of TAVI valve degenerative processes. In 73 TAVI patients, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) at initial (before TAVI), baseline (after TAVI), and during follow-up, as well as transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and PET/CT, were performed using [18F]F-NaF and [18F]F-FDG at the six-month follow-up (FU) visit as a part of a two-year FU period. The morphology of TAVI valve leaflets were assessed in TEE, transvalvular gradients and effective orifice area (EOA) in TTE. Calcium scores and PET tracer activity were counted. We assessed the relationship between [18F]F-NaF and [18F]F-FDG PET/CT uptake at the 6 = month FU with selected indices e.g.,: transvalvular gradient, valve type, EOA and insufficiency grade at following time points after the TAVI procedure. We present the preliminary PET/CT ([18F]F-NaF, [18F]F-FDG) results at the six-month follow-up period as are part of an ongoing study, which will last two years FU. We enrolled 73 TAVI patients with the mean age of 82.49 ± 7.11 years. A significant decrease in transvalvular gradient and increase of effective orifice area and left ventricle ejection fraction were observed. At six months, FU valve thrombosis was diagnosed in four patients, while 7.6% of patients refused planned controls due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We noticed significant correlations between valve types, EOA and transaortic valve gradients, as well as [18F]F-NaF and [18F]F-FDG uptake in PET/CT. PET/CT imaging with the use of [18F]F-FDG and [18F]F-NaF is intended to be feasible, and it practically allows the standardized uptake value (SUV) to differentiate the area containing the TAVI leaflets from the SUV directly adjacent to the ring calcifications and the calcified native leaflets. This could become the seed for future detection and evaluation capabilities regarding the progression of even early degenerative lesions to the TAVI valve, expressed as local leaflet inflammation and microcalcifications.

Borderline coronary lesion assessment with quantitative flow ratio and its relation to the instantaneous wave-free ratio.

PURPOSE: Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) is a recently developed image-based index for the assessment of borderline coronary artery disease. We sought to investigate a correlation between QFR and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) for the assessment of intermediate coronary stenoses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with borderline coronary lesions (40-90% by visual assessment) undergoing iFR assessment were enrolled. QFR was derived from a modeled hyperemic flow velocity derived from angiography without adenosine-induced hyperemia. Pressure wire-derived iFR served as the reference. RESULTS: Values of QFR and iFR from 110 vessels with a mean percent diameter stenosis of 44.6 â€‹± â€‹12.0% were compared. Mean iFR was 0.90 â€‹± â€‹0.07 and 38 (34.5%) had iFR ≤0.89. Mean QFR was 0.81 â€‹± â€‹0.10 and 44 (40%) had QFR ≤0.80. A good agreement between QFR and iFR measurements was confirmed with a mean difference of 0.09 (95%CI -0.027 to 0.207) and intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.87 (95%CI 0.81-0.91). The overall diagnostic accuracy (AUC in ROC analysis) of QFR in detecting iFR ≤0.89 was 0.87 (95%CI 0.79-0.93; p â€‹< â€‹0.001). Regarding iFR ≤0.89, the optimal cutoff value of QFR was 0.79 with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 76.3%, 83.3%, and 80.0%, respectively. A 100% sensitivity was observed for a QFR cutoff value of 0.88 and a 100% specificity for a QFR cutoff value of 0.69. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed good QFR diagnostic performance and correlation with iFR for detecting the functional ischemia caused by intermediate lesions in coronary arteries. However, the pressure wire assessment with iFR might be warranted in 2/3 of patients after QFR assessment.

Optical coherence tomography versus intravascular ultrasound for culprit lesion assessment in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION: In patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) the implanted stent may not fully cover the whole intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-derived thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) related to the culprit lesion (CL). AIM: Whether this phenomenon is more pronounced when optical coherence tomography (OCT) assessment of the CL is performed is not known. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thus, we aimed to assess CLs in 40 patients with AMI treated with PCI, using VH (virtual histology)-IVUS and OCT before and after intervention. The results were blinded to the operator and PCI was done under angiography guidance. RESULTS: Uncovered lipid-rich plaques were identified in the stent reference segments of 23 (57.5%) patients: in 13 (32.5%) of them in the distal reference segment and in 19 (47.5%) of them in the proximal reference segment. In 9 of them (22.5%) lipid plaques were found in both reference segments. In 36 (90%) patients OCT confirmed lipid plaques identified as VH-derived TCFA by VH-IVUS in the reference segments of the stented segment. However, OCT confirmed that only in 2 (5%) patients were uncovered lipid plaques true TCFA as defined by histology. Comparing IVUS and OCT qualitative characteristics of the stented segments OCT detected more thrombus protrusions and proximal and distal stent edge dissections compared to IVUS (92.5 vs. 55%, p = 0.001; 20% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.03 and 25% vs. 5%, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Due to its superior resolution, OCT identifies TCFA more precisely. OCT more often shows remaining problems related to stent implantation than IVUS after angiographically guided PCI.

