The effect of CTCA guided selective invasive graft assessment on coronary angiographic parameters and outcomes: Insights from the BYPASS-CTCA trial.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography cardiac angiography (CTCA) is recommended for the evaluation of patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The BYPASS-CTCA study demonstrated that CTCA prior to invasive coronary angiography (ICA) in CABG patients leads to significant reductions in procedure time and contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), alongside improved patient satisfaction. However, whether CTCA information was used to facilitate selective graft cannulation at ICA was not protocol mandated. In this post-hoc analysis we investigated the influence of CTCA facilitated selective graft assessment on angiographic parameters and study endpoints. METHODS: BYPASS-CTCA was a randomized controlled trial in which patients with previous CABG referred for ICA were randomized to undergo CTCA prior to ICA, or ICA alone. In this post-hoc analysis we assessed the impact of selective ICA (grafts not invasively cannulated based on the CTCA result) following CTCA versus non-selective ICA (imaging all grafts irrespective of CTCA findings). The primary endpoints were ICA procedural duration, incidence of CIN, and patient satisfaction post-ICA. Secondary endpoints included the incidence of procedural complications and 1-year major adverse cardiac events. RESULTS: In the CTCA cohort (n â€‹= â€‹343), 214 (62.4%) patients had selective coronary angiography performed, whereas 129 (37.6%) patients had non-selective ICA. Procedure times were significantly reduced in the selective CTCA â€‹+ â€‹ICA group compared to the non-selective CTCA â€‹+ â€‹ICA group (-5.82min, 95% CI -7.99 to -3.65, p â€‹< â€‹0.001) along with reduction of CIN (1.5% vs 5.8%, OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.98). No difference was seen in patient satisfaction with the ICA, however procedural complications (0.9% vs 4.7%, OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.09-0.87) and 1-year major adverse cardiac events (13.1% vs 20.9%, HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.32-0.96) were significantly lower in the selective group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with prior CABG, CTCA guided selective angiographic assessment of bypass grafts is associated with improved procedural parameters, lower complication rates and better 12-month outcomes. Taken in addition to the main findings of the BYPASS-CTCA trial, these results suggest a synergistic approach between CTCA and ICA should be considered in this patient group. REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03736018.

A Cost Analysis of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnostic Pathway of Patients Presenting With Unexplained Acute Myocardial Injury and Culprit-Free Coronary Angiography.

Aims: To determine financial implications of implementing cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in the diagnostic pathway of a population with unexplained acute myocardial injury and normal coronary angiography. Methods and Results: We performed a focused cost-benefit analysis using a hypothetical population of 2,000 patients with unexplained acute myocardial injury and normal coronary angiography divided into two groups to receive either standard or CMR guided management over a 10-year period. As healthcare practice and costs considerably vary geographically and over time, an algorithm with 15 key variables was developed to permit user-defined calculations of cost-benefit and other analyses. Using current UK costs, routine use of CMR increases healthcare spending by 14% per patient in the first year. After 7 years, CMR guided practice is cost neutral, reducing cost by 3% per patient 10 years following presentation. In addition, CMR -guided therapy results in 7 fewer myocardial infarctions and 14 fewer major bleeding events per 1,000 patients over a 10-year period. The three most sensitive variables were, in decreasing order, the cost of CMR, the cost of ticagrelor and the percentage of the population with MI requiring DAPT. Conclusion: Routine use of CMR in patients with unexplained acute myocardial injury and normal coronary angiography is associated with cost reductions in the medium to long term. The initial higher cost of CMR is offset over time and delivers a more personalized and higher quality of care.

NITRATE-CIN Study: Protocol of a Randomized (1:1) Single-Center, UK, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial Testing the Effect of Inorganic Nitrate on Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography for Acute Coronary Syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), an acute kidney injury resulting from the administration of intravascular iodinated contrast media, is a significant cause of morbidity/mortality following coronary angiographic procedures in high-risk patients. Despite preventative measures intended to mitigate the risk of CIN, there remains a need for novel effective treatments. Evidence suggests that delivery of nitric oxide (NO) through chemical reduction of inorganic nitrate to NO may offer a novel therapeutic strategy to reduce CIN and thus preserve long term renal function. DESIGN: The NITRATE-CIN trial is a single-center, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial, which plans to recruit 640 patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who are at risk of CIN. Patients will be randomized to either inorganic nitrate therapy (capsules containing 12 mmol KNO3) or placebo capsules containing potassium chloride (KCl) daily for 5 days. The primary endpoint is development of CIN using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. A key secondary endpoint is renal function over a 3-month follow-up period. Additional secondary endpoints include serum renal biomarkers (e.g. neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin) at 6 h, 48 h and 3 months following administration of contrast. Cost-effectiveness of inorganic nitrate therapy will also be evaluated. SUMMARY: This study is designed to investigate the hypothesis that inorganic nitrate treatment decreases the rate of CIN as part of semi-emergent coronary angiography for ACS. Inorganic nitrate is a simple and easy to administer intervention that may prove useful in prevention of CIN in at-risk patients undergoing coronary angiographic procedures.