Assessment of mitral regurgitation and mitral complex geometry in patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

INTRODUCTION: Mitral regurgitation (MR) of varying degrees and mechanisms is a common finding in patients with aortic stenosis with different improvement after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). AIM: To evaluate the impact of TAVI on mitral complex geometry and the degree of MR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 31 patients (29.0% males) with severe aortic stenosis and moderate or severe MR at the baseline who underwent TAVI were included in this study. Clinical and echocardiographic characteristics were determined at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: After TAVI, decrease of MR vena contracta width (p = 0.00002, p = 0.00004), aorto-mural mitral annulus diameter (p = 0.00008, p = 0.02), increase of mitral annular plane systolic excursion (p = 0.0004, p = 0.0003), left ventricular stroke volume (p = 0.0003, p = 0.0004), ejection fraction (p = 0.0004, p = 0.01) and decrease of major dimension of left ventricle in three chamber view (p = 0.05, p = 0.002) were observed in patients at both time points. Additionally, we observed a decrease of distance between the head of the papillary muscles (p = 0.003) at 6 months and a decrease of left atrium volume index (p = 0.01) and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (p = 0.01) at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with moderate or severe MR undergoing TAVI achieved significant improvement of mitral valve complex function resulting in the reduction of MR degree.

Assessment of quality of care of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

AIMS: The 2017 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction recommended assessing quality of care to establish measurable quality indicators in order to ensure that every ST-elevation myocardial infarction patient receives the best possible care. We investigated the quality indicators of healthcare services in Poland provided to ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes is a nationwide, multicentre, prospective study of acute coronary syndrome patients in Poland. For the purpose of assessing quality indicators, we included 8279 patients from the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes hospitalised with ST-elevation myocardial infarction in 2018. Four hundred and eight of 8279 patients (4.9%) arrived at percutaneous coronary intervention centre by self-transport, 4791 (57.9%) arrived at percutaneous coronary intervention centre by direct emergency medical system transport, and 2900 (37.2%) were transferred from non-percutaneous coronary intervention facilities. Whilst 95.1% of ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients arriving in the first 12 h received reperfusion therapy, the rates of timely reperfusion were much lower (ranging from 39.4% to 55.0% for various ST-elevation myocardial infarction pathways). The median left ventricular ejection fraction was 46% and was assessed before discharge in 86.0% of patients. Four hundred and eighty-nine of 8279 patients (5.9%) died during hospital stay. Optimal medical therapy is prescribed in 50-85% of patients depending on various clinical settings. Only one in two ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients is enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program at discharge. No patient-reported outcomes were recorded in the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study identified areas of healthcare system that require solid improvement. These include direct transport to percutaneous coronary intervention centre, timely reperfusion, guidelines-based medical therapy (in particular in patients with heart failure), referral to cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention programs. Also, there is a need for recording quality indicators associated with patient-reported outcomes.

Calcium Pattern Assessment in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis Via the Chou's 5-Steps Rule.

BACKGROUND: Progression of aortic valve calcifications (AVC) leads to aortic valve stenosis (AS). Importantly, the AVC degree has a great impact on AS progression, treatment selection and outcomes. Methods of AVC assessment do not provide accurate quantitative evaluation and analysis of calcium distribution and deposition in a repetitive manner. OBJECTIVE: We aim to prepare a reliable tool for detailed AVC pattern analysis with quantitative parameters. METHODS: We analyzed computed tomography (CT) scans of fifty patients with severe AS using a dedicated software based on MATLAB version R2017a (MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA) and ImageJ version 1.51 (NIH, USA) with the BoneJ plugin version 1.4.2 with a self-developed algorithm. RESULTS: We listed unique parameters describing AVC and prepared 3D AVC models with color pointed calcium layer thickness in the stenotic aortic valve. These parameters were derived from CT-images in a semi-automated and repeatable manner. They were divided into morphometric, topological and textural parameters and may yield crucial information about the anatomy of the stenotic aortic valve. CONCLUSION: In our study, we were able to obtain and define quantitative parameters for calcium assessment of the degenerated aortic valves. Whether the defined parameters are able to predict potential long-term outcomes after treatment, requires further investigation.

Adenosine intracoronary bolus dose escalation versus intravenous infusion to induce maximum coronary hyperemia for fractional flow reserve assessment.

BACKGROUND: Achievement of maximal hyperemia is mandatory for an accurate calculation of fractional flow reserve (FFR) and it is obtained with adenosine given either as an intravenous infusion or as an intracoronary bolus. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to compare the infusion of adenosine with intracoronary adenosine bolus dose escalation in the optimal assessment of peak FFR. METHODS: We enrolled consecutive patients with borderline coronary lesions that were assessed by FFR with the use of adenosine intracoronary boluses (100, 200, 400 and 600 µg) and intravenous infusion of 140 µg/kg/min and 280 µg/kg/min. FFR values were assessed and compared. RESULTS: Fifty patients with 125 borderline coronary artery stenoses were enrolled. Physiological severity assessed with: intravenous adenosine infusion at 140 µg/kg/min was mean 0.82 ± 0.09; infusion at 280 µg/kg/min - 0.81 ± 0.09; intracoronary bolus of 100 µg, 200 µg, 400 µg and 600 µg - 0.83 ± 0.09; 0.83 ± 0.09, 0.83 ± 0.09; and 0.83 ± 0.09, respectively. There was a strong linear correlation between FFR values obtained from 140 µg/kg/min infusion and adenosine intracoronary 100, 200, 400 and 600 µg bolus injection (r = 0.989, r = 0.99, r = 0.993, r = 0.994, respectively, p < 0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: FFR values achieved with intracoronary boluses of adenosine are very similar, but not identical to those obtained using intravenous adenosine administration. The values of FFR may vary between escalating doses of intracoronary boluses and intravenous infusion.

Comparison of hyperemic efficacy between femoral and antecubital fossa vein adenosine infusion for fractional flow reserve assessment.

INTRODUCTION: Intravenous infusion of adenosine via the femoral vein is commonly used to achieve maximum hyperemia for fractional flow reserve (FFR) assessment in the catheterization laboratory. In the era of transradial access for coronary interventions, obtaining additional venous access with sheath insertion in the groin is unpractical and may be associated with a higher risk of bleeding complications. In a vast majority of cases, patients scheduled for the catheterization laboratory are already equipped with peripheral vein access in antecubital fossa vein. However, only limited data exist to support non-central vein infusion of adenosine instead of the femoral vein for FFR assessment. AIM: To compare infusion of adenosine via a central versus a peripheral vein for the assessment of peak FFR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We enrolled 50 consecutive patients with 125 borderline coronary lesions that were assessed by FFR using adenosine femoral and antecubital vein infusion of 140 µg/kg/min. RESULTS: Physiological severity assessed with femoral vein adenosine infusion at 140 µg/kg/min was mean 0.82 ±0.09, and with antecubital vein adenosine infusion at 140 µg/kg/min was 0.82 ±0.09. The mean time from initiation of adenosine infusion to maximal stable hyperemia was significantly shorter for 140 µg/kg/min femoral vein infusion as compared to antecubital vein infusion (49 ±19 s vs. 68 ±23 s; p < 0.001). There was a strong correlation between FFR values obtained from 140 µg/kg/min femoral and antecubital vein infusion (r = 0.99; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Antecubital vein adenosine infusion achieved FFR values are very similar to those obtained using femoral vein adenosine administration. However, time to maximal hyperemia is longer with infusion via the antecubital vein.

Hospitalization Length after Myocardial Infarction: Risk-Assessment-Based Time of Hospital Discharge vs. Real Life Practice.

According to guidelines, it is safe for low-risk patients with myocardial infarction (MI) to be discharged within 72 h of hospitalization. However, results coming from registries show that the hospital stay is often much longer in a real-life situation. Data on the length of the hospital stay (LOS) of MI patients in Polish centers are lacking. We enrolled 212 consecutive patients with acute MI. Low-risk patients were defined according to PAMI II criteria: age <70 years, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >45%, no persistent ventricular arrhythmia, and no multi-vessel disease (MVD). The median of the hospitalization length was eight days (Q1: 6; Q3: 9). In low-risk patients (25%), the median of LOS was six days (Q1: 5; Q3: 7) (p < 0.001). In a logistic regression analysis patients age, LVEF, ST-segment-elevation MI and the presence of MVD were independent predictors of longer hospitals stay (≥8 days). During follow up, there were no significant differences in the rates of clinical events between patients with shorter (<8 days) and longer (≥8 days) hospitalization. In a real-life situation, the LOS, even in low-risk patients is much longer than recommended in the guidelines.

Cardiac computed tomography compared with two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography for the detection and assessment of atrial septal pouches.