Iatrogenic catheter-induced ostial coronary artery dissections: Prevalence, management, and mortality from a cohort of 55,968 patients over 10 years.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe the prevalence, management strategies and evaluate the prognosis of patients with iatrogenic catheter-induced ostial coronary artery dissection (ICOCAD). BACKGROUND: ICOCAD is a rare but potentially devastating complication of cardiac catheterisation. The clinical manifestations of ICOCAD vary from asymptomatic angiographic findings to abrupt vessel closure leading to myocardial infarction and death. METHODS: 55,968 patients who underwent coronary angiography over a 10-year period were screened for ICOCAD as defined by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The management and all-cause mortality were retrieved from local and national databases. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of ICOCAD was 0.09% (51/55,968 patients). Guide catheters accounted for 75% (n = 37) of cases. Half of the ICOCAD cases involved the right coronary artery while the remaining were related to left main stem (23/51; 45%) and left internal mammary artery (2/51; 4%). Two-thirds of ICOCAD were high grade (type D, E, and F). The majority of cases were type F dissections (n = 18; 66%), of which two third occurred in females in their 60s. The majority of ICOCAD patients (42/51; 82%) were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention while the remaining underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (3/51; 6%) or managed conservatively (6/51; 12%). Three deaths occurred during the index admission while 48/51 patients (94.1%) were safely discharged without further mortality over a median follow-up of 3.6 years. CONCLUSIONS: ICOCAD is a rare but life-threatening complication of coronary angiography. Timely recognition and prompt bailout PCI is a safe option for majority of patients with good clinical outcomes.

Sodium Nitrite-Mediated Cardioprotection in Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: In the follow-up of patients in a trial of intracoronary sodium nitrite given during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), we found a reduction in the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). Specifically, MACE rates were 5.2% versus 25.0% with placebo at 3 years ( P = .013). Such MACE reductions should also be associated with economic benefit. Thus, we assessed the cost utility of sodium nitrite therapy versus standard primary PCI only. METHODS AND RESULTS: We developed a model to simulate costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) over the first 36 months after ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Decision tree analysis was used to assess different potential cardiovascular outcomes after STEMI for patients in both treatment groups. Model inputs were derived from the NITRITE-AMI study. Cost of comparative treatments and follow-up in relation to cardiovascular events was calculated from the United Kingdom National Health Service perspective. Higher procedural costs for nitrite treatment were offset by lower costs for repeat revascularization, myocardial infarction, and hospitalization for heart failure compared to primary PCI plus placebo. Nitrite treatment was associated with higher utility values (0.91 ± 0.19 vs 0.82 ± 0.30, P = .041). The calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £2177 per QALY indicates a cost-effective strategy. Furthermore, positive results were maintained when input parameters varied, indicating the robustness of our model. In fact, based on the difference in utility values, the cost of nitrite could increase by 4-fold (£2006 per vial) and remain cost-effective. CONCLUSION: This first analysis of sodium nitrite as a cardioprotective treatment demonstrates cost-effectiveness. Although more comparative analysis and assessment of longer follow-up times are required, our data indicate the considerable potential of nitrite-mediated cardioprotection.

The effect of intracoronary sodium nitrite on the burden of ventricular arrhythmias following primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: Pre-clinical evidence suggests delivery of nitric oxide (NO) through administration of inorganic nitrite suppresses arrhythmias resulting from acute ischaemia and reperfusion (I/R). To date no assessment of whether inorganic nitrite might limit reperfusion arrhythmia has occurred in man, therefore we explored the effects on I/R-induced ventricular arrhythmias in the NITRITE-AMI cohort. METHODS: In the NITRITE-AMI cohort, Holter analysis was performed prior to and for 24 h after primary PCI in 80 patients who received either intra-coronary sodium nitrite (N = 40) or placebo (N = 40) during primary PCI for AMI. RESULTS: Ventricular rhythm disturbance was experienced by 100% patients; however, there was no difference in the number between the groups, p = .2196. Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) occurred in 67.5% (27/40) of nitrite-treated patients compared to 89% (35/39) of those treated with placebo (p = .027). There was a significant reduction in both the number of runs (63%, p ≤.0001) and total beats of NSVT (64%, p = .0019) in the nitrite-treated patients compared to placebo. Post-hoc analyses demonstrate a direct correlation of occurrence of NSVT with infarct size, with the correlation stronger in the placebo versus the nitrite group initiating an independent nitrite effect (Nitrite: r = 0.110, p = .499, placebo: r = 0.527, p = .001, p for comparison: 0.004). CONCLUSION: Overall no difference in ventricular rhythm disturbance was seen with intra-coronary nitrite treatment during primary PCI in STEMI patients, however nitrite treatment was associated with an important reduction in the incidence and severity of NSVT. In view of the sustained reduction of MACE seen, this effect warrants further study in a large-scale trial.

The impact of socio-economic status on all-cause mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention: an observational cohort study of 13,770 patients.

AIMS: The relation between socio-economic status (SES) and outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been established. We sought to determine whether or not socio-economic status impacts on prognosis after PCI. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was an observational cohort study of 13,770 consecutive patients who underwent PCI at a single centre between 2005 and 2011. Patient socio-economic status was defined by the English Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) score, according to residential postcode. Patients were analysed by quintile of IMD score (Q1, least deprived; Q5, most deprived). Median follow-up was 3.7 (IQR: 2.0-5.1) years and the primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Patients in Q5 (most deprived) were younger, more commonly South Asian, and had higher rates of smoking, diabetes mellitus, renal impairment, previous MI, and previous PCI than patients in Q1. Rates of long-term mortality increased progressively across the five quintiles of IMD score in a linear fashion (p=0.0004), as did rates of recurrent MI, target vessel revascularisation, and CABG. The difference in mortality rates persisted after adjustment for other potential confounding factors after multivariate analysis (Q5 vs. Q1: HR 1.93, 95% CI: 1.38-2.69). CONCLUSIONS: In this large contemporary cohort of patients receiving PCI, socio-economic status was associated with prognosis in a linear fashion.