The aim of this study is to compare the two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2D-TEE) with multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and with autopsied material to evaluate the ability and precision of the imaging methods for the detection and assessment of septal pouch (SP). One hundred and fifty patients that underwent both 2D-TEE and MSCT and 50 autopsied human hearts were investigated. In MSCT, the interatrial septum was classified as a left SP in 37.3%, right SP in 3.3%, and patent foramen ovale (PFO) channel in 3.3%. In 2D-TEE, the interatrial septum was classified as a left SP in 39.3%, right SP in 11.3%, double SP in 4.7%, and PFO channel in 2.0%. The weighted kappa coefficient between MSCT and 2D-TEE in assessing the septum morphology was 0.59. The prevalence of the left SP is lower when it is evaluated by MSCT or 2D-TEE than by anatomical study, but this difference is insignificant (37.3% vs. 44.0%, p = 0.40, and 39.3% vs. 44.0%, p = 0.56, respectively). The prevalence of left SPs is lower when detected by MSCT or 2D-TEE than during autopsy, but the difference is statistically insignificant (37.3% vs. 44.0%, p = 0.40, and 39.3% vs. 44.0%, p = 0.56, respectively). Both 2D-TEE and MSCT are comparable techniques for detecting left-sided SPs with the insignificant lower prevalence of detecting left-sided SPs compared to autopsied material. However, TEE with the contrast seems to be superior over MSCT due to the possibility of unambiguous PFO channel detection. Therefore, TEE with contrast should be preferred over MSCT in the identification of left-sided SPs.

Comparative assessment of three drug eluting stents with different platforms but with the same biodegradable polymer and the drug based on quantitative coronary angiography and optical coherence tomography at 12-month follow-up.

The aim of this study was to compare neointima proliferation in three drug-eluting stents (DES) produced by the same company (Balton, Poland) which are covered with a biodegradable polymer and elute sirolimus (concentration: 1.0 and 1.2 µg/mm2), but have different stent platforms and strut thickness: stainless steel Prolim® (115 µm) and BiOSS LIM® (120 µm) and cobalt-chromium Alex® (70 µm). We analyzed data of patients with quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) at 12 months from BiOSS LIM Registry, Prolim Registry and Alex OCT clinical trial. There were 56 patients enrolled, in whom 29 Prolim® stents were deployed, in 11-BiOSS LIM® and in 16-Alex stents. The late lumen loss was the smallest in Prolim® subgroup (0.26 ± 0.17 mm) and did not differ from Alex® subgroup (0.28 ± 0.47 mm). This parameter was significantly bigger in BiOSS® subgroup (0.38 ± 0.19 mm; p < 0.05). In OCT analysis there was no statistically significant difference between Prolim® and Alex® subgroups in terms of mean neointima burden (24.6 ± 8.6 vs. 19.27 ± 8.11%) and neointima volume (28.16 ± 15.10 vs. 24.51 ± 17.64 mm3). In BiOSS® group mean neointima burden (30.9 ± 6.2%) and mean neointima volume (44.9 ± 4.9 mm3) were significantly larger. The morphological analysis revealed that in most cases in all groups the neointima was homogenous with plaque presence only around stent struts. In the QCA and OCT analysis regular DES (Prolim® and Alex®) obtained similar results, whereas more pronounced response from the vessel wall was found in the BiOSS® subgroup.

Impact of Coronary Artery Disease Burden on 12-Month Mortality of Patients After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare 12-month mortality rate of patients with and without complete coronary revascularization before transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the impact of coronary artery disease burden in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI. METHODS: One hundred and one consecutive patients undergoing TAVI were enrolled. Of them 16 (15.8%) had an incomplete coronary revascularization. The primary endpoint was 12-month all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Twelve-month all-cause mortality was higher in patients with incomplete coronary revascularization than in patients with complete coronary revascularization or without significant lesions (75.0% vs 7.1%; P < 0.001). Importantly, incomplete coronary revascularization was an independent predictor of higher mortality rate after 12 months (hazard ratio (HR) for incomplete coronary revascularization 10.86, 95% CI 3.72-31.73; P < 0.001; HR for a history of stroke/TIA 3.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39-11.07; P < 0.001; HR for blood transfusion 2.84 95% CI (1.06-7.63); P = 0.039). In 9 of 16 (56.3%) patients, incomplete revascularization was related to the presence of chronic total occlusions (CTO). Patients with CTO had an increased mortality rate after 12 months (55.6% vs 14.1%; P = 0.008) as compared to patients without the CTO. CONCLUSIONS: Incomplete coronary revascularization and a history of stroke or TIA may be independent predictors of all-cause mortality in patients undergoing TAVI. However, further studies are recommended to confirm the results, especially in terms of the impact of CTO presence on long-term mortality after TAVI